Apparel Graphic Designer I

Fanatics Commerce; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Office in Tampa

Job summary

Fanatics Commerce is seeking a Graphic Designer to create apparel graphics for licensed sports portfolios, partnering with in-house teams to uphold branding and seasonal direction. The role emphasizes strong production art skills, typography, and a data-minded approach to design across multiple leagues and channels.

You will work in a hybrid setup at the Tampa office, collaborating with cross-functional teams, traveling for partner meetings as needed, and contributing to fast-paced product

Qualifications

• 2+ years in retail, licensing, or sports design with a strong portfolio
• Proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign with good color theory and composition
• Typography skills including font research, selection, and apparel implementation
• Entry-level production art knowledge: licensing sheets, BOM callouts, decoration specs
• Excellent written and verbal communication for cross-functional teams
• Strong organizational skills for multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• MS Office proficiency (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Arts or related field or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

• Design apparel graphics that connect with sports fans and reflect sports culture and consumer insights
• Maintain corporate branding and seasonal creative direction across licensed league assortments
• Own master art files with licensing sheets, sizing specs, decoration callouts, BOM, proper branding and copyright annotations
• Travel occasionally for partner meetings, events and related activities
• Develop presentation decks and collection boards for internal stakeholders
• Apply trend research to inform embellishment techniques (screen print, heat transfers, embroidery)
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Typography

Production art

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Arts or related field

Tools

Licensing sheets

BOM callouts

Job description

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

The Graphic Designer, Licensed Sports Apparel is a creative, passionate, and results-oriented designer who leverages a strong command of brand identity, color theory, and production art techniques to develop professional apparel designs and seasonal sports assortments across our licensed sports portfolio. Partnering with in-house design teams, this role maintains Corporate Branding and seasonal creative direction that elevates 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.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

• Partner cross-functionally with in-house design and brand teams to maintain consistency in Corporate Branding and seasonal creative directionacross licensed league assortments.
• Communicate fresh perspectives and new ideas clearly to internal partners through written and verbal channels, contributing to a collaborative and creatively charged team environment.
• Manage projects independently or as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability across concurrent workstreams.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

• Design apparel graphics that authentically connect with sports fans, reflecting a deep understanding of sports culture, pop culture, and consumer insights.
• Apply trend research, local shopping, and reference development to inform embellishment techniques — including screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, and embroidery — that resonate with target fan audiences.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of presentation decks and collection boards that bring league-specific brand stories to life for internal stakeholders.
• Create compelling non-calendared special art request graphic concepts that meet fan and partner needs on an agile timeline.

Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)

• Actively monitor trends in sports apparel and sports and pop culture, translating insights into mood boards, trend boards, and ideation boards that influence design strategy.
• Research and develop typography solutions — including font selection, development, and implementation — that push creative boundarieswhile adhering to brand and league guidelines.
• Identify new embellishment techniques and decoration opportunities to expand the expressive range of licensed apparel graphics.
• Bring a solutions-focused mindset to design challenges, consistently delivering creative outcomes in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)

• Own the full build-out of master art files, inclusive of licensing sheets with spec-based sizing, decoration callouts, BOM details, appropriate branding, and required copyright annotations.
• Meet deadlines with strong organizational discipline, prioritizing workload effectively and maintaining composure under pressure across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude toward teammates, vendors, and clients, reinforcing a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Travel occasionally for partner meetings, events, and other business-related activities as needed.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY

• 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

CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING

Required Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in retail, licensing, or a sports-related design environment; a strong professional portfolio showcasing a wide range of design skills and abilities is required for consideration.
• Intermediate-level proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, with working knowledge of color theory, composition, and concept development.
• Intermediate typography skills, including font research, selection, and implementation in apparel graphic contexts.
• Entry-level production art knowledge, including familiarity with licensing sheet construction, BOM callouts, and decoration specifications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas and decisions professionally to internal cross-functional partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, adapt to shifting priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with project management systems and intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Arts or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience.

WORK LOCATION Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Company's office located in Tampa, FL, subject to the Company's current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

As set forth in Fanatics Commerce ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.