Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Fashion Design or Graphic Design
Minimum of 7 years of progressive shoe designing experience
Knowledge of shoe constructions and materials
Ability to sketch shoes accurately, quickly, proportionately and provide detailed specifications
Expert skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop)
Thorough understanding of footwear design, market conditions, consumer expectations, technologies and the manufacturing process
Thorough understanding of ever-changing fashion trends and directions
Ability to create accurate, detailed, high-quality renderings and CADS quickly and efficiently
Ability to build and present seasonal product strategies and trend boards
Understands how to create accurate tech packs for outsole and upper designs
Understands how to draw cross sections and read blueprints accurately
Knowledge and understanding of competitors' top sellers, technologies, styling, colors, strategies and pricing
Great communication/presentation skills and ability to work well with others
Ability to collaborate with other designers, colorists, technicians, and merchandisers
Must understand the footwear production process at the factory level
Must be versatile and able to switch gears project to project
Responsibilities
Under the direction of the VP of Product Development, design and develop innovative and cost-efficient brand and market relevant footwear which includes concepting, story-telling, and technical development
Work with design management, development, and marketing personnel to collaborate on design projects to maximize effectiveness and build product to target cost
Conduct research on ever-changing fashion trends and directions through international and domestic travel, shopping the markets, tradeshows, and researching the competition
Create accurate, detailed, high-quality renderings and CADS quickly and efficiently
Build and present seasonal product strategies and trend boards
Create accurate tech packs for outsole and upper designs
Draw cross sections and read blueprints accurately
Constant interaction with merchandisers on all aspects of product line plans, briefs, color palette, pricing, themes, graphics, and strategies
Work with developers in US and Asia on line schedules, adhere to the product calendar, ensuring development projects are on track
Work with developers / materials team to coordinate and develop new materials, constructions, processes and procedures
Responsible for getting prototypes and samples executed to reflect the concept and design created
Influence footwear categories using cultural events knowledge and experience relating to current and upcoming trends impacting consumers' buying decisions
Collaborate with marketing and sales personnel on projects to maximize effectiveness and sale-ability
Innovation through fashion forward new designs and technologies