Assistant Color and Materials designer, Footwear - US Sports

About the Role

To assist in designing industry-leading executions of footwear and/or apparel through color and materials.

Responsibilities

• Creative Direction
  • Continuously gather and direct a team on information needed to design a consumer- and brand-relevant collection, including:
    • Trade fairs, cultural events, and sporting events
    • Athlete insights
    • Trade publications, general interest press, trend services, fashion and sportswear magazines, and websites
    • Store checks, market visits, and team travel
    • Relevant forecast and sell-through numbers from Marketing counterparts
  • Assist a team in seasonal and long-term design direction for their category in footwear and/or apparel color and materials.
  • Contribute to design direction by:
    • Assisting in trend forecasting relevant to consumers and the brand
    • Working closely with members of the category’s design team, including providing color and material content, direction, collaboration, and critiquing
• Product Execution
  • Assist in designing footwear/apparel color and materials executions for inline and/or key account ranges with input from Design, Marketing, and Development, including:
    • Seasonal prep and research
    • Creating color design presentations (physical and digital)
    • Exploratory process to reach final solutions
    • Creating color CADs, Material Maps, and Graphic Maps
    • Working closely with Development to meet timelines, calendar deadlines, and costing per seasonal milestones
    • Assisting in communication of inspiration and storytelling to Marketing
• Key Relationships
  • Design, Product Marketing, Brand Communications, Development, Creative Direction, Creation Center Portland, and other Sport Categories

Requirements

• Four-year college or university degree in industrial, graphic, apparel, or footwear design
• Thorough knowledge of art and design with a clear understanding of visual design or any design-related environment
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree

Skills

• Computer Skills:
  • Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
  • PowerPoint/Keynote
  • Apple Mac operating systems
  • 3D systems beneficial, but not required
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually
• Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment
• Works well in a team environment and engages with multiple stakeholders
• Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward
• Ability to influence and collaborate with key business partners
• Fluent in English (spoken and written)

Preferred Traits

• Passion for movement, sport, and culture
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach