Associate Designer, Color Palette Creation

The North Face; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Denver HQ

Job summary

The North Face is seeking an Associate Designer, Color Palette Creation to translate culture, outdoors, and trends into color concepts across Snow, Climb, Trail, and lifestyle products. You’ll build mood boards, seasonal palettes, and apply color to CADs with a collaborative team.

With 1–2 years of relevant experience, you’ll contribute to the design process, support milestones, and grow expertise in color strategy and visual storytelling.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of color, design, or product creation experience.
• Apparel/footwear or accessories familiarity preferred.
• Foundational color theory and consumer color trends.
• Experience applying color palettes to CADs or croquis.
• Familiar with mood boards and visual storytelling.
• Aware of seasonal design processes and milestones.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite; knowledge of Figma is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support seasonal trend research and color design application.
• Create color palettes, mood boards, and color decks.
• Apply color directions to CADs and croquis.
• Prepare materials for milestones, reviews, and presentations.
• Bridge brand aesthetic with consumer and product categories.
• Develop knowledge of design tools, systems, and milestones.
• Collaborate across functions and participate in reviews and discussions.

Skills

Color theory

Trend research

Mood boards

Color palettes

Color concepts

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Learning mindset

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Microsoft Office

Job description

Every season at The North Face starts with a story, and color helps bring that story to life! As the Associate Designer, Color Palette Creation , you'll turn inspiration from culture, consumers, the outdoors, and emerging trends into color concepts that move across our product. From building mood boards and seasonal palettes to applying color to CADs, you'll work with a collaborative design team to help shape how The North Face shows up across Snow, Climb, Trail, and lifestyle. Bring your curiosity, creative eye, and passion for color, and help us inspire exploration through every shade.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Support the design team with seasonal trend and market research, concept ideation, and color design application.
• Assist in the creation of color palettes, mood boards, color decks, and seasonal tools, working closely with and under the direction of the Design Manager.
• Apply approved color direction to product CADs and/or croquis across assigned product areas.
• Preparing materials for seasonal milestones, reviews, and presentations.
• Bridge your understanding of The North Face brand aesthetic through our consumers, product categories, and color strategy.
• Develop foundational knowledge of the design process, tools, systems, and key milestones while building strong cross-functional partnerships.
• You bring curiosity, attention to detail, and a passion for learning, actively contributing to team reviews, workshops, and creative discussions.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you'll need to succeed and grow. While formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 1-2 years of relevant experience, including internships or professional experience, within color, design, or product creation.

• 1-2 years of relevant experience in color, trend, design, or product creation, ideally within apparel, footwear, equipment, or accessories.
• Exposure to trend and market research across performance and/or lifestyle products.
• Foundational understanding of color theory, consumer color trends, and color concepts.
• Experience applying color palettes to CADs and/or croquis.
• Familiarity with concept ideation, mood boards, and visual storytelling.
• Exposure to the seasonal design process and working toward key milestones and deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite; experience with Figma and Microsoft Office is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and willingness to learn.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team and across functions.
• Flexibility and a positive mindset toward change.
• A passion for Snow, Climb, Trail, and lifestyle product.

This role operates on a hybrid schedule out of our HQ in Denver, CO three days a week.

Hiring Range:

$60,480.00 USD - $75,600.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential

This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation

You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.