Designer APP Originals

Job description

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

• Develop short calendars industry-leading creative solutions to extend the global adidas Originals apparel collection for the China market and amplify the relevancy and desirability of adidas brand image, from sell-in to sell-out (consumer-facing)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative development of concepts that extend the Originals apparel strategy with a clear focus on China market needs across women’s and unisex category
• Develop consumer-centric creative strategies with a heavy focus on the outerwear category
• Collaborate with Product Design team to ensure holistic storytelling
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to ensure consumer- and brand-focus
• High-frequency communication to Germany HQ key design team members to maximize harmonization between local product creation and originals global collection
• Lead the execution of creative strategies to ensure end-to-end creative excellence from sell-in to sell-out (consumer-facing)
• Create together with the direct reports highly relevant top-class design solutions and ensure the accurate translation of those into tech packs, which include all relevant sketches, artworks, fit, material, color, and trimming information
• Follow up on creative strategy on sample level and ensure maximum market and consumer relevancy
• Review and approve production stages of creative execution
• Maximize results within the given budget and timeframes
• Can-do mindset, seeking solutions driven within the complex multiple overlapping creation calendars with limited time and resource
• Present and communicate creative solutions with clarity, effectively selling ideas to a variety of stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for improvement and change and proactively initiate own proposals/projects
• Grow, mentor, and support the direct reports
• Seek out new Design resources that can deliver world-class results Key Relationships:
• Design Director, Senior Designer, direct Design reports, Graphic designers
• Product Marketing
• Product Development, pattern maker
• C2C
• External Creative Resources (agencies, freelancers, ateliers, photographers, etc)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Abode Creative Illustrator, Photoshop & other design apps: expert level required
• Strong visual conceptualization and verbal presentation skills with the ability to create and showcase impactful, exciting visual concept
• Strong knowledge of apparel products that must include a good level of understanding of fabrication, material, trimming, pattern, and graphics as a product design owner
• Art Direction of photoshoots, pre-press reviews, and approvals are bonus

IT skills

• Excel, Word, PowerPoint: advanced /Outlook

Language

• English: excellent; Knowledge of Chinese is an advantage Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
• Under-graduate level Design education or a combination thereof
• Solid education and advanced experience in the creative development of communication tools
• At least 5-7 years experience in the Sporting Goods/Fashion Industry or Design on a managerial level
• Design experience in the Outerwear category will be an advantage
• Design experience in both gender Menswear & Womenswear will be an advantage
• Proven experience with the entire design process (project scope and time planning, design steps, production/execution of design solution, pre-press processes)
• Passion for adidas and it’s mission
• Passion for sports, culture, fashion, design