Color Design

Responsibilities & Duties

The nature of the work is focused on the appearance of product, communications, or collateral materials.

Color Design Execution – Plans and executes color designs. Collaborates with design, product marketing, development and material consultants to focus color solutions for market success. Reviews all samples to achieve marketable solution review with design, marketing and development. Clearly communicates all changes for final confirmation. Displays advanced knowledge and practices in all phases of product execution – shares knowledge with others.

Maintains color calendar/timelines/deadlines for category/division, resulting in the timely completion of each product.

Develops line art, color design server, GPIN, merchandising line, cutting samples and works with material consultant to coordinate materials for products. Finalizes product details and proactively follows through on execution of color on each product.

Color Solutions – Creates innovative, retailable color solutions for category or gender‑specific line. Researches and delivers color, design, market and lifestyle trends that influence and impact the product category process from product briefing to concept to samples.

Explores options and proposes with Color Design Managers and/or senior Color Designers a seasonal color strategy for products, line segments and initiatives. Creates seasonal category‑specific direction of color, materials and graphics.

In partnership with the Category and Design Director, creates and leads color merchandising strategies and stories seasonally.

Consumer Research – Knows the consumer. Displays in‑depth understanding of consumer, brand‑positioning needs as it relates to category/division. Utilizes knowledge of category/division consumer & their culture to improve product performance & appearance. Demonstrates strong knowledge about competitor products, consumer retail habits, color, and market trends. Applies insights from the consumer perspective into color solutions.

Presentations & Communication – Presents and communicates category‑specific color direction and color merchandising direction of the seasonal line to appropriate groups. Works with design/category to produce presentation materials that effectively communicate color direction related to the consumer, product concepts and creative strategy to internal audiences. Participates and delivers bi‑annual category/divisional specific color needs for incorporation into footwear color committee preparation.

Skill Development – Develops excellence as a color designer. Together with Color Design Manager, advances the value of color to
*** by bringing a high level of functional expertise (i.e. materials, special effects, technology, advanced development, presentation, tools) to the color design organization. Educates and mentors more junior designers in category or color design organization. Undertakes projects and opportunities to enhance knowledge of the business, color and design.

• Adobe suite fluency, knowledge of FF process at ***.
• Experience working in fast‑paced fashion environments.
• Knowledge of color achievability and execution on range of materials.
• Basic knowledge of footwear construction and processes.
• Comfortable presenting design work to multifunctional teams.
• Able to compose color palettes that work for both apparel & footwear materials and processes.
• Someone who is process oriented yet adaptable to changing business asks.

• Basic knowledge of textiles, leathers and synthetic materials.
• Footwear experience at
  *** or other athletic footwear companies.
• Experience uploading to Aurora or other similar systems to hand off and manage product.
• Have worked in a startup environment or fast pace companies.
• Solid organization skills.
• Knowledge or interest in fashion and trends.

Typically requires a Bachelors Degree and minimum of 5 years directly relevant work experience.

Note:

One of the following alternatives may be accepted:
PhD or Law + 3 yrs;
Masters + 4 yrs;
Associates degree + 6 yrs;
High School + 7 yrs.