ABOUT CONVERSE

Are you interested in working for the most iconic and well-loved sneaker brand in the world? Born in sports and made for the street, Converse is a place to explore your potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. We seek people who can lead, grow, think, dream, and create. Our culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. Converse seeks achievers, leaders, and visionaries. At Converse, it’s about each person bringing their authentic self, skills, and passion to serve the daring spirit of youth.

ABOUT OUR TEAM

The Converse Industrial Footwear Design team is responsible for new product creation. This fast-paced team builds global footwear collections that leads trend and supplies product to leading retailers across the globe. We combine relentless curiosity and passion for street style and sport to transform the insights of our consumers into innovations that advance the independent spirit of youth. The Global Industrial Design Team is a diverse community with a broad set of expertise in Innovation, Technical Footwear Design, and Industrial Design. We work collaboratively across the Converse brand to deliver meaningful concepts to our consumer in brand, product and experience.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Senior Industrial Footwear Designer, Jack Purcell / SportStyle Global Footwear

This role is responsible for creating industry leading footwear designs with a specific focus on the Jack Purcell collection. This includes footwear design of new models and compelling material and color stories that are based in consumer relevant story telling.

The candidate needs to have an action oriented, dynamic and entrepreneurial spirit with exceptional footwear design skills. This candidate will have knowledge of footwear design including tooling and upper component technical drawing skills, sketching and ideation skills, footwear manufacturing knowledge, tech packing expertise, material and color selection skills, and a strong ability to visually story tell. 3D design skills and AI Design skills are a plus.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

You will design footwear products that will be created and sold to consumers. This Includes, sketching, ideating, building original product concepts, selection of appropriate materials and colors, and compelling presentations that build a story around these products. You will gain valuable consumer insights through market travel and share this research with the broader organization. You will translate these insights into new product offerings. You will also bring to life the seasonal category creative direction that is trend relevant to the category consumer.

WHAT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• You will gain valuable insights from consumers during market travel trip. You will translate these insights into footwear design solutions that solve consumers needs and inspire them to purchase said products.

• You will create original ideation, sketches and product designs or refresh existing products that appropriately reflect Converse's design philosophy & standards with supervision from Design management.

• Lead the tech pack creation of all product details including construction detail, color, form, style, detail, fit performance, graphic application, trim, etc. working closely with your development and engineering counterparts.

• Clearly communicate with members in Design, Development, and Product Merchandising to ensure feasibility of designs, meeting price points, merchandising needs and product creation timelines.

• Communicate and present design concepts to various internal and external audiences along with more senior Designers. Build compelling visual presentations and prototypes to bring the product vision to life.

• Create presentation materials that effectively communicate the concept behind the line for internal and external audiences.

• Build awareness of current trends, color, and sports-related product through market research to keep abreast of consumer needs.

• Provide design support for design team as needed outside of assigned product load.

• Mentor others within the design community.

• Continue to learn and grow your design and presentation skills.

• Present to key accounts and regional teams.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

You will work with a highly creative team responsible for all footwear design for Converse. You will work in a collaborative triad formation with other Footwear Designers, Footwear Product Merchants and Product Developers. You will report up through the broader Footwear Design team to ensure mentorship and guidance from other Footwear Designers of varying experience.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Typically has 5-8 years of footwear design experience.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Graphic Design, Accessories Design, Textile Design or other design disciplines

• 3D Design skills a plus

• AI Design skills a plus

• This position is based in Shanghai, China