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Darci Blackford has worked in the fashion industry since 2002. Darci began their career as an Intern at Jantzen Swimwear, where they developed a color palette for the 2005 line, created technical drawings and print repeats in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and created a sundries and print library. In 2004, they joined Hanna Andersson as a Designer, Baby & Accessories, where they were responsible for overall creative direction, including design, graphics, silhouette, fit, construction and color. Darci also partnered with merchandising on seasonal line planning, implemented a new design strategy and selling proposition, repositioned the layette program, collaborated with merchandising to implement a gift giving approach, launched a new toddlers business, organized and executed seasonal buying and tradeshow trips, and directed daily activities of associate and assistant designers. In 2014, they joined American Girl as a Designer. In 2015, they joined Matilda Jane Clothing as a Sr. Designer Women's, Tween and Home, where they were responsible for overall creative direction, including concept, design, graphics, silhouette, fit, construction and color. Darci also elevated the aesthetic by defining the brand DNA and executing a filter to achieve newness without alienating existing womens customers, increased style level productivity in womens by 115%, reduced assortment 13%, increased sales 87%, established a new improved womens fit, enhanced the assortment to appeal to tween market segments, increased tween style level productivity by 35%, and brainstormed and architected the first home collection. From 2017 to 2019, they worked at Kohl's as a Senior Designer Kids Sonoma and Disney, where they set design and art direction for multiple brands, guided the team through the entire product design process, and influenced GMM/DMM decision making with preparation to a line brand positioning. Darci also led a team of designers and assistant designers in creating a new vision for the opening price point brand, growing demand 14% in a 12 month period. Since 2021, they have been working at PatPat as a Senior Design Manager.

Darci Blackford attended Oregon State University from 1999 to 2004, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design.