Associate Apparel Designer

Brooks Sports Inc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Product discounts

Employee recognition

Fitness discounts

Volunteer and donation benefits

Job summary

Brooks Sports Inc. seeks an Associate Apparel Designer to support the Senior Graphic Designer in establishing seasonal prints, graphics, and branding that drive category initiatives while maintaining brand direction.

You will contribute to product storytelling and ensure deliverables meet design standards. You will collaborate with Color and Product Designers, work across design and Fusion teams, and travel as needed to stay ahead of trends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in apparel/graphic design field.
• 3+ years in apparel design or related design role.
• Proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop; AI tools welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Support design, development, and execution of seasonal apparel prints and branding.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create merchandisable lines.
• Influence decisions across apparel functions and ensure on-time delivery.
• Research trends to inform seasonal direction and product opportunities.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

AI tools

Communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design

Tools

Vector graphics software

Mac design environment

Job description

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

• Runner First
  • We act in the best interest of the runner
• Word is Bond
  • We do what we say we’ll do
• Champion Heart
  • We give our all in everything we do
• There is no “I” in Run
  • We stay generous with our humanity
• Keep Moving
  • We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement - because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.

Your Job

Product excellence is at the heart of Brooks’ success and achieving a leadership position in the marketplace requires innovation and excellence in product designs. As the Associate Apparel Designer, you will support the Senior Graphic Designer in establishing seasonal prints, graphics, and branding that drive category initiatives while maintaining brand direction and appropriate aesthetic appeal for a targeted consumer. You will drive overall product quality to higher levels through research, design, signature product execution, and create the overarching story for each season. You will ensure that deliverable dates and functional needs across the Design & Fusion teams are met. You will collaborate with Color and Product Designers to create final intent for each style. You will provide stories to the Product Line Managers to create consumer-facing stories.

Your Responsibilities

• Support designers in the design, development, and execution of seasonal Apparel print, graphics, and branding concepts from initial concept through commercialization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a merchandisable line from concept to commercialization.
• Successfully influence decisions across the Apparel functions with full accountability and ownership for the outcome as well as the process.
• Conduct research on apparel, running, lifestyle, and fashion trends to help inform seasonal design direction and product opportunities.
• Participate in seasonal and yearly concept strategy sessions in conjunction with Apparel Design Leadership create seasonal themes.
• Under the guidance of the Design Director and Senior Designer, help contribute to a strong consumer-oriented point of view for Apparel Print, Graphics, and Branding for Apparel Design and execute the vision seasonally.
• Research and deliver design, market, and lifestyle trends that influence and impact the product category process from product briefing to product concept to final designs.
• Strategize seasonal and full year concepts in conjunction with the Design Director and Footwear team to align seasonal themes.
• Collaborate with Design partners, Product Marketing, Development, and Materials to focus on apparel solutions for market success.
• Present overarching seasonal concepts for apparel design at internal product meetings via presentation materials that effectively communicate the concepts.
• Together with the Senior Designer help design and develop all apparel concepts including print, graphics, and branding.
• Create specification packages for size, application, and placement.
• Be available for relevant fit sessions and product reviews for all prototypes, photo samples, size runs, salesmen samples, and pre-production samples to ensure quality and fit that meets design standards and overall brand objectives.
• Become an apparel design expert maintaining and strengthening our brand storytelling opportunities via product.
• Use AI tools to visualize design intent for individual items and head-to-toe looks at Concept meetings and Final Reviews.
• Strong collaboration with Apparel Merchandising and Footwear Team to create head-to-toe outfitting whenever possible.
• Travel domestically and/or internationally minimum of twice per year to stay on top of trends and consumer firsthand.
• Meet calendar deadlines and deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, or related field; equivalent combination of education and years of experience can be considered in lieu of degree(s)
• 3+ years of experience in apparel design or relevant experience in a similar design role
• Formal design education and/or training in apparel design and vector-based graphic design programs preferred
• Power user in vector-based graphics software applications (i.e., Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop proficient); Mac environment for design with some work in a PC environment and spectrophotometer hardware
• Ability to use AI tools and emerging technologies to visualize and communicate design concepts
• Ability to communicate design ideas clearly through sketches, technical drawings, presentations, and verbal communication
• Ability to manage multiple assigned projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, seasonal product development environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating effective listening through concise, clear verbal and written communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills that inspire and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the company
• Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our products, or other departments' operations and/or morale; "connecting the dots"
• Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help wherever necessary
• Travel 10% (domestically/internationally)
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!

Compensation

The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $74,985 - $112,478 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Other

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!

Benefits- including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.

Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus-in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.

Perks-including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Location- You will spend 4 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.