Designer II, Inline Footwear Design

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

·       Runner First  

We act in the best interest of the runner

·       Word is Bond 

We do what we say we’ll do

·       Champion Heart  

We give our all in everything we do  

·       There is no “I” in Run

We stay generous with our humanity

·       Keep Moving

We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.   

Your Job:

As a Brooks Running Footwear Designer II, Inline, you will create the AESTHETIC READINESS of full Brooks Running footwear inline projects. You will create an exceptional DESIGN balance between the most progressive and most acceptable design solutions as part of a seasonal collection of Brooks Running footwear product.

As a Footwear Designer II, Inline you will use the creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY to create compelling footwear designs. By applying the creative foundation, you will elevate the level of our CRAFTED BEAUTY foundation as a design reference of Brooks Running inline product while maintaining brand direction and appropriate aesthetic appeal of our target consumer.

As a Footwear Designer II, Inline, you will work in close cooperation with the Color–Material & Trend Design Team on the creation of our Seasonal Beauty. You will influence the implementation of our emotional story-telling of color, graphics, material, finishes, and trends as part of the footwear pre-development design process and the inline design process. You will work on all levels of projects in close partnership with the Advanced Design Team on the application of our advanced team design language FUTURE BEAUTY.

As a Footwear Designer II, Inline, you will utilize best practices of 3D visual and technical tools utilizing strong design, product, and program knowledge. Our design team uses the power of 3D digital tools to make the best running footwear on the planet. Files will be shared universally across the footwear department and with our Asia partners to clearly communicate design vision, intent, and fidelity. 

As a Designer II, Inline Footwear Design, your role will lead a clear design communication to the Product Line Management Team, the Footwear Development Team, the Color & Trend team, and the Product Assessment Team. With your strong professional experience in designing beautiful footwear – you will play a central role within the footwear design team to ensure that Brooks is the most LOVED brand for runners worldwide.

• DESIGN
• Own the full design of performance footwear models by creating and presenting upper, midsole, and outsole sketches for inline product based on direction provided by CRAFTED BEAUTY briefs.
• Apply identity principles to maximize perceived value in order to drive superior aesthetic competitiveness.
• Work on a diverse scope of inline and pre-season product to inform templates for CRAFTED BEAUTY for the sequential in-line season.
• Improve briefs/concepts and direction with design solutions for the creative foundation of CRAFTED BEAUTY concerning 2D/3D creations with story, color, material, and finishes to grow the appeal of Brooks Running footwear.
• Take time to explore the future of what 2D and 3D DESIGN can become and how new technology, tools, and design abilities can benefit performance run design far in the future. 
• Utilize 3D to visualize designs during the creation phase and continuously build your 3D skillset to utilize 3D in technical applications (e.g. manipulation of tooling files). 
• Attain new methods to expand the possibilities of what products we create and how we can create them through using advanced 2D and 3D Digital Design tools.
• Partner with senior design staff to align on approach and concepts around your designs to ensure alignment with CRAFTED BEAUTY principles.
• Apply learned techniques and gained experience to approach, analyze, and solve problems.
• Organize and deliver product design presentations, both physical and digital including exploratory processes to reach final solution.
• Provide feedback and guidance to Associate Designers and Designer 1.
• Seek out mentorship from more tenured Designers.
• Respond to design critique with multiple design solutions.
• Seek to constantly be at the top of your game.  Learn what is cutting edge and involve yourself in where 2D and 3D DIGITAL DESIGN technologies and tools are going.
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• TEAM COLLABORATION
• Partner with a product creation team to deliver industry-leading products and stories.
• Partner with the Innovation Design Team to ensure a constant flow of information.
• Work closely with the Color-Material & Trend Design Team to integrate seasonal color and trend concepts.
• Working towards actively influencing various footwear team experts in Color & Trend, Materials, Product Development, Product Line Management, and Product Assessment. Utilize their reporting to inform our design approach.
• Working towards the goal to act as a design expert and design leader across other teams – facilitate conversations, lead by example, and show the “how”.
• Be a trusted partner to the development teams in Asia and our overseas production sites.

• ACCOUNTABILITY
• Maintain calendar/timelines/deadlines that result in a timely completion of each project.
• Use your strong design knowledge to partner with your product teams.
• Support to build templates for CRAFTED BEAUTY and SEASONAL BEAUTY in partnership with senior design staff.
• Answer critique with a curious mindset – propose alternative options after more design exploration.
• Have a solid understanding of the design jet stream to keep informed on what’s trending and how this may influence our design.
• Apply your knowledge of prototyping and ability to use handmade models to demonstrate proof of ideas.
• Conduct visits to our factories and material suppliers to gain insights and continue to grow a high level of understanding of the footwear manufacturing process.
• Travel as necessary to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, retailers, or other external events.

• 4-year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel or footwear design, equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree
• 5+ years of experience creating color/material/textile programs and future vision in a retail/manufacturing environment.
• 2D and 3D CAD experience and desire to learn complex surfacing and geometry such as Rhino, Blender, and Adobe Substance 2d and 3d Suite, etc. (not required but preferred).
• Thorough knowledge of art and design with a clear understanding of visual design or any design-related environment
• Proven experience creating and leading the execution of vision and strategy
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually
• Ability to understand design conceptually across product categories
• Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment
• Ability to build and foster relationships in a team environment. This position requires employees to engage 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 and collaborate with key business partners
• Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
• Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help out wherever necessary.
• Passionate participation in Brooks’ sports activities is a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
• Mastery of Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
• Competent using Apple Mac Operating system
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)
• 3D is not required, but a plus
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!
• Travel 10% (Domestically/Internationally)

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $102,173 - $153,260 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  

Other:

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!  

Benefits- including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.  

Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus- in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.   

Perks- including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Location- You will spend 3 per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.