Color Design Manager - Footwear

Laceless Design; United States; On-site; USD 118,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health & dental benefits

Mental health plans

Paid time off

Retirement plan matching

Employee discount

Fitness & yoga classes

Parenthood top-up

Development courses

Mentorship programs

Job summary

lululemon seeks a senior footwear color designer to lead the color vision for its footwear lines, translating global trends into cohesive color narratives across performance and lifestyle silhouettes.

You will partner with cross-functional teams, develop seasonal palettes, and mentor a team of designers while driving color storytelling that aligns with the brand and GTM milestones. Onsite collaboration four days a week in the US.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Design or equivalent required.
• Minimum 8 years of design experience.
• Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Ability to translate trends into color concepts.
• Strong communication with cross-functional partners.
• Global brand alignment experience.
• Leadership and mentorship capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead color vision for lululemon footwear based on trends.
• Create and manage seasonal footwear color palettes.
• Develop cohesive color stories across product lines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver color assets.
• Support Director with decks and color concept presentations.
• Maintain hands-on design work and drive creative excellence.
• Lead and develop a team of designers; mentor growth.
• Manage seasonal workloads with milestones for GTM.
• Align color design with materials, merchandising and development.

Skills

Color vision

Adobe Suite

Communication

Aesthetic intelligence

Innovative thinking

Global brand alignment

Delegation & project management

Team building & collaboration

Coaching & mentoring

Vision & enrollment

Education

BA/BFA/BS in Design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Description & Requirements

who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

about this team

As a world class design team, we are at the forefront of the industry in creating transformative products and experiences for our guests. We establish the Footwear Creative Direction for our brand. Through a deep understanding of guests needs, cultural references and science of feel solutions, we create innovative products that address our guests’ unmet needs. We drive excellence by establishing a strong connection between design, innovation and raw materials. We create products distinguished by their silhouettes, fit, function and style. Our team works collaboratively between the color design, material design, footwear design and 3D design functions. We are dedicated to cultivating a culture of continuous learning and growth, where Designers are empowered to push boundaries and unleash their full potential.

core responsibilities

• Lead the color vision for lululemon footwear, translating cultural, aesthetic and global guest trends into strategic color narratives in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Create and manage seasonal footwear color palettes that complement apparel assortments ensuring a cohesive and elevated seasonal expression informed by footwear expertise.
• Develop and drive cohesive color stories across performance and lifestyle footwear that align with the brand’s creative and business strategies.
• Partner with the cross-functional team to deliver compelling visual assets and execute color across materials considering fabric, finish and treatment to advance product innovation and support seasonal storytelling.
• Support the Director strategically by creating decks and Miro boards to present and share color concepts for the line plan.
• Remain hands-on in mainline design work collaborating closely with the color design team and leading by example to ensure creative excellence.
• Lead and develop a team of designers to excel both creatively and professionally. Partner with the Director to recruit, train and mentor talent supporting employee growth through performance management and career pathing.
• Manage and assign seasonal workloads in partnership with the Director establishing efficient workflows, milestones and timelines to support GTM (go-to-market) milestones and ensure timely delivery.
• Collaborate closely with Material, Product design, Merchandising and Development partners to strengthen creative alignment and execution across categories.

qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience
• BA, BFA or BS in Design required (or equivalent)
• Proficient in Adobe Suite (In Design, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Design Skills - To creatively conceptualize, design and apply aesthetically pleasing color systems, that are uniquely lululemon, using a blend of artistic vision, technical expertise and industry / Footwear Color knowledge.
• Communication - Clearly articulate design ideas and concepts to the team, stakeholders and cross functional partners, both verbally and visually.
• Aesthetic Intelligence - Understand and appreciate the nuances of design. Inspired by and aware of the global fashion/art/design landscape.
• Innovative Thinking - Generate new ideas, processes and solutions that push the boundaries of product creation.
• Global market Understanding and Brand Alignment - Translate global fashion trends and consumer behaviors into designs that align and enhance brand’s identity and reputation.
• Delegation & Project Management - Organize and set priorities and effectively delegate tasks and responsibilities to empower Designers to produce high quality work, in accordance with GTM milestones.
• Team Building & Collaboration - fostering a sense of unity, shared purpose and an innovative environment where team members feel valued and contribute ideas.
• Coaching & Mentoring - Offering guidance and feedback to help team members grow and develop, providing constructive feedback to improve performance.
• Vision & Enrollment - Sharing ideas in a way that inspires action and articulates an inspiring picture of what the team can achieve.

must haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

Immigration support is potentially available for this role.

compensation and benefits package

lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and team performance. The typical hiring range for this position is from $118,400 - $155,400 USD annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program and equity offerings, subject to program eligibility requirements.

At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe that when life works, work works. We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well. Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Generous employee discount
• Fitness & yoga classes
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

workplace arrangement

In-person collaboration and/or office-based work is necessary or important for the role. Work is mainly performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.