CMF/Color Designer II

As a CMF / Color Designer II at YETI, you will be responsible for leading product and category color work and contributing to the overall color function. This includes conducting color trend research, providing creative direction, developing color strategies, and designing at both the collection and product level. You will be part of a collaborative color design and development team, reporting to the CMF Manager. Your role will involve creating visual color tools, managing the seasonal color swatch library, and ensuring color accuracy in marketing and content assets. Additionally, you will play a key role in understanding the consumer and competitor landscape to inform color solutions that align with the YETI brand.

Lead product and category color work and contribute across the full scope of the color function – including color trend research, concept and creative direction, color strategy and planning, design at the collection and product level, color development, and customer experience.

Participate in ongoing color and trend research, synthesizing future themes and big ideas and translating those into actionable color applications. Keep current on directional CMF and color trends across fashion, art, culture, interiors, outdoor, mobility, and tech.

Contribute to seasonal color palette build at the global and category level.

Create a color design perspective for seasonal color applications as well as new product launches, with input from color director and color team, in a highly collaborative environment.

Lead category and project specific CMF / color work from design through development and pre-production, across both soft goods (soft coolers) and hardgoods. Represent the color function in cross-category, core team meetings and touch points.

Maintain both a big picture and detailed design view, balancing the color design choices for the product with the overall color direction and strategy of the YETI collection.

Apply color to product at the detailed level, through digital renderings and line art, to bring to life the color vision and strategy while considering unique product needs, material and components specifications, and technical considerations.

Create visual color tools – both physical and digital, to present concepts, inclusive of mood boards, palettes, color renderings, and visual line plans.

Manage seasonal color swatch library in both physical and digitally calibrated formats. Responsible for color swatch ordering, management, physical color tools creation, and sending to suppliers.

Collaborate with Marketing / Content teams to ensure color launch campaign and site assets are color accurate.

Consumer Research – Knows the consumer. Displays in-depth understanding of the YETI consumer and brand-positioning needs as it relates to category and product. Utilizes knowledge of unique YETI pursuits, communities, and consumers and their culture and preferences to improve product color performance & aesthetic.

Demonstrates strong knowledge about competitor products, consumer retail habits, color, and market trends. Applies these insights into color solutions and is able to articulate this in a way that balances brand and business.

Communicate and champion the color design POV throughout the design and development process, all while working collaboratively and balancing inputs from design, material, engineering, marketing and product strategy partners.

Responsible for understanding and balancing the creative direction, design POV, and commercial impact of color decisions to ensure the optimal color execution to product through the YETI brand lens.

Lead CMF / color development for category and products across soft goods and hardgoods.

Maintain color design vision throughout the development process across categories and products, multiple material substrates, and finishes.

Review textile lab-dips and hard goods material submits (paint, resin, metal) – lever

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Color and Material Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Industrial Design, or a related field
• At least 4 years professional experience in CMF or Color design and development
• Experience in a product/consumer-goods based company, preferably with a mix of hard goods and soft goods or apparel
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in CMF/Color concept, design, and strategy, including color theory, material selection, and finishes

• Maintain and improve color development standards, tolerances, and processes
• Communicate with suppliers throughout the lab dip process
• Manage physical lab dips and material submits
• Contribute to the product calendar and process creation
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure commercial viability and appropriate timelines
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Color and Material Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Industrial Design, or a related field
• At least 4 years professional experience in CMF or Color design and development
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in CMF / Color concept, design, and strategy
• Elevated taste level and a strong design POV
• Keen eye for detail and precision
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
• Understanding of the CMF / color development process and manufacturing processes
• Superior color acuity and extensive knowledge of color theory
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication and presentation skills
• Ability to understand challenges and develop effective responses
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including mentoring and guiding junior designers
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to self-manage
• Hybrid role based in Austin, TX