Color Materials Finish Designer II

R.A.D • Portland, OR

1d

About The Position

ABOUT R.A.D® R.A.D® is a performance footwear company that uses innovation and creativity to unlock the euphoria of sport. We blend cutting-edge performance with a distinctive aesthetic rooted in lifestyle subcultures. As an underdog in a field dominated by giants, we focus on authentic, credible brand-building that challenges the status quo, crafting products that are Tuned For The Future. R.A.D® is one of the most disruptive premium athletic brands in the footwear industry. Our mission is to make a lasting impact on the footwear market by consistently delivering a unique consumer proposition through cutting-edge designs that seamlessly combine performance, style, and comfort. We foster a collaborative and creative work environment where talent thrives, and the best of style and functionality are at the forefront of our collective experiences. THE ROLE As the Color Materials Finish Designer II at R.A.D® you will work closely with our Footwear Designers and the Product Creation Team to deliver innovative and visually compelling products. You’ll bring your creativity and problem-solving skills to achieve the highest level of color and material solutions. In this role, you will explore the intersection of story, concept, and color by crafting new and existing footwear models. WHO YOU ARE You are not just choosing colors. You are crafting brand identity. You take initiative, can work autonomously, and are self-governing. A strong critical thinker, plus you love and pay attention to all the details. You are a clear, confident communicator with strong follow through. You are comfortable presenting design concepts, updates, and recommendations to internal stakeholders, including C-suite level. You welcome critique. You refine without ego. You deliver under pressure and take personal responsibility for design intent from concept through commercialization. You adapt and thrive in a fast-paced, high volume product environment that has evolving priorities, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Requirements

• 3+ years of color and material design experience in athletic or lifestyle footwear
• Bachelor’s degree in art, design, fashion or any other related field of experience and training
• Strong knowledge of materials, construction techniques, and manufacturing processes relevant to athletic footwear
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate creative concepts in a professional business setting
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse group of backgrounds and experience
• Manage different projects at once and stay on top of deliverables and timelines
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities
• Demonstrated experience supporting seasonal product creation cycles with color and material deliverables
• Experience working with design-based software (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite)
• Comfort with exploring new tools, systems and technologies to improve material and color visualization
• Working knowledge of industry color systems, tools, or software (e.g., Pantone or equivalent)
• High appreciation for the art of product design and development

Responsibilities

• Develop a system for curating and organizing color and material palettes that support a robust seasonal creation cycle and provide the vision for further improvements
• Create presentations that show and present to effectively communicate color and material strategies relevant to the brand and consumer market
• Research market trends, design trends, and consumer insights to create unique footwear designs
• Work closely with Design leadership and collaborate across Product Creation teams to achieve project goals and ensure efficient use of color and materials
• Resolve any delays in timelines for project completions that arise and be able to respond to a high product demand market
• Other duties as assigned
• Collaborate across teams to ensure the creation of color and material samples are accurate
• Partner with Materials and Development partners to ensure color intent is accurately translated from concept through production
• Analyze trends and record changes in the market to present that latest updates to the design team to ensure products align with changing markets for footwear
• Contribute to storytelling by translating trend insights and consumer data into commercially viable narratives
• Build/create inspirational/conceptual brand-aligned presentations and mood boards for review of seasonal direction
• Create and manage color/material CAD creation by clear color and material call-outs and supporting documentation for stakeholder alignment
• Participate in color approval processes, reviewing lab dips, strike-offs, and production samples to ensure alignment with brand standards

Benefits

• Collaborative global culture that values performance, innovation, and sustainability
• Dynamic, performance-driven work environment with direct impact on global products
• Competitive salary and performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous employee discount
• 20 days paid time off
• Quarterly Power of Movement allowance — put it toward a gym membership, race entry, or whatever keeps you moving
• A small team building serious product. An underdog with something to prove.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level