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Design Director
VFC
Alameda, CA, United States
Job Details - this job has expired, please see similar jobs below
POSITION SUMMARY
As the Mountain Athletics Design Director at The North Face you will drive performance innovation, create a signature point of view and lead our design journey within men’s and women’s performance categories. Your strategic and creative vision will inspire storytelling that is emotionally, culturally and technically meaningful to our consumers. You will develop an authentic understanding of our culture through immersion in our values, working closely with our athletes, and extensive consumer and market insights. Through storytelling, you will take innovative product from concept to commercialization infused with compelling trend and style, collaborate with Development and Product Management teams driving new and innovative product designs which lead the market. You will inspire a strong design culture, manage and coach a team for focused on product excellence; work collaboratively between cross-functional teams; and articulately communicate your design vision throughout the product creation process. A passion and authentic connection to the outdoors, insight from our athletes and an unwavering desire to push the boundaries of innovation is what drives design. The foundation of our sports, culture and brand is built on working together. Come play a part in shaping our future.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Responsible for overall vision and design direction of all Global Performance apparel collections for men’s and women’s.
• Responsible for the high-quality execution of designs in all assigned collections and categories.
• Responsible for executing individual designs and/or collections according to stated product briefs. These designs must be produced with a deep knowledge of product components, costing, target margins, and required FOB’s.
• Manages all in house and outside designers on established corporate time lines. Responsible for inspiring creativity and fostering new concepts that expand on brand defining products and technologies. Continually looks for opportunities to develop design team members.
• Responsible for the Design department’s execution of high quality design/ tech packages during design process. Responsible for the creation of visual tools used in presentations for in-line reviews, product line meetings, and pre-line meetings with buyers.
• Responsible for creating and communicating innovative technology and design language within managed design groups for all collections, categories, and series. Responsible to work closely with other category Design Directors to cross pollinate ideas and maintain seasonal design direction.
• Responsible for executing seasonal color palettes for all managed groups. Researches industry and trade shows for new materials, colors, and design trends.
• Responsible for proof of concept work by design team.
• Responsible for the Integration of Advanced Concepts and new technologies from inside and outside resources and works to ensure the successful execution of these proscribed inventions.
• Develops and tracks a design schedule to ensure timely completion of designs and design packages according to the development calendar.
• Partners with development to ensure commercial success of seasonal line offerings and innovative advanced products. Manage the trim development process to ensure we are developing a consistent brand message across categories. Partners with material sourcing to develop innovative fabrications. Partners with Product Directors to develop line direction from product conception through final execution. Required to understand market structure and distribution points for all assigned collections and categories.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
• Years of Related Professional Experience: 10+ years of related or similar experience.
• Educational/Position Requirements:
• Bachelor's Degree in Design (apparel), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in flat sketching expertise.
• Hands-on experience with CAD software, Softworks, Rhino, Cad Key
• High level of Proficiency in In Design, Illustrator, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint
• Experience in creation of design packages and execution of product designs.
• Experience in designing successful products
• Experience in research and analysis and design cycles
• Skills:
• Strong knowledge of formulating color palettes.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of apparel construction
• Excellent communications skills, including the ability to present concepts to product teams and review boards in a persuasive manner.
• Strong and experienced in leadership
• Strong knowledge of product cycles.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes
• Strong knowledge of aesthetic form and the ability to design for different consumers and end uses.
• Strong knowledge of textile and material construction and properties.
• Strong knowledge of product costs and impact of design.