Senior Footwear Designer

Aquent is partnering with a globally recognized leader in the sports industry, a company that consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation to empower athletes worldwide. This organization is at the forefront of designing high-performance athletic gear, transforming insights into iconic products that shape the future of sport. As a partner, Aquent is excited to connect top talent with this impactful brand.

Are you a visionary designer with a passion for transforming athletic footwear? This is an incredible opportunity to join a dynamic team at a leading sports brand, where your creativity and technical expertise will directly influence the next generation of performance footwear. You will be instrumental in crafting original designs and innovative solutions across multiple high-impact sports categories, blending cutting-edge performance with undeniable style. Your work will not only meet the demands of elite athletes but also inspire a global culture, making a tangible impact on product lines that are recognized and celebrated worldwide.

**What You'll Do:**

* Lead the design process for original performance footwear, focusing on multiple sports categories including cleated and training footwear.
* Innovate and create performance solutions that elevate the brand's iconic product lines.
* Explore new design opportunities and take calculated risks to deliver unparalleled levels of both performance and style.
* Engage in comprehensive research, gather insights, and problem-solve around style, performance, and manufacturing challenges.
* Collaborate with athletes to understand their needs and translate those insights into compelling product solutions and narratives.
* Craft a diverse range of creative and appealing design solutions, always considering cost-effectiveness.
* Serve as a mentor and leader for other designers, sharing your deep knowledge and experience in footwear design.
* Work cross-functionally with large project teams including engineering, product management, marketing, development, and testing.
* Present design concepts to various internal and external audiences, including athletes.

**What You Bring:**

* Bachelor's degree in design or a suitable combination of education, experience, and training.
* At least 5 years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear and other products.
* Proven experience in footwear design, with a strong portfolio showcasing a distinct style edge, style-driven mood boards, and technical performance footwear.
* Demonstrated ability to bring streetwear aesthetics into athletic footwear, achieving high performance with exceptional style.
* A keen finger on the pulse of culture, with a clear connection from inspiration to outcome in your design work.
* Comfort and proficiency in technical aspects of footwear design.
* Strong knowledge of form, color, materials, and human factors to elevate the consumer experience.
* Passion for the intersection of sport and streetwear.
* Proficiency in design software, including industry-standard tools for sketching, illustration, and rendering.
* Ability to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs).
* Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials.
* Experience generating a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project.
* Experience presenting design concepts to diverse audiences.
* An extraordinary teammate and humble leader, with a passion to lead, mentor, and onboard design teammates.
* Active and proficient participation in the creative process and cross-functional communication.
* Ability to lead and drive partnerships beyond the design function.
* Motivated and hardworking, with an ability to bring others along in the design process.
* A team culture builder who thinks strategically about the future, energized by ambiguity, and possesses a start-up mentality.
* A catalyst for making connections with other design groups, with a positive personality and outlook.
* A collaborator skilled in connecting the dots, who speaks up with courage for self and the team.
* Open-minded, a good listener, and receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view.

**Nice-to-Have Skills:**

* Experience with cleated footwear.
* Deep understanding of how athletes interact with footwear products.
* Cobbling and prototyping skills.
* Experience with 3D design programs.
* Prior experience within the sports industry.

**About Aquent Talent**

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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