Entry Level Footwear Designer

University of the Arts London; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Core studio days Tue-Thu

Early finish Fridays

24 days annual leave + birthday day

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

The Footsoldiers in Shoreditch, London, is seeking an entry-level Footwear Designer to join our 20-person design team. You will collaborate with senior designers to start projects, translate ideas into presentations, and contribute to the full footwear design process.

You will gain hands-on experience across performance, lifestyle and technical footwear, using Illustrator and Photoshop, and you will learn from an experienced team in a collaborative, hybrid studio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
• Completed a minimum 6-month internship in footwear design or related area.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with AI design tool experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior designers to initiate projects, conduct research, and begin initial designs.
• Translate conceptual ideas into tangible design presentations, working with the design team.
• Demonstrate ability to sketch and communicate design ideas to seniors.
• Assist in creating digital designs using Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Participate in market research to stay informed about trends, materials, and technologies.
• Develop basic colourways and show familiarity with materials and suppliers.
• Understand technical footwear development and assist in composing tech packs.
• Engage with team members for feedback and incorporate it into iterations.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

AI design tools

Strong communication

Time management

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Footwear Design or related field

Tools

Vizcom

Nano Banana

Job description

Are you a creative designer with a genuine passion for footwear? The Footsoldiers is looking for a talented entry-levelFootwear Designer to join our 20-person design team in Shoreditch, London.

We partner with a diverse portfolio of clients across the U.S., Europe and Asia, working across performance, lifestyle and technical footwear. Our team has extensive experience delivering successful projects for globally recognised brands including New Balance, KEEN, HOKA and Canada Goose.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with senior designers to initiate projects, conduct research, and begin initial designs.
• Translate conceptual ideas into tangible design presentations, working closely with the design team.
• Demonstrate understanding in sketching and effectively communicate design ideas to seniors.
• Assist in the creation of digital designs using Illustrator, with basic skills in Photoshop or Procreate.
• Actively participate in market research to stay informed about trends, materials, and technologies.
• Develop basic colourways and show familiarity with materials and suppliers.
• Begin to understand technical footwear development and assist in composing tech packs.
• Engage with team members for feedback and incorporate it into design iterations.

Skills and Experience Required

About You

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
• Completed a minimum 6-month internship in footwear design or related area.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate projects, conduct research, and start initial designs.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with experience using emerging AI design tools such as Vizcom and Nano Banana.
• Developing skills in technical footwear development and composing tech packs.
• Interest in market trends and willingness to conduct research.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate design rationale.
• Team player with a positive attitude and willingness to collaborate.
• Capable of managing time effectively and working towards deadlines.

What we offer

• Hybrid working, with Tuesday to Thursday as our core studio days.
• Early finish every Friday.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Exposure to a diverse range of international brands and footwear categories.
• Hands-on experience across the full footwear design and development process.
• The opportunity to learn directly from an experienced team of specialist footwear designers.
• A collaborative, creative working environment in our Shoreditch studio.
• 24 days’ annual leave, plus an additional day off for your birthday after your first year.
• Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans available after your first year of employment.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and caring responsibility. We are committed to offering a working environment where everyone is valued and feels appreciated.