Assistant Designer APP Originals

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Contribute to delivering relevant and desirable adidas Originals apparel product design solutions for the China market as part of the Creation Centre Shanghai Originals Apparel Design Team, in close cooperation with Product Marketing, Product Development, Graphic Design, and other cross-functional partners.
• Translate defined brand direction, consumer insights, and design briefs into clear, commercially relevant product solutions while building strong product-creation fundamentals and increasing ownership of assigned work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute creative concepts and product designs for assigned adidas Originals apparel ranges, following the defined seasonal strategy, design language, timelines, and quality expectations.
• Understand the design brief before execution and think beyond aesthetics by considering the target consumer, market context, product purpose, and business needs.
• Conduct consumer, market, competitor, culture, and trend research; synthesize findings into key consumer insights, trend opportunities, market examples, and relevant design opportunities.
• Develop individual apparel products and, where assigned, an independent mini design story covering the consumer, opportunity, narrative, moodboard, rough sketches, and material/color direction.
• Create and communicate design ideas clearly through sketches, CADs, artworks, color and material proposals, presentations, and accurate technical packages.
• Build product fundamentals through the application of materials, construction techniques, fit, pattern, trimming, graphics, and adidas product archives.
• Take ownership of assigned work, follow defined processes and guidelines, manage agreed milestones, and deliver accurate outputs on time with guidance from senior team members.
• Handle basic design and workflow tasks, resolve day-to-day operational issues, raise risks early, and identify practical improvements within the assigned scope.
• Apply feedback effectively throughout the design and sample-development process, balancing creative intent with consumer, brand, commercial, costing, and production requirements.
• Present design solutions with clarity, explain the rationale behind key choices, and align with internal partners so the work supports overall project goals.
• Execute all design work in accordance with adidas brand identity, intellectual property, sustainability, and legal guidelines.
• Stay curious about new tools, technologies, cultural shifts, and ways of working; actively seek learning opportunities and share relevant discoveries with the team.

Design Competency Expectations (P1):

• DELIVERS RESULTS - Guided Execution and Foundational Tasks: Takes ownership of assigned tasks, follows established processes and guidance, and identifies foundational improvements for own work. Handles foundational tasks, resolves operational issues, and ensures smooth workflow. Collaborates with cross-functional partners by providing timely support for seamless coordination.
• STRATEGIC MINDSET - Understanding Brief: Thinks beyond aesthetics by understanding the design brief before execution. Understands how the work connects to team goals and thinks ahead of assigned tasks with smart design solutions or options. Aligns with internal partners to ensure design solutions support broader project goals and seamless execution.
• EMBRACES AND LEADS CHANGE - Adapting With Feedback: Adapts to changing requirements without losing productivity and embraces feedback as a learning opportunity. Effectively translates feedback into solutions by seeking necessary information. Seeks clarity on change to allow quick adaptation while maintaining execution momentum and an effective feedback loop.
• FOSTERS EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION - Expressing Ideas: Demonstrates situational awareness, expresses ideas and thoughts clearly through structured storytelling, and aims for message clarity. Collaborates within the design team and shows reliability to adjacent roles when asked. Maintains a positive attitude, remains open to feedback, and proactively seeks input or support when needed.
• CONTINUES TO GROW YOURSELF - Guided Development: Self-reflects on one strength and one growth area after each project and collaborates with the manager on a development plan. Stays curious and asks 'what' and 'why' to understand processes and build functional expertise. Documents own lessons learned in the team wiki or retrospective notes.

Key Relationships:

• Design Director, Design Manager, Senior Designers, Apparel and Graphic Designers
• Product Marketing and Merchandising
• Product Development, sourcing, pattern makers, and material partners

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; working knowledge of other relevant design and presentation tools.
• Good visual conceptualization, sketching, color, material, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate a clear design rationale.
• Foundation knowledge of apparel products, including fabrication, construction, fit, pattern, trims, graphics, and technical package requirements.
• Consumer-first mindset with awareness of China fashion, Basketball, sport inspired, street culture, and relevant global trends.
• Understanding of apparel design across both menswear and unisexwear.
• Organized and reliable working style, attention to detail, and ability to manage assigned priorities and timelines.
• Constructive, supportive, and collaborative mindset; open to feedback and continuous learning.
• IT skills: PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Language: English and Chinese; (Beginner-level English is acceptable.)

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Diploma, BA, or MA in fashion design, apparel design, or a comparable combination of education and practical experience.
• Typically 2-4 years of relevant experience in the sporting goods, fashion, or apparel design industry.
• Demonstrated experience translating research and creative concepts into apparel design solutions and clear design presentations.
• Working experience across the apparel design process, including concept development, design execution, sample review, and technical handover.
• A portfolio demonstrating consumer understanding, creative thinking, product fundamentals, and strong execution.
• Passion for adidas and its mission, and for sport, culture, fashion, and design.

Success Profile:

• Demonstrates strong consumer-first thinking; applies feedback effectively; communicates ideas clearly; delivers with ownership; collaborates across functions; connects creative ideas with business needs; and shows a visible growth mindset.