Graphic Designer II

Fanatics Commerce•New York, NY

4d•$68,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Graphic Designer, Licensed Sports Apparel is a creative, passionate, and results-driven designer who leverages a strong command of brand identity, color theory, and production art techniques to develop professional designs across seasonal sports apparel assortments. Partnering with in-house design teams, this role maintains corporate branding and seasonal creative direction that enhances individual Leagues through compelling visual storytelling. The Graphic Designer, Licensed Sports Apparel delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

Requirements

4+ years of professional graphic design experience; licensing or sports-related experience is a plus.
Strong professional portfolio (required) showcasing a wide range of design skills and abilities across apparel graphics or related disciplines.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, with intermediate to advanced typography skills.
Demonstrated advanced-level knowledge of color theory, composition, and concept development, with the ability to adhere to brand guidelines and seasonal creative stories.
Working knowledge of production art processes and domestic and import printing and production techniques, including screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, and embroidery.
Excellent organizational and communication skills — written and verbal — with the ability to meet deadlines, prioritize workload, adapt to change, and maintain composure under pressure.
Familiarity with project management systems and intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time for partner meetings, events, and other related activities.
Bachelor's degree in Arts or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, or work experience.

Nice To Haves

licensing or sports-related experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Partner cross-functionally with in-house design teams to align on corporate branding standards and ensure seasonal creative direction is consistently applied across all licensed sports apparel assortments.
Share fresh perspectives and new ideas with the broader design team through clear written and verbal communication, confidently influencing creative strategy and promoting a culture of innovation.
Collaborate with internal partners across teams and departments to support collection development, presentation needs, and special art requests in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Design apparel graphics that resonate with sports fans by integrating consumer insights, pop culture trends, and a deep understanding of the licensed sports merchandise landscape.
Lead the development of seasonal creative stories within the assortment, ensuring designs reflect relevant trend direction and authentic connection to Leagues and fan communities.
Maintain an active understanding of competitor activity and new business opportunities to continuously elevate the design aesthetic and deliver fan-first product experiences.
Develop mood boards, trend boards, and ideation materials that inspire the team and ground design decisions in real fan and market intelligence.
Conduct local trend shopping and research across multiple apparel embellishment techniques — including screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, and embroidery — to identify new creative and production opportunities.
Apply intermediate to advanced typography skills to research, develop, and implement font solutions that elevate apparel graphics and reinforce brand storytelling.
Create graphic concepts and presentations for non-calendared special art requests, bringing agility and creative problem-solving to emerging business needs.
Explore and adopt new digital tools, AI-assisted design capabilities, and emerging technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of the design process.
Own the end-to-end design process for assigned apparel graphics projects — from concept through production-ready art — managing workload independently or as part of a team to meet all deadlines.
Develop and maintain presentation decks and collection boards with a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Demonstrate knowledge of domestic and import printing and production processes, ensuring designs are executed with technical precision and feasibility.
Maintain a positive and professional attitude toward team members, vendors, and clients while adapting to shifting priorities and managing projects with composure under pressure.
Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes.
Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance.
Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working.
Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.