Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization
Design market-relevant products for the North American consumer in partnership with marketing and development. This role operates within a fast-paced, highly visible creation environment, often working on accelerated timelines outside of traditional development calendars.
The Designer will combine strong creative execution with strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and ownership to identify and respond quickly to consumer and marketplace opportunities. The role provides significant exposure to senior leadership and close partnership with Sales, Merchandising, Product, Development, and wholesale account partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop creative, market-right solutions within a product range and present designs in context of the broader category and business direction.
- Implement the creative vision across assigned footwear projects while maintaining adidas visual language and design standards.
- Own and self-manage the creative process across multiple projects, including accelerated development timelines.
- Collaborate with Product Marketing, Development, Sales, Merchandising, and Design to align around opportunities and drive decisions.
- Ensure efficient communication and workflow across the cross-functional team for assigned ranges and products.
- Provide color, material, and graphic support across footwear projects and ranges as needed.
- Create accurate 2D and 3D tech packs.
- Contribute to tech pack handovers with 2D and/or 3D sketches, detail callouts, material maps, CADs, and supporting artwork.
- Present product concepts, design rationale, and product details clearly to cross-functional partners, senior leadership, and account partners.
- Demonstrate ownership, curiosity, and initiative while contributing to the team’s creative and strategic capabilities.
Key Relationships
Design Director; Product Operations, including Development, Tooling, Pattern, Testing, and Costing; Color & Materials Design; Product Marketing; Sales; and Merchandising.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong understanding of the North American consumer, trends, and marketplace.
- Strong knowledge and appreciation for performance and lifestyle footwear.
- Ability to independently drive products from concept through development.
- Background in footwear design, industrial design, and/or 3D design.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong presentation and communication skills.
- Knowledge and use of Macintosh design software, including Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Experience and interest in emerging design technologies such as Gravity Sketch and Vizcom.
- Ability to travel nationally and internationally 10–15%.
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years of practical experience in a design environment, including footwear, apparel, accessories, industrial design, fashion design, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience independently owning design projects and presenting creative work to cross-functional stakeholders.
Benefits and Work Policy
adidas offers medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, adoption, surrogate and fertility support, disability, life and AD&D insurance, a 401(k) plan, Stock Purchase Plan with employer match, education assistance, paid parental leave, annual bonus eligibility, flexible time off, paid holidays, and Service Time Off.
This position follows a hybrid work policy requiring attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Friday. In-office attendance is required on Friday when the work involves significant collaboration or an in-person presentation. 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.