Colour Designer 1, Footwear

Arc'teryx Equipment; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing

Financial wellbeing

Time & Flexibility

Family support

Growth, community & gear

Job summary

Arc’teryx Equipment in Portland, OR is seeking a Designer 1 focused on Footwear Colour to support the colour creative process and deliver seasonal direction. You will work with design and cross-functional teams to apply colour direction and athlete insights, aligning with brand standards and product principles.

You will translate direction into palettes, develop expressions for footwear, and collaborate to keep colour consistent across categories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in colour, trend, footwear, apparel or design discipline.
• Knowledge of trend, style and colour theory with understanding of global trends and harmony.
• Strong colour acuity and ability to apply colour direction precisely.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Creative Suite to build visual presentations.
• Understanding of line development and retail buying processes.

Responsibilities

• Translate seasonal direction and brand standards into colour palettes for collections.
• Apply technical colour applications informed by athlete insights.
• Develop colour expressions for footwear portfolios with Colour Design lead and Product Designers.
• Collaborate with Merchandisers and Colour Designers to maintain colour consistency across categories.
• Support assortment planning with Product Management, Merchandising and Design.
• Enhance colour merchandising through outfit coordination and cross-merchandising direction.
• Research external colour and trend references to fuel creative work.
• Create presentations communicating seasonal direction and global colour theory.

Skills

Colour theory

Colour direction

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Global markets awareness

Athlete insights understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design/ Fine Arts or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Creative Suite

Job description

Reports to: Senior Colour Designer, Footwear

Location: Portland, OR

Job purpose:

As a Designer 1 focused on Footwear Colour, you will support the colour creative process through the development and delivery of seasonal direction. Working closely with the Design team and cross-functional partners, you will apply seasonal colour direction and athlete insights to create colour that is both expressive and built for purpose. You will help bring this process to life in line with Arc’teryx brand standards, design and product principles, and colour merchandising philosophies.

Department:Creative

Reports to: Senior Colour Designer, Footwear

Location: Portland, OR

Job purpose:

As a Designer 1 focused on Footwear Colour, you will support the colour creative process through the development and delivery of seasonal direction. Working closely with the Design team and cross-functional partners, you will apply seasonal colour direction and athlete insights to create colour that is both expressive and built for purpose. You will help bring this process to life in line with Arc’teryx brand standards, design and product principles, and colour merchandising philosophies.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Translate seasonal direction, trend insight and Arc’teryx brand standards into colour palettes for seasonal, regional and multichannel collections
• Take a technical approach to colour application, informed by athlete insights
• Develop colour expressions for an assigned portfolio of footwear products with Colour Design lead and Product Designers
• Partner with Merchandisers and Colour Designers to keep colour consistent across categories
• Support continuance, retail flow and regional assortment planning with Product Management, Merchandising and Design
• Bring colour merchandising to life through outfit coordination, assortment aesthetics and cross-merchandising direction
• Research and curate external colour, trend and industry references to fuel the creative process
• Help build presentations that communicate seasonal direction, global trends and colour theory

Additional experience, education and/or skills required:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in colour, trend, footwear, apparel, fashion or another design discipline
• Working knowledge of trend, style and colour theory, with a growing understanding of global trends and colour harmony
• Strong colour acuity and the ability to apply colour direction precisely
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Creative Suite, with the ability to build clear visual presentations
• Understanding of the line development and retail buying process
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy across colour and product documentation
• Able to work to critical path timelines and meet deadlines
• Clear communicator and strong cross-functional collaborator
• Takes direction and feedback well and contributes positively to the team
• Awareness of global markets and cultural differences

Assets:

• Knowledge of colour development, including lab dips, colour standards, colourfastness and digital colour assessment
• Ability to tell stories through visual communication
• Knowledge of Arc’teryx and other outdoor products and how they’re used
• Proactive, resourceful problem solver who spots issues early and finds practical solutions aligned with team and brand standards
• Flexible and adaptable when priorities shift
• Balances independent work with collaboration
• Curious, with ideas that drive continuous improvement

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is USD$70,000 - USD$92,000

Total Rewards

Most new team members join between the start and midpoint of the range, where you can contribute right away while continuing to grow your craft, your collaborations, and your impact at Arc’teryx. This range reflects market alignment and the scope of the role. Individual pay is determined by your skills, experience, and level of responsibility.

We’re committed to fair, equitable, and competitive pay, reviewed regularly to ensure internal alignment and market relevance. Transparency is part of how we follow through on our commitments and how we honour the value you bring to our team.

In addition to base pay, Arc’teryx supports people through benefits designed to sustain both work and life:

• Health & wellbeing - Extended health, dental, and vision coverage, including mental health support, fertility benefits, and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial wellbeing - Immediately vested 401(k) retirement savings plan matching, eligibility for Arc'teryx Annual Incentive Plan and access to Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), where applicable.
• Time & Flexibility - Paid time off, and No Wasted Day program (dedicated paid days to get outside & explore).
• Family support - Parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents, including an option to ease the transition back to work.
• Growth, community & gear - Professional development opportunities, Arc'teryx Academies (outdoor skill-building events),Employee Belonging Councils, and access to employee discounts and Pro Deals (exclusive discounted pricing on gear).

*Eligibility for certain programs may vary by role.

Equal Opportunity

Arc’teryx is committed to actively creating and fostering a culture of inclusivity where voices are heard, people are seen, and values are respected. We care about the uniqueness of our applicants, employees, and guests, and we do so in a safe space fueled by curiosity and acceptance.

Creating an inclusive workplace is connected to our core value Do Right while also having the added benefit of helping make our business better. We believe inclusion helps us to create a healthier, happier workplace, drive creativity and innovation, and reflect the communities where we operate.

All applicants, employees, and guests can expect equality of opportunity and fair treatment in alignment with our values.

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