Senior Footwear Designer

Job Overview:

The Senior Footwear Designer is responsible for conceptualizing and designing footwear collections aligned with the brand’s vision, market trends, and consumer needs. The role requires a blend of creative vision, market awareness, technical skills, and leadership abilities to guide and inspire the design team. This individual works closely with product development, merchandising, and marketing teams to deliver innovative, trend-setting footwear designs that meet business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Concept Development: Research and identify current and future trends, materials, and technologies to create innovative footwear designs.

Design Leadership: Lead the design process from concept through final sample, including sketching, creating technical drawings, and developing prototypes.

Product Line Management: Oversee the design and development of entire footwear collections, ensuring alignment with the brand’s aesthetic and target customer.

Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product development, marketing, and merchandising, to ensure designs meet functional requirements and consumer needs.

Material and Color Selection: Source and select materials, colors, and textures that are innovative, sustainable, and suitable for mass production while maintaining design integrity.

Technical Expertise: Collaborate with manufacturers to ensure technical feasibility of designs, offering solutions for materials, construction, and production processes.

Trend Analysis: Stay up to date with global fashion trends, competitor activities, and industry advancements to inform and inspire design direction.

Team Mentorship: Provide leadership and guidance to junior designers, encouraging creativity and professional growth.

Presentation: Prepare and present designs, concepts, and ideas to senior management, merchandising teams, and other stakeholders.

Quality Control: Ensure the final product meets design specifications, quality standards, and brand guidelines.

Key Qualifications:

Experience: 5-7+ years of footwear design experience, with a proven track record of successful collections.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Footwear Design, or a related field.

Technical Skills: Proficient in design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D modeling software, and CAD programs.

Knowledge: Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes.

Creative Vision: Ability to combine functionality and fashion in innovative and trend-forward designs.

Leadership: Experience managing or mentoring design teams, fostering a collaborative and creative work environment.

Communication: Strong verbal and visual communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively.

Problem-Solving: Ability to navigate design challenges and provide technical solutions while maintaining design integrity.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with sustainable footwear design and materials.

Global market awareness and the ability to design for a diverse range of consumers.

Understanding of performance and athletic footwear design (if applicable).

$135,000 - $140,000 a year