Senior Designer (Footwear & Accessories)

Laceless Design; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

FRĒDA SALVADOR in San Francisco seeks a Senior Designer to shape the brand’s creative vision through commercially viable, beautifully executed product. This role owns categories end-to-end, from concept through development, in close partnership with Product Development, Merchandising, and leadership.

You will translate seasonal direction into distinctive design while contributing a strong point of view that pushes the product forward and evolves the brand, building cohesive collections that feel

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of experience in footwear and/or accessories design.
• Strong understanding of footwear construction and materials.
• Proven ability to design commercially successful product within a premium or luxury brand.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead design for assigned categories from concept through final development.
• Translate seasonal direction into clear, compelling product stories and silhouettes.
• Bring a strong, informed point of view to design discussions, contributing to the evolution of the brand.
• Create sketches, materials direction, and references that clearly communicate design intent.
• Partner closely with Product Development to ensure designs are feasible, well-executed, and aligned with quality standards.
• Review prototypes and samples, providing clear, actionable feedback.
• Maintain design integrity throughout the development process.
• Work closely with Merchandising to align design direction with business goals, assortment needs, and pricing architecture.
• Participate in key seasonal milestones including Seasonal Kickoffs, Sketch Review, Proto Reviews, and Assortment Reviews.
• Collaborate with Production to understand factory capabilities and constraints.
• Contribute to the creation of cohesive, well-balanced collections across footwear and accessories.
• Balance newness and innovation with core, proven styles.
• Help identify opportunities for new categories, silhouettes, and materials.

Skills

Footwear design

Materials knowledge

Commercial design

Communication

Collaboration

Organization

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

FRĒDA SALVADOR is seeking a Senior Designer to help shape and bring the brand’s creative vision to life through commercially viable, beautifully executed product. This role owns categories end-to-end, from concept through development, in close partnership with Product Development, Merchandising, and leadership.

This is an ideal role for a design leader who thrives at the intersection of concept, creativity, and commerce. Working closely with the founders, you will translate seasonal direction and brand strategy into distinctive, directional design, while contributing a strong point of view that pushes the product forward and evolves the brand.

You will play a key role in building cohesive, compelling collections that feel both fresh and unmistakably FRĒDA, balancing creativity with a sharp understanding of the customer and business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design & Concept Development

• Lead design for assigned categories from concept through final development
• Translate seasonal direction into clear, compelling product stories and silhouettes
• Bring a strong, informed point of view to design discussions, contributing to the evolution of the brand
• Create sketches, materials direction, and references that clearly communicate design intent

Product Execution

• Partner closely with Product Development to ensure designs are feasible, well-executed, and aligned with quality standards
• Review prototypes and samples, providing clear, actionable feedback
• Maintain design integrity throughout the development process

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Merchandising to align design direction with business goals, assortment needs, and pricing architecture
• Participate in key seasonal milestones including Seasonal Kickoffs, Sketch Review, Proto Reviews, and Assortment Reviews
• Collaborate with Production to understand factory capabilities and constraints

Collection Building

• Contribute to the creation of cohesive, well-balanced collections across footwear and accessories
• Balance newness and innovation with core, proven styles
• Help identify opportunities for new categories, silhouettes, and materials

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5–8+ years of experience in footwear and/or accessories design
• Strong understanding of footwear construction and materials
• Proven ability to design commercially successful product within a premium or luxury brand
• Strong aesthetic aligned with FREDA SALVADOR’s point of view
• Ability to move fluidly between concept and execution
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

WHAT WE’R LOOKING FOR

• A designer with both taste and discipline—someone who can push creatively while staying grounded in the business
• A self-starter who is comfortable owning categories and driving work forward
• Someone who thrives in a collaborative, founder-led environment
• A team player who is both hands-on and strategic