Habitat has appointed a new head of product design as its current creative director departs the homewares retailer after six years.

Polly Dickens will retire from the Sainsbury’s-owned business at the end of January 2018, at which point its current senior design manager, Kate Butler, will be promoted to head of product design.

Commenting on Dickens’ departure, Habitat managing director Clare Askem said: “Polly leaves behind her a Habitat that has evolved radically from 2012 – a much stronger, identifiable brand that is seeing great success and growth.”

Butler, who has worked in Habitat’s in-house design studio since 2013, will oversee Habitat’s future product development and its seasonal collections.

She previously worked for Anthropologie and The Conran Shop.

Butler said: “The Habitat Design Studio is an iconic institution, creating some of the UK’s most important interior designs and designers throughout its 50-year history.

“I’m thrilled to be continuing to evolve the studio’s creative output and championing the legacy that comes with it.”

polly dickens outgoing creative director and kate butler head of product design

Polly Dickens, outgoing creative director (left) and Kate Butler, head of product design (right)