Footwear Designer

lululemon; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 91,400 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental benefits

Paid time off

Savings and retirement plan matching

Generous employee discount

Fitness & yoga classes

Parenthood top-up

Job summary

A leading athletic apparel company in Portland is seeking a Footwear Designer to create innovative footwear experiences from concept to commercialization. In this role, you will research global trends, sketch designs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate has a background in design with proficiency in Adobe Suite and a passion for pushing creative boundaries. This position offers competitive compensation and a culture focused on continuous growth and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in design.
• Understanding of global fashion trends.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Design footwear experiences from concept to commercialization.
• Research global cultural and sport trends.
• Create tech packs supporting design intent.

Skills

Adobe Suite proficiency

Design skills

Communication

Innovative thinking

Team building

Education

BA, BFA or BS in Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

In Design

Job description

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

• Design footwear experiences from concept through commercialization for performance and casual utilizing insights, connecting inspiration and obsessing solutions.
• Research and synthesize global cultural, aesthetic and sport trends, athlete feedback and market data to inform briefs.
• Research and stay informed on relevant insights, tools, technologies and consumer insights. Collate findings, identify patterns and draw conclusions.
• Sketch, render and iterate to solve product innovation needs, build compelling stories and clearly communicate design intent.
• Partner with Product design teammates from ideation to confirmation working through feedback and construction challenges
• Collaborate with Materials, Color and 3D teams to bring concepts to life balancing performance, durability and aesthetics.
• Create complete tech packs that support 2D sketches with clear communication as well as other supportive visualization tools.
• Collaborate with Color Designers to strategize launch colors and blocking strategies.
• Manage multiple projects across overlapping seasons owning timelines, gates and deliverables to meet calendar milestones.
• Meet and connect with cross‑functional partners to ensure your development partners are clear on design intent. Generate design revisions and redlines to maintain the development and production calendar needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 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 $91,400 – $120,000 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.