Sr. Footwear Designer - Women's

The Senior Women's Footwear Designer will be responsible for executing a diverse range of design functions including, but not limited to: footwear design, last/component development, tech drawings, storytelling, creation of concept and mood boards, trend reports, color CADs. Working directly with the business unit team, this role collaborates with Sourcing, Product Development, Engineering and Sales/Merchandising.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the identification of the relevant seasonal trends and design briefs for the relevant Business Unit, along with Product Management and VP of Product, including product design *(aesthetics), materials and construction
• Work closely with product management, development, and engineering to take 2D design from concept to sales samples on assigned projects
• Create seasonal designs based on product briefs/design trends and ensure to execute against brand DNA and constant strive for best execution, comfort, design and innovation
• Responsible for last development (collaboration with last maker and engineers)
• Responsible for technical outsole drawings for new outsole development, ability to translate/execute comments and changes of those into factory/mold shop blueprints and communicate directly to factory and development teams (based on 3D STL and blueprint reviews)
• Thorough expertise of comfort assets for casual footwear components (outsole materials, durometers, footbeds materials, overall pattern comfort features etc)
• Creates tech drawings and specifications for pattern/color designs, ability to evaluate design/fit and communicate adjustments of those to development (including on paper patterns)
• Create (color) CAD renderings for full product range for each season
• Research and help develop the seasonal color palette and understanding/lead of evolution of it as trends progress
• Collaborate with Engineering to ensure the best cost, comfort and fit for all product
• Present the product line to accounts, sales forces and customers when needed
• Travel during the development season and attend seasonal material shows
• Key-Account Pre-lines: Visit account to show product / prototypes to gain feedback and build retail relationship when needed
• Shop domestic and international markets for go-bys and design inspiration
• Other duties as assigned

Education / Credentials: 

• Bachelor's Degree is required 

Minimum Years Experience:

• 7 years of fashion and footwear design experience 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Working knowledge of footwear development, constructions, and shoe making processes
• Strong familiarity with leather industry including leather characteristics, manufacturing processes, and leather quality standards
• Familiarity with materials / components sourcing and manufacturing. The ability to optimize use of current resources and source new resources
• Creative with the ability to free draw designs proportionately with detail
• Able to identify and execute seasonal relevant materials, components, color and trend
• Able to review early stage shoe designs and identify material and component needs for design
• Strong communication skills including ability to give compelling presentations to large audiences
• Experience working with Far East suppliers and footwear factories
• Computer proficiency with MS-Office Suite of products, CAD and PLM preferred, Adobe Creative Suite (ai and photoshop)