Footwear Color Designer

Skill; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision plan

Dental plan

Retirement plan with match

Professional training access

Job summary

Aquent is partnering with a global leader in sportswear and lifestyle to redefine a seasonal footwear color narrative. You will craft color stories rooted in culture and consumer insights, shaping how products resonate worldwide.

As a Designer, you will develop palettes, moodboards, and concepts, guiding color direction from ideation to market. collaboration with cross-functional teams will be essential to deliver compelling product narratives.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of color storytelling in footwear and lifestyle markets.
• Strong portfolio showing color storytelling, moodboards, palettes, and concept ideation.
• Understanding of cultural trends and consumer behavior in footwear.

Responsibilities

• Develop color stories, palettes, and seasonal concepts for footwear portfolio.
• Create moodboards and visual presentations communicating inspiration and rationale.
• Research cultural movements, trends, and subcultures to inform color decisions.
• Translate consumer insights and trend data into aspirational color concepts.
• Review seasonal lines to identify opportunities for standout color stories.
• Guide color concepts through ideation to final execution.
• Collaborate with designers, product teams, developers, and merchandising partners.
• Present concepts and color direction to stakeholders with clarity and passion.
• Balance storytelling with brand expression and product considerations.

Skills

Color storytelling

Moodboard creation

Palette development

Concept ideation

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Market trend analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in design

Job description

Aquent is partnering with a global leader in sportswear and lifestyle to find a visionary designer who will profoundly influence product direction through the power of color. This is an incredible opportunity to infuse culture, consumer insights, and compelling storytelling directly into the seasonal footwear portfolio, shaping how products resonate with consumers worldwide.

We are seeking a creative designer who deeply understands sneaker culture, consumer behavior, and the art of crafting a compelling product narrative through color. You will be instrumental in shaping seasonal footwear concepts, developing original color stories rooted in cultural trends, consumer insights, and broader product narratives that captivate and inspire.

What You’ll Do

• Develop compelling color stories, palettes, and seasonal concepts for an exciting footwear portfolio.
• Create impactful moodboards and visual presentations that clearly communicate the inspiration and strategic rationale behind color direction.
• Conduct in-depth research into cultural movements, consumer trends, and relevant subcultures to inform innovative design decisions.
• Translate complex consumer insights and trend data into commercially relevant and aspirational color concepts.
• Proactively review seasonal footwear lines, identifying and seizing opportunities for fresh, differentiated, and market-leading color stories.
• Guide color concepts seamlessly through the entire product development journey, from initial ideation and concepting to final execution.
• Collaborate closely with a diverse range of cross-functional stakeholders, including designers, product teams, developers, and merchandising partners, fostering a cohesive creative process.
• Present innovative creative concepts and strategic color direction to teammates and key stakeholders, articulating your vision with clarity and passion.
• Master the balance between creative storytelling, consumer relevance, authentic brand expression, and critical product considerations.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of professional color design experience, specifically within footwear.
• A strong, dynamic portfolio showcasing exceptional color storytelling, moodboard creation, palette development, and concept ideation.
• Deep, nuanced knowledge of relevant cultural trends and consumer behaviors within the footwear market.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage consumer insights, cultural research, and trend data to drive and influence impactful design decisions.
• Proven experience developing compelling color and product narratives within categories such as sportswear, lifestyle, streetwear, or athletic footwear.
• A sophisticated understanding of how color profoundly contributes to a product’s overall story and its appeal to diverse consumers.
• Bachelor’s degree in design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience that demonstrates a high level of expertise.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating complex creative ideas to various audiences.

Nice to Have

• Experience managing color concepts across an entire seasonal product journey, from inception to market launch.
• Demonstrated experience developing comprehensive color direction for seasonal footwear assortments.
• A background working with a major brand in the sportswear, footwear, lifestyle, or streetwear sectors.
• Experience in effective cross-functional partnership across design, development, merchandising, and product teams.
• Proficiency in presenting creative direction to senior leadership or diverse cross-functional stakeholders.
• Familiarity with color & materials (CMF) processes and the intricacies of footwear product development.

Why This Role

This is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute your expertise to a highly visible global footwear portfolio, where your creative vision for color, informed by culture and consumer insight, will directly shape product direction. You will collaborate with an experienced design team, empowering you to define how color comes to life across seasonal footwear, leaving an indelible mark on products enjoyed by millions.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.