Color Designer 3

We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Color Designer to join our client's core apparel team. Candidates must have 8+ years of experience in color design specifically for apparel, not footwear . This is a unique opportunity to shape the aesthetic direction of widely accessible commercial product lines, translating premium design inspirations into captivating color palettes for everyday streetwear and performance apparel. Your expertise will directly influence the visual appeal of products reaching millions of consumers, making a tangible impact on brand identity and market success. As a key contributor, you will drive the execution of color designs, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure market success. You will research and integrate the latest color, design, market, and lifestyle trends into compelling product concepts. This role offers the chance to lead seasonal color merchandising strategies, mentor junior designers, and continuously advance the functional expertise of the color design organization.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute innovative color designs for apparel, focusing on streetwear and performance categories.
• Collaborate closely with design, product marketing, development, and material consultants to ensure market-successful color solutions.
• Review all product samples to achieve optimal marketability and communicate necessary changes for final confirmation.
• Maintain strict adherence to color calendars, timelines, and deadlines to ensure timely product completion.
• Develop line art, manage color design server resources, merchandising lines, cutting samples, and coordinate materials with consultants for product development.
• Finalize product details and proactively ensure precise color execution across all products.
• Create innovative, retail-ready color solutions for specific product lines, researching and integrating color, design, market, and lifestyle trends from concept to samples.
• Explore and propose seasonal color strategies for products, line segments, and initiatives in collaboration with managers and senior designers.
• Establish seasonal, category-specific direction for color, materials, and graphics. * Partner with leadership to create and lead seasonal color merchandising strategies and narratives.
• Utilize deep consumer understanding, including brand positioning and cultural insights, to enhance product performance and appearance.
• Apply insights from competitor products, consumer retail habits, and market trends to inform color solutions.
• Present and communicate category-specific color and merchandising directions to internal stakeholders.
• Produce compelling presentation materials that effectively convey color direction, consumer relevance, and creative strategy.
• Contribute to bi-annual category-specific color needs for color committee preparation.
• Advance the value of color design by applying high-level functional expertise (e.g., materials, special effects, technology, advanced development, presentation, tools).
• Educate and mentor more junior designers within the organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in color design specifically for apparel, not footwear
• Proven ability to develop and implement color strategies across sport and distribution channels, strategically utilizing color inspired by global expressions or premium lines.
• Strong understanding of commercial products designed for the everyday consumer.
• A portfolio showcasing inspiration and the resulting color palettes is required.
• Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 5 years of directly relevant work experience.
  
  
  
  • One of the following alternatives may be accepted: PhD or Law + 3 yrs; Masters + 4 yrs; Associate's degree + 6 yrs; High School + 7 yrs.
  
  
  
  
• Experience within a similar industry is a nice-to-have.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large projects concurrently and own the commercial color design process is a nice-to-have.
• Proficiency in design software, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and other relevant tools, is a nice-to-have.

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Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits! Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.