Vans: Designer

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.  

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com.

What will you do?

 A day in the life of a Designer, Skateboarding Footwear at Vans looks a little like this.

In this role, you’ll create visionary footwear concepts that push the edges of style and function to reach what’s next... A deep connection to consumer and culture is essential for this role.  You’ll co-create with the world’s best skateboarders and artists and get to collaborate with leaders of culture and iconic brands.  As a designer with growing knowledge and experience in footwear you will be a highly proficient contributor, working closely with design partners, developers and merchandisers to create the world’s #1 skateboard shoes.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Create innovative concepts that represent the vibrant and diverse culture of skateboarding.  
• Explore unique ideas and previously unidentified possibilities that satisfy the emotional desires and exceed the functional needs of Vans consumers.
• Obsess consumer and athlete; connect with the innovators of skateboarding and the creators of culture, monitor emerging trends, insights and attitudes.
• Execute technical design drawings demonstrating construction method, precise tooling dimensions, upper design paneling, materialization, color and surfacing.
• Craft compelling stories and product ideas via 2D, 3D or handcrafted/sculptural ideation.  
• Interact and travel with fellow creatives in a fun, dynamic and creative environment.
• Foster a one team mentality – share strategy, review concepts, advise and contribute openly..
• Exhibit ingenuity and agility in working partnership with development and merchandising moving through multiple seasons at once.

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 3-7 years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Ability to recognize and convey market trends 
• Experience and understanding of footwear construction
• Excellent communications skills and collaborative spirit-  including the ability to present concepts to footwear department peers and design leadership to support design concepts.
• Ability to understand, assess & problem solve by leveraging technical experience and skills 
• Ability to partner with innovation to advance design goals or improve performance
• Ability to build accurate technical drawings and visual explanations (tech packs)
• Propensity to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each assigned project 
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills and a high level of proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D modeling programs and familiarity with gen Ai design, InDesign, Acrobat, Keynote, Figma, etc.)
• Familiarity with designing toward a Visual Line Plan.

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.

• Bachelor's Degree in Product or  Industrial Design, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Knowledge and experience with sustainable design and manufacturing are a plus

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

To learn more about Vans’ benefits package, follow this MyVFBenefits.com and click “Looking to Join VF”.

To learn more about Vans‘ Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to www.vans.com.

Now WE have a question for YOU.

Are you in?

Hiring Range:

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com  and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.  If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]. VF will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.