Junior Slipper Designer – Kids & Licensed Product

Retail Human Resources plc; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Retail Human Resources plc in Milton Keynes is seeking a Junior Designer to work on commercial slipper collections for leading UK retailers. You will bring exceptional CAD and 3D visualisation skills, plus a strong understanding of footwear construction.

Join a team that translates creative concepts into technically viable products, develop character-led, fun kids’ footwear, and collaborate with design, sourcing and product development to deliver samples and final products.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates outstanding CAD skills essential for design work.
• Shows strong 3D rendering/visualisation capability.
• Has good technical understanding of footwear construction.
• Portfolio demonstrates product design and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design commercial slipper ranges with focus on kids’ and novelty products.
• Create high-quality CADs and strong 3D visualisations communicating shape, materials and detailing.
• Develop character-led concepts into viable products.
• Produce accurate technical drawings and product specifications.
• Understand footwear construction and manufacturing techniques in the design process.
• Research trends, colours, graphics and competitor activity.
• Create mood boards and seasonal concepts within briefs and price points.
• Support development from concept to sample and final approval.

Skills

Outstanding CAD skills

3D rendering/visualisation

Footwear construction knowledge

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Kids’ product awareness

Brand/licensed product experience

Portfolio display

Tools

CAD software

3D software

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented Junior Designer to join a successful lifestyle product supplier, working on commercial slipper collections for leading UK high street retailers and supermarkets.

This is a brilliant opportunity for a junior designer with exceptional CAD and 3D visualisation skills, a strong understanding of footwear construction and a real eye for fun, commercial kids’ product.

You don’t necessarily need to have spent your whole career designing slippers, but you must understand how footwear is constructed and be able to translate a creative concept into a technically workable product.

Experience designing kids’ footwear, slippers, accessories or character-led product would be particularly desirable, as would exposure to licensed and character product.

The role

Working closely with the wider design, product development and sourcing teams, you will:

• Design commercial slipper ranges, with a particular focus on kids’, character and novelty product
• Create high-quality CADs and strong 3D visualisations that clearly communicate shape, construction, materials and detailing
• Develop character-led, novelty and plush concepts into commercially viable products
• Produce accurate technical drawings and product specifications
• Understand and consider footwear construction, components, materials and manufacturing techniques throughout the design process
• Research trends, colour, graphics, characters and competitor activity
• Create mood boards, colour palettes and seasonal concepts
• Work within customer briefs, price points and commercial requirements
• Support the development process from initial concept through to sample and final approval
• Work closely with UK and overseas product and sourcing teams
• Develop designs in response to customer and internal feedback

About you

We’re looking for someone creative, commercial and technically strong who can demonstrate:

• Outstanding CAD skills – essential
• Strong 3D rendering / visualisation skills – essential
• A good technical understanding of footwear construction – essential
• A portfolio showing strong product design, technical ability and attention to detail
• A good eye for kids’ product, colour, proportion, graphics and character
• Ideally, previous experience designing kids’ footwear, slippers or accessories
• Exposure to licensed, character or branded product would be a strong advantage
• Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills
• An understanding of materials, trims and product development
• The ability to take a creative idea and understand how it will actually be constructed and manufactured
• Strong organisation and communication skills

This could suit an Assistant Designer ready to step up into a Junior Designer role, or an existing Junior Designer looking to specialise within footwear and lifestyle product.

It’s a great opportunity to join an established, growing business with major UK retail customers, offering excellent exposure to the full design and development process.

Years of experience