Senior Materials Designer CTM - Converse

As the pace of the global consumer is rapidly changing all around the world, the Converse RPC looks to create inspiring products closer to the consumer. Deepening consumer connection and operating with speed, the GC (Greater China) RPC team aims to serve consumers with speed and specificity with a focus.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for a Senior Material Designer for Footwear who will work with a cross-functional team of design, product management, and development partners. This role will be based in Shanghai, China. The ideal candidate is a creative who understands how to deliver story and style. Through the design of Footwear products, this role will create industry leading collections that connect with local consumer expression through authentic local narratives. The candidate will craft unique work with Color and Graphic Design in conjunction with Materials, Trims and Details to create highly covetable products that connects to the Streetwear and Lifestyle consumer in their local market. They have an eye for detail and motivation to craft premium products. This role has a unique opportunity to drive hyperlocal narrative and a holistic vision for style that resonates with Streetwear and Lifestyle consumers in the Greater China (GC) geography.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

The material designer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deeply understand consumer needs and leverage market trends and local cultural insights to build inspiring product stories. With a focus on material innovation and regional characteristics, the designer will develop unique, localized concepts for footwear collections that resonate with streetwear and lifestyle consumers. By working alongside material, trim, and development experts, and integrating pattern and color design, they will deliver world-class material expressions. Most importantly, the designers will dedicate themselves to innovating and refining materials, creating highly attractive and distinctive products that forge a profound emotional connection with consumers.

If this describes you, you will join the Converse CTM team to design innovative and dynamic footwear materials tailored for local markets.

Day-to-day responsibilities include consumer and trend research, project management, communicating material design intent through presentations and mood boards, hand sketching and material exploration, collaborating with other designers, participating in design reviews, and developing material product CADs and technical packs.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

You will be working with experts in marketing, Merchandising, product development and Channel teams. You will collaborate with functional experts and leadership in Colour, Graphic and Footwear Product Design across various parts of the business.

WHAT YOU BRING

Requirements:

• BA/BFA/MA/MFA/associate’s degree in Material design, Product Design or related field preferred
• 5+years relevant work experience in Material Graphic Design, Color Design, Product Design
• Strong passion for research and gathering cultural and market insights
• Effective communicator and collaborator with cross-functional partners
• Proven ability to create concepts, iterate and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary product and creative team.
• Awareness of the Converse brand, its design ethos, and its cultural relevance
• Connection to contemporary art & design, sport and streetwear trends
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines
• Creates materials/graphics that are Industry leading, trend right and that consistently incorporate consumer/athlete insights through powerful storytelling, emotional connectivity and relevance
• Produces presentation materials in conjunction with design and category teams that effectively communicate the concept behind the line for internal and external audiences
• Proficient ability to apply and perform color and graphic design skills, including drawing/sketching, typography, ideation, color theory, use of texture, spacing, and scale, visual presentation development and layout that is supported by a portfolio of non-computer-based creative art and graphic design
• Uses advanced design skills to create original graphic and/or textile designs that appropriately reflect Converse brand design ethos
• Computer literate using Mac platforms with a high digital design acumen in design-based software