Temporary Footwear Designer

ALICE + OLIVIA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Alice + Olivia is seeking a creative, detail-oriented Footwear Designer to lead seasonal footwear concepts from sketches, CADs, color and material direction, and tech packs through sampling, vendor communication, and production. This role partners with Design, R&D, Tech, and Production and may support accessories as needed.

The candidate should have 7–10 years of footwear design experience, a related bachelor's degree, and a strong portfolio demonstrating concept development, color/material

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of footwear design experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or related field.
• Strong portfolio showing footwear concept development, sketching, color/material direction, and technical execution.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with footwear CAD or 3D design tools is a plus.
• Knowledge of footwear construction, materials, components, fit, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience creating technical drawings, specifications, and tech packs and reviewing samples through production approval.
• Strong trend awareness and attention to detail; ability to translate brand direction into commercially relevant product.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal footwear concepts from sketches through final product execution, aligned with the brand’s creative direction.
• Create and update CADs, colorways, material specifications, technical drawings, and tech packs.
• Research footwear trends, colors, materials, and market developments to inform seasonal design direction.
• Partner with Design, R&D, Tech, and Production teams to ensure design intent, quality standards, and timelines are maintained.
• Review samples and prototypes, provide clear feedback, and track revisions through approval and production.
• Communicate with overseas vendors regarding design details, materials, construction, samples, and development updates.
• Maintain organized design files, sample records, material references, and seasonal development calendars.
• Support accessories design and development as business needs require.

Skills

Footwear design

Concept development

Sketching

Color & material direction

Technical execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Footwear CAD / 3D design tools

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Alice + Olivia is seeking a creative, detail-oriented Footwear Designer to lead seasonal footwear concepts from initial sketches, CADs, color and material direction, and tech packs through sampling, vendor communication, and production. This role will partner cross-functionally with Design, R&D, Tech, and Production, support accessories as needed, and keep development organized and on schedule. The ideal candidate combines a strong fashion sensibility and passion for quality footwear with the initiative and collaboration skills to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop seasonal footwear concepts from initial sketches through final product execution, aligned with the brand’s creative direction.
• Create and update CADs, colorways, material specifications, technical drawings, and tech packs.
• Research footwear trends, colors, materials, and market developments to inform seasonal design direction.
• Partner with Design, R&D, Tech, and Production teams to ensure design intent, quality standards, and timelines are maintained.
• Review samples and prototypes, provide clear feedback, and track revisions through approval and production.
• Communicate with overseas vendors regarding design details, materials, construction, samples, and development updates.
• Maintain organized design files, sample records, material references, and seasonal development calendars.
• Support accessories design and development as business needs require.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7-10 years of footwear design experience, preferably within a contemporary fashion or lifestyle brand.
• Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating footwear concept development, sketching, color and material direction, and technical execution.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with footwear CAD or 3D design tools is a plus.
• Working knowledge of footwear construction, materials, components, fit, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience creating technical drawings, specifications, and tech packs and reviewing samples through production approval.
• Strong trend awareness, fashion sensibility, and attention to detail, with the ability to translate brand direction into commercially relevant product.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple seasonal priorities and collaborate across teams and overseas vendors.