Footwear Designer

Aquent (United States); Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a senior Footwear Designer to drive innovative footwear concepts from ideation to final execution. You will apply expert graphic design skills across product and storytelling platforms, collaborating with Materials, Color, and Graphic Design teams to deliver cohesive concepts.

With 10+ years in footwear, you will mentor teammates, define seasonal direction, and manage multiple timelines with creative excellence and strong communication.

Qualifications

• Must have 10+ years designing and developing footwear products.
• Expert-level graphic design skills with strong typographic sense.
• Strong understanding of color theory, brand identity and visual systems.
• Ability to navigate ambiguous briefs and tight timelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead ideation, design development, and final execution of footwear.
• Collaborate with materials, color, and graphic teams to develop cohesive concepts.
• Direct cross-functional teams and maintain a clear design vision.
• Prioritize workload across multiple projects with attention to detail.
• Mentor peers and contribute to seasonal design direction.

Skills

Graphic design

Typography

Color theory

Brand identity

Visual systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in design

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Miro

Job description

We are looking for a Footwear Designer to step into a pivotal role where your design expertise will directly influence the creation of groundbreaking footwear. As a key contributor, you will drive innovation, bringing visionary concepts to life that captivate audiences and elevate product performance. Your work will not only define future collections but also inspire a global community, making a tangible impact on the intersection of sport and style.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the ideation, design development, specification, and final execution of innovative footwear designs.
• Apply expert-level graphic design skills, demonstrating a strong understanding of typography, color theory, brand identity, and visual systems across product and storytelling platforms.
• Drive the creation of performance footwear, consistently raising the bar in style and functionality.
• Understand relevant subcultures and market trends to ensure distinct and competitive designs.
• Collaborate daily with Materials Design, Color Design, and Graphic Design teams to develop cohesive concepts.
• Guide cross-functional teams, maintaining a clear design vision amidst diverse feedback and stakeholders.
• Prioritize workload effectively across short- and long-term projects, managing multiple timelines and complexities with creative excellence and attention to detail.
• Mentor fellow product design teammates, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Work with design leadership to define model and seasonal design direction.

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum 10+ years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear products.
• Expert-level graphic design skills, including ideation, design development, specification, and final execution.
• Strong understanding of typography, color theory, brand identity, and visual systems across product and storytelling platforms.
• Proven ability to navigate challenging briefs and ambiguity to successful project completion.
• Experience working across multiple timelines and levels of complexity, effectively prioritizing workload.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Miro.
• A positive attitude, demonstrating strong collaboration and proactive communication skills.
• Bachelor’s Degree in product design or a relevant design degree, or a combination of relevant education, experience, and training.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Cobbling and prototyping skills.
• 3D design program experience.
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills.
• AI exploration and rendering abilities.
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials.
• Ability to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project.