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Design Director Graphics (m/f)
Adidas Group
Herzogenaurach, , Germany
Job Details - this job has expired, please see similar jobs below
Purpose
• To direct others in designing industry leading executions of Footwear and/or Apparel through graphic & print application.
• Lead, ideate, & influence in helping contribute toward building the horizontal promoted brand graphic/print direction in collaboration with Creative Direction Function.
• Directly implement & apply for BU specific seasonal execution.
• Partner with Color & Materials Director of respective BU
• Direct brand creative direction’s seasonal narratives, quarterly themes, and monthly stories for the BU specific needs & BU specific category execution horizontally across graphic design.
• Guide, steer, and shepherd this vision across the BU category.
• Help lead and set long term & seasonal trends & insights among the industry, win the creator, and ultimately help contribute to innovating at retail.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Continuously aware and directs a team(s) on information needed to design a consumer and brand relevant BU collection. Should include all possible sources to gain this information:
• Trade fairs, cultural events, and sporting events, athlete insights
• Trade publications, general interest press, trend services, fashion and sportswear magazines and websites
• Store checks, market visits, and team travel as provided
• Relevant forecast and sell-through numbers from our Marketing counterparts
Is a stakeholder in directing, creating, and leading seasonal and long-term design direction and strategy for the brand horizontally. This also includes respective category allocation within the following topics:
• Footwear and Apparel Product Design
• Footwear Materials & Color
• Incorporating Graphics/Print Direction
• Footwear and Apparel Silhouettes (Accessories if relevant per BU).
Is a stakeholder in defining, directing, & curating aforementioned design direction by, but not limited to:
• Providing trend forecasting content relevant to our consumer and brand
• Providing advanced conceptual direction and allocation in developing materials with the Creative Direction Color, Material, & Graphic Teams, Product Design, & Development.
• Working with Local and Global counterparts to provide category relative Graphic direction when required cross-location or cross-category alignment is concerned.
• Directs as a Graphic/Print conduit to Marketing, Product Managers, Designers and in between Key Account and Inline
• Acts as a brand ambassador between all categories looking for opportunities to connect direction, product, and people
• Directs, creates, presents, and applies Creative Direction/BU specific presentations
• Drives content to Concept To Consumer Team to enhance Creative Direction/BU strategy and storytelling
• Provides a curated context, to enable success among the business
Leads top-line range strategy in their categories. This includes but is not limited to:
• Directly shepherd and leads their team in creating holistic category overviews, rollouts, and merchandising strategy for the category
• Communicate content to Footwear, Apparel, and Color/Materials Teams to align strategy
• Lead and inform horizontal brand moments and category moments by leading products, Graphic narratives/executions, and tiered rollout plans in partnership with Design, Marketing, and Concept To Consumer
• Eagerly seeks proactive opportunities to amplify emerging trends, lead concepts, and strategic hierarchy to product & business
• Set a cadence across brand and category moments for statement, hype, inline, and commercialized seasonal ranges respectively
• Has transparent knowledge across critical brand and category direction
• Constant incentivizing and advancement of Creative Direction & BU purpose and vision constantly.
Works closely with members of the category’s design team. This includes but is not limited to:
• Providing Graphic/Print content and direction
• Collaboration and critiquing
• Sets a leading example and vision within the team and mentors
• Transfers prior experiences and knowledge to those around them
• Viewed within the team as a Graphic/Print expert and director
PRODUCT EXECUTION
Directs Footwear/Apparel, Graphic/Print executions for Inline and Key Account ranges with input from Design, Marketing, and Development. This includes but is not limited to:
• Vision and expectations for seasonal prep and research stated above
• Creates product design presentations; both physical and digital
• Directs and leads their team in creating a quality and merchandisable range by having a detail to top-line view of all products
• Assures Senior Leads are enabled to work closely with Development to assist in development process & costing
• Travel to Asia for development trips (not always required)
• Directly leads, shapes, and informs communicating inspiration and storytelling tools to Marketing and Concept To Consumer
Has experienced knowledge and a higher understanding of product. From graphic/print construction, to production.
Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities
Ability and desire to direct and lead in managing others, which includes but is not limited to:
• Influencing and leading a team
• Productive critiquing and mentoring
• Creating more efficient, creative, and positive working environment
• Directs and creates high standard of consistent work ethic and optimal creative community environment, while still tailoring leadership and creativity to each individual employee
• A strong working knowledge of footwear/apparel (accessories where relevant) construction and production
• A detailed understanding of the creation process
• A strong knowledge of material suppliers, material production, and technical material feasibilities
• Creates and enforce Graphic/Print consolidation/alignment for product excellence goals
• Approves all off palette Print needs case by case
• Computer Skills
• Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
• Power Point/Key Note
• Apple Mac Operating system
• Understanding of brand history and current positioning
• Understanding of marketplace (Footwear/streetwear/urban) history, consumer, and current positioning
• Has a strong understanding and extraordinary sense of Graphics including Color, Material trends, application, and cycles
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually
• Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities
• Ability to design for new initiatives and products with a fresh, innovative perspective
• Ability to operate in a fast pace, ever changing work environment
• Works well in a team environment. This position requires employee to engage/lead/collaborate with many stakeholders, as well as manage various information and relationships
• Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate with key business partners
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong conflict/resolution skills
• Leads with innovative strategies
• Applies industry changing processes
• Sets leading trends that timely with culture and our creators/consumers
• Identify successors to help build and cultivate the Creative Direction/BU category vision
Qualifications
1. Four year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, color, apparel or footwear design
2. Direct experience in footwear/apparel/graphic design, fashion design or any design relevant environment
3. Thorough knowledge of art and design with clear understanding of visual design or any design related environment
4. Six years relevant work experience
5. 5-8 years leadership experience
6. Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree