Apparel Graphic Designer I

Fanatics; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fanatics seeks a skilled Graphic Designer for Licensed Sports Apparel in our Tampa-based hybrid team. This role focuses on brand identity, color theory, and production art to craft apparel graphics for licensed leagues and seasonal collections.

You will collaborate with in-house design to sustain Corporate Branding, develop mood boards, and apply embellishment techniques such as screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, and embroidery to resonate with fans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Arts or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience.
• 2 years of experience in retail, licensing, or a sports-related design environment.
• Proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign with strong color theory and composition.
• Knowledge of licensing sheet construction, BOM callouts, and decoration specifications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present ideas to cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Design apparel graphics that connect with sports fans and reflect brand guidelines.
• Collaborate with in-house design and brand teams to maintain consistency in Corporate Branding and seasonal creative direction.
• Develop and maintain presentation decks and collection boards for internal stakeholders.
• Oversee master art files including licensing sheets, BOM callouts, and decoration specifications.
• Manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Typography

Production art

Brand identity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Arts or related field

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

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.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

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 direction across 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 boundaries while 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.
• 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 We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:
• 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.

At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams, we're Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you're ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

About Us

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

About The Team

Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues, teams, colleges, and associations globally -- as well as its flagship site, www.fanatics.com.

Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online, sports venue, and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide, including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues, teams, colleges, and sports organizations across the world---including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Formula 1, and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea FC, and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), England Rugby, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

At Fanatics Commerce, we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do:

• Build Championship Teams
• Obsessed with Fans
• Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Determined and Relentless Mindset

By submitting your application, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our Candidate Privacy Policy.