Senior Apparel Graphic Designer

Fanatics Commerce; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Fanatics Commerce is seeking a Senior Designer, Licensed Apparel Graphics to lead the design and development of seasonal licensed graphics. You will translate creative direction into production-ready toolkits, mentor junior designers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to align with licensing standards and brand strategy.

The role requires 8+ years in licensed/apparel design, expert typography, and advanced skills in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and AI design platforms.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional graphic design experience focused on licensed/apparel design.
• Expert typography, color theory, layout, and composition; able to lead creative direction.
• Advanced proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; knowledge of AI design platforms.
• Deep understanding of apparel product development and production requirements.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects autonomously in fast-paced environments.
• Experience mentoring junior designers and fostering collaboration.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to sell design concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead design concepts for licensed apparel graphics across seasonal lines.
• Collaborate with merchants, product developers, and sales to align graphics with goals.
• Mentor junior designers and present to senior leadership.
• Translate direction into production-ready design toolkits.

Skills

Licensed apparel design

Graphic design

Typography

Color theory

Layout & composition

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Mentoring junior designers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design

Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

AI design platforms

Job description

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Senior Designer, Licensed Apparel Graphics is an expert-level creative leader responsible for driving the design and development of seasonal sports apparel graphics, translating creative direction into technically sound, production-ready designs and toolkits. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy, managing multiple projects simultaneously while mentoring junior designers and partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure designs align with product strategy, brand vision, and licensing requirements. The Senior Designer, Licensed Apparel Graphics delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Partner closely with merchants, product developers, and sales teams to ensure apparel graphics align with product goals, assortment strategy, and business needs across all seasonal initiatives.
• Lead presentations to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, effectively communicating and selling design concepts with clarity and creative conviction.
• Serve as a trusted design expert and mentor to junior designers, providing hands-on guidance, constructive feedback, and a collaborative environment that fosters professional growth.
• Act as a creative resource to senior leadership, offering informed design insights that elevate the team's overall aesthetic and execution quality.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

• Design and develop apparel graphics that authentically connect with sports fans, translating team and brand identity into compelling, wearable visual stories.
• Apply a strong understanding of typography, color theory, layout, and composition to deliver designs that resonate with fans across leagues, teams, and events.
• Ensure all graphics meet licensed product standards, maintaining the integrity of sports and brand identities while pushing the creative aesthetic forward.
• Create design toolkits that bring consistency and cohesion across all consumer touchpoints, from initial ideation through final product execution.

Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)

• Stay current on trends and best practices in apparel design, licensed graphics, and production techniques, applying that knowledge to continuously improve team processes and creative output.
• Bring a strong point of view on integrating artificial intelligence into the product creation workflow, using AI tools to enhance design efficiency without compromising quality or brand standards.
• Identify and develop the most compelling design solutions within a given creative direction, solving complex visual challenges independently and with resourcefulness.
• Champion a culture of creative innovation by sharing ideas, exchanging feedback with peers, and elevating the collective standard of the design team's work.

Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)

• Independently manage and execute multiple apparel graphics projects simultaneously, meeting all deadlines while maintaining the highest standards of quality and minimizing technical errors.
• Translate creative direction into actionable, production-ready design toolkits that enable consistency and efficiency across the broader design team.
• Demonstrate expert-level command of licensed and apparel design principles, ensuring all work is technically sound and aligned with production and merchandising requirements.
• Take full ownership of projects from initial concept through final execution, maintaining a relentless focus on craft, detail, and delivery excellence.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY

We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:

• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes
• Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance
• Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional graphic design experience with a demonstrated focus on licensed and/or apparel design.
• Expert-level skills in graphic design fundamentals including typography, color theory, layout, and composition, with the ability to lead creative direction across seasonal assortments.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, along with a strong working knowledge of AI design platforms and a clear point of view on integrating AI into the product creation process.
• Deep understanding of apparel product development processes, including production techniques, materials, and the technical requirements of licensed design.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects autonomously, consistently meeting deadlines and quality standards in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience mentoring and providing feedback to junior designers, with a track record of fostering collaborative, growth-oriented team dynamics.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with demonstrated ability to sell design concepts to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Apparel Design, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

WORK LOCATION

Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Company's office located in NY,NY, subject to the Company's current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

NYC Salary Range

$87,000 - $106,000 USD

For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

ABOUT US

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform.

Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues, teams, colleges, and associations globally – as well as its flagship site, www.fanatics.com.

Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online, sports venue, and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide, including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues, teams, colleges, and sports organizations across the world—including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Formula 1, and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea FC, and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), England Rugby, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

At Fanatics Commerce, we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do:

Build Championship Teams

Obsessed with Fans

Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit

Determined and Relentless Mindset

As set forth in Fanatics Commerce ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.