Creative Footwear Materials Designer [AQ-11575]

About the role

Join a globally recognized leader in innovative consumer products, renowned for shaping trends and pushing the boundaries of design and performance. This company is at the forefront of creating groundbreaking footwear concepts that resonate across performance, lifestyle, and culture-driven categories, impacting millions worldwide.

As a visionary Creative Materials Designer with a passion for footwear and a deep connection to sneaker culture and streetwear, you will significantly influence the future of footwear by bringing innovative material stories to life. You will be instrumental in shaping compelling products for a special initiative, working alongside a dynamic team to transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible, iconic designs that capture the imagination of consumers globally.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of creative footwear material concepts across diverse product categories and collections.
• Identify and research emerging materials, finishes, textures, and construction techniques to elevate product aesthetics and performance.
• Craft compelling material stories and presentations that effectively communicate design intent, inspiration, and consumer relevance.
• Collaborate closely with footwear designers, product developers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to drive concepts from ideation through execution.
• Support the creation of innovative material applications, balancing performance, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost considerations.
• Provide critical design feedback during prototype reviews throughout the product creation lifecycle.
• Engage in special projects, partnerships, and culturally relevant product initiatives that define market trends.
• Maintain a keen awareness of footwear trends, sneaker culture, streetwear, and evolving consumer preferences to inform design decisions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in creative footwear material design, footwear design, or related product design roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in design, industrial design, footwear design, fashion design, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple footwear segments or product lines.
• A strong portfolio showcasing:
  • Innovative material concepts and experimentation.
  • A clear footwear design process from concept to completion.
  • Examples of design exploration and iterations.
  • Successfully executed final products.
  • The ability to articulate creative rationale and design decisions.
• Profound understanding of footwear materials, including:
  • Leather
  • Canvas
  • Synthetic materials
  • Wovens
  • Meshes
  • Upper constructions
  • Footwear trims (preferred)
• A genuine passion for skateboarding, sneaker culture, streetwear, or youth lifestyle markets.
• Proven ability to harmonize creative vision with technical requirements and business considerations.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing footwear materials for skateboarding, action sports, sneaker, or streetwear categories.
• Background in supporting footwear collaborations, partnerships, or limited-edition product launches.
• Knowledge of footwear manufacturing processes, material sourcing, and supplier capabilities.
• Experience working with globally recognized consumer product organizations.
• A deep understanding of consumer trends and cultural influences impacting footwear design.

Benefits

Through Aquent Talent, eligible talent gain access to:

• Subsidized health, vision, and dental plans.
• Paid sick leave.
• Retirement plans with a company match.
• Free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.