Director, Core Studio Footwear Materials Design Expression
On-siteBeaverton, Oregon, United States
Job Summary
Lead materials design direction and seasonal strategy for Core Expression footwear, building culturally relevant narratives that integrate street fashion, art, and sport. Develop and deliver comprehensive Design Toolkits to empower the core team while curating and modernizing existing material palettes. Partner with the Color Director, Senior Director, and cross-functional teams including Innovation, Development, and vendors to drive new material concepts, constructions, and sustainable methods from concept to box. Mentor a high-performing team of designers and provide actionable feedback on licensee proposals, ensuring cohesive storytelling across performance and lifestyle categories.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Design or related field
- 8+ years of relevant design experience
- 3+ years relevant experience directly managing a team
- Ability to design advance material concepts
- High technical skillset including engineering and Flyknit constructions
- Strong understanding of brand systems, cultural storytelling and consumer lead design
- Deep knowledge of street fashion, art, culture and sport as design drivers
- Demonstrated knowledge of textile methods-of-make such as weaving, knitting or printmaking
- Ability to create mock-up samples by hand
- Ability to create concepts, grounded in research and the exploration of the latest in textile innovation
- Strong influencing, verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to translate consumer and athlete* knowledge/insights into product executions and narratives
- Talent for collaborating and building interpersonal connections with design and adjacent functions
- Experience building inspiration/concept presentations and mood boards
- Experience presenting design concepts to internal and external audiences
- Ability to participate in multiple seasonal projects with competing resources and deadlines
- Understanding of Footwear Product Creation process, or relevant footwear or accessories experience
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D design tools
- A portfolio that demonstrates creative excellence, strategic thinking, and leadership impact
Desired Qualifications
- Ability to design advance material concepts
- High technical skillset including engineering and Flyknit constructions
- Strong understanding of brand systems, cultural storytelling and consumer lead design
- Deep knowledge of street fashion, art, culture and sport as design drivers
- Passionate and curious problem solver with an entrepreneurial mindset
- Ability to create concepts, grounded in research and the exploration of the latest in textile innovation
- Strong influencing, verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to translate consumer and athlete* knowledge/insights into product executions and narratives
- Talent for collaborating and building interpersonal connections with design and adjacent functions
- Experience building inspiration/concept presentations and mood boards
- Experience presenting design concepts to internal and external audiences
- Ability to participate in multiple seasonal projects with competing resources and deadlines
- Understanding of Footwear Product Creation process, or relevant footwear or accessories experience
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D design tools
- A portfolio that demonstrates creative excellence, strategic thinking, and leadership impact
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