Designer II, Inline Footwear Design

Brooks Running•Seattle, WA

8d•$104,217 - $156,324•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Brooks Running Footwear Designer 2, Inline, you will create the AESTHETIC READINESS of full Brooks Running footwear inline projects. You will create an executional DESIGN balance between most progressive and most acceptable design solutions as part of a seasonal collection of Brooks Running footwear product. As a Footwear Designer 2, Inline you will use the creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY to create compelling footwear designs. By applying the creative foundation, you will elevate the level of our CRAFTED BEAUTY foundation as a design reference of Brooks Running inline product while maintaining brand direction and appropriate aesthetic appeal of our target consumer. As a Footwear Designer 2, Inline, you will work in close cooperation with the Color â Material & Trend Design Team on the creation of our Seasonal Beauty. You will influence the implementation of our emotional story-telling of color, graphic, material, finishes and trend as part of the footwear pre-development design process and the inline design process. You will work on all levels of projects in close partnership with the Advanced Design Team on the application of our advanced team design language FUTURE BEAUTY. As a Footwear Designer 2, Inline, you will utilize best practices of 3D visual and technical tools utilizing strong design, product, and program knowledge. Our design team uses the power of 3D digital tools to make the best running footwear on the planet. Files will be shared universally across the footwear department and with our Asia partners to clearly communicate design vision, intent and fidelity. As a Designer 2, Inline Footwear Design, your role will lead a clear design communication to the Product Line Management Team, the Footwear Development Team, the Color & Trend team, and the Product Assessment Team. With your strong professional experience in designing beautiful footwear â you will play a center role within the footwear design team to ensure that Brooks is the most LOVED brand for runners worldwide.

Requirements

4-year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel or footwear design, equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree
5+ years of experience creating color/material/textile programs and future vision in a retail/manufacturing environment.
Thorough knowledge of art and design with clear understanding of visual design or any design related environment
Proven experience creating and leading the execution of vision and strategy
Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually
Ability to understand design conceptually across product categories
Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities
Ability to operate in a fast pace, ever changing work environment
Ability to build and foster relationships in a team environment. This position requires employee to engage with many stakeholders, as well as manage various information and relationships
Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward.
Ability to influence and collaborate with key business partners
Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
Demonstration of innovation and initiative â always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help out wherever necessary.
Mastery with Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
Competent using Apple Mac Operating system
Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint etc.)
Embraces and lives the Brooks values!
Travel 10% (Domestically/Internationally)

Nice To Haves

2D and 3D CAD experience and desire to learn complex surfacing and geometry such as Rhino, Blender and Adobe Substance 2d and 3d Suite, etc. (not required but preferred).
Passionate participation in Brooksâ sports activities a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
3D not required, but a plus

Responsibilities

Own the full design of performance footwear models by creating and presenting upper, midsole, and outsole sketches for inline product based on direction provided by CRAFTED BEAUTY briefs.
Apply identity principles to maximize perceived value in order to drive superior aesthetic competitiveness.
Work on a diverse scope of inline and pre-season product to inform templates for CRAFTED BEAUTY for the sequential in-line season.
Improve briefs/concepts and direction with design solutions the creative foundation of CRAFTED BEAUTY concerning 2D/3D creations with story, color, material, and finishes to grow the appeal of Brooks Running footwear.
Take time to explore the future of what 2D and 3D DESIGN can become and how new technology, tools and design abilities can benefit performance run design far in the future.
Utilize 3D to visualize designs during the creation phase and continuously build your 3D skillset to utilize 3D in technical applications (e.g. manipulation of tooling files).
Attain new methods to expand the possibilities of what products we create and how we can create them through using advanced 2D and 3D Digital Design tools.
Partner with senior design staff to align on approach and concepts around your designs to ensure alignment with CRAFTED BEAUTY principles.
Apply learned techniques and gained experience to approach, analyze and solve problems.
Organize and deliver product design presentations, both physical and digital including exploratory process to reach final solution.
Provide feedback and guidance to Associate Designers and Designer 1.
Seek out mentorship from more tenured Designers.
Respond to design critique with multiple design solutions.
Seek to constantly be at the top of your game. Learn what is cutting edge and involve yourself in where 2D and 3D DIGITAL DESIGN technologies and tools are going.
Partner within in a product creation team to deliver industry leading products and stories.
Partner with the Innovation Design Team to ensure a constant flow of information.
Work closely with the Color - Material & Trend Design Team to integrate seasonal color and trend concepts.
Working towards the goal to actively influence various footwear team experts in Color & Trend, Materials, Product Development, Product Line Management and Product Assessment. Utilize their reporting to inform our design approach.
Working towards the goal to act as a design expert and design leader across other teams â facilitate conversations, led by example and show the âhowâ.
Be a trusted partner to the development teams in Asia and our oversea production sites.
Maintain calendar/timelines/deadlines that result in a timely completion of each project.
Use your strong design knowledge to partner with your product teams.
Support to build templates for CRAFTED BEAUTY and SEASONAL BEAUTY in partnership with senior design staff.
Answer critique with a curious mindset â propose alternative options after more design exploration.
Have a solid understanding of the design jet stream to keep informed on whatâs trending and how this may influence our design.
Apply your knowledge of prototyping and ability to use handmade models to demonstrate proof of ideas.
Conduct visits to our factories and material suppliers to gain insights and continue to grow a high level of understanding of the footwear manufacturing process.
Travel as necessary to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, retailers, or other external events.

Benefits

Benefits - Including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.
Paid Time Off - Brooks offers generous time off, including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, and paid sick and parental leave.
Bonus - In addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.
Perks - Including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume