Purpose & overall relevance for the organisation
Design market-right, industry-leading footwear executions through color, material, graphics, and construction in cooperation with marketing and development.
Key responsibilities
- Research consumer and brand-relevant information through trade fairs, cultural and sporting events, athlete insights, publications, trend services, store checks, market visits, and marketing data.
- Assist in seasonal and long-term design direction for footwear, footwear materials, silhouettes, and graphics.
- Provide trend forecasting content and color and material direction, and assist the Material Team with material development.
- Work with local and global counterparts and support collaborative stakeholders across Marketing, Product Management, Design, Key Account, and Inline teams.
- Create product stories and concepts ahead of season and refine them with the wider team.
- Provide color and material content and direction, collaborate and critique, and understand technical product details.
- Support category overviews, rollouts, merchandising strategy, brand moments, category moments, and tiered rollout plans.
Product execution
- Design footwear color and material executions for North American iterations of global and key account ranges.
- Create seasonal research, product presentations, color CADs, material maps, and graphic maps.
- Visualize product and range ideas with a high degree of expertise while considering the broader merchandising impact.
- Work with Development on development, costing, seasonal milestones, and calendar deadlines.
- Travel to Asia for development trips as needed and assist Marketing with inspiration and storytelling.
Key relationships
Marketing, Development, Design Team members, and cross-category design counterparts.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Strong knowledge of fashion, industrial product, or industrial design.
- Strong presentation and communication skills.
- Knowledge of product development, materials, and trims.
- Passion for design, creativity, and storytelling.
- Proficiency with Macintosh design software including Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint, and Keynote.
- Fluent spoken and written English.
- Footwear design experience, including upper pattern work or concept ideation, is a plus.
- Understanding of brand history, marketplace history, consumers, current positioning, and color and material trends.
- Ability to think conceptually, create commercially relevant designs, work in a fast-changing environment, collaborate with stakeholders, and influence business partners.
Education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, industrial product engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Thorough knowledge of art and design with a clear understanding of visual design or a related design environment.
- Three years of practical experience in footwear, apparel, accessories, industrial design, fashion design, or a similar design-related area.
Benefits and workplace
adidas offers medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, disability, life insurance, 401(k), stock purchase, education assistance, paid parental leave, flexible time off, holidays, and other benefits. This hybrid position requires office attendance Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Friday; in-office attendance may be required for collaborative work or presentations. The working location is Portland, Oregon.
adidas is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness, encourages individual expression, and provides reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.