The ideal Lead Designer will be responsible for establishing seasonal material direction, color strategy for footwear product under the North America Express Lane business. This designer will be an active and energetic participant in the creative process and have excellent cross-functional communication skills, presenting design concepts to internal and external audiences and executing complex deliverables in a fast-paced environment. The Lead Designer will be a versatile creative problem solver who excels under tight deadlines, has a strong understanding of emerging design and fashion trends, and extensive knowledge of footwear construction, color theory, and textiles.

Education

BA/BFA/MA/MFA preferred in graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, apparel design, material design, textile design or a related field.

Experience:

Preferred design experience: 6+ years

People management experience: N/A

Comprehensive knowledge of current and emerging design and fashion trends in sportswear and streetwear footwear and apparel.

Deep knowledge and experience in Color and/or Material design specifically for product.

Foundational understanding of footwear construction, schematic development and tech pack creation.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines at once.

Ability to translate consumer insights into thoughtful narratives and graphic storytelling.

Strong visual and verbal presentation skills; able to effectively show and communicate design intent to internal and external audiences.

Professional level experience using Illustrator & Photoshop; Miro

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

If this is you, you will be helping to lead the NAEL design team in creating unique, geo-specific collections across Men's, Women's and Kids product on a seasonal basis. This will include setting distinct color and material direction, developing original content and product storytelling. The Lead Designer will work closely with:

• Graphic Designers to develop prints, patterns and trims.
• Product Management teams to build engaging, trend-driven narratives that meet the needs of target consumers
• Development teams to communicate design intent, help with schematic creation and review and workshop prototypes.
• The ideal candidate will also be responsible for managing and designing presentation materials and presenting concepts to internal teams and leadership as well as external partners.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees and job applicants. We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.