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 Footwear Design, you will create the AESTHETIC READINESS of selected Brooks Running footwear inline projects. You will create an EXECUTIONAL 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 Footwear Design, you will use the creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY to create compelling footwear product 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 for a targeted consumer.
As a Footwear Designer II, Inline Footwear Design, you will work closely with the Color – Material & Trend Design Team to create our Seasonal Beauty. You will influence the implementation of our emotional story-telling of color, graphic, material, finishes, and trend as part of the footwear pre-development design process and the inline design process.
As a Footwear Designer II, Inline Footwear Design, you will work on selective 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 Footwear Design, your role will lead a clear design communication to the Product Line Management Team, the Product 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.
Your Responsibilities:
- Own key product designs of performance footwear by creating and presenting upper, midsole, and outsole sketches for inline product based on direction provided by CRAFTED BEAUTY briefs.
- Ensure that all product design meets organizational quality standards, leadership, function/technology, and seasonal timelines from concept through go-to-market - where it applies.
- Influence briefs/concepts and direction of work with your design POV on story-telling, color, material, and finishes to grow the appeal of Brooks Running footwear
- Work on a diverse scope of inline and pre-season product designs by applying identity principles to maximize perceived value in order to drive superior aesthetic competitiveness.
- Create design solutions based on limited information, precedent, and adapt existing approaches to resolve issues that shape and inform templates for CRAFTED BEAUTY briefs.
- Organize and deliver product design presentations, both physical and digital work including exploratory process, using your evaluation, judgment, and interpretation to select the right course of action.
- Respond to design critique with multiple design solutions.
- CROSS-TEAM COLLABORATION
- Partner with a product creation team on a wide range of complex projects and products to deliver industry-leading products and stories.
- Partner with the Advanced Design Team to ensure a constant flow of information.
- Collaborate with the Advanced Design team, influencing Pre-season projects and design concepts.
- Provide feedback and guidance to Associate Designers and Designer 1; Seek mentorship from more tenured Designers.
- Work closely with the 3D CAD 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.
- Influence direction of work with various footwear team experts in Product Color & Trend, Product Materials, Product Development,
- Product Line Management and Product Assessment.
- Utilize their reportings to inform our design approach to assume a team lead role for the work group.
- Work closely with 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 design knowledge to partner with your product teams.
- Shape and form 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 strong understanding of the design jet stream to keep informed on what’s trending and how this may influence our design.
- 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.
Qualifications:
- 4-year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel, or footwear design, equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for a degree
- 2. 5+ years of experience creating color/material/textile programs and future vision in a retail/manufacturing environment.
- 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 employee 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 of 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 $105,173 - $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 days 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, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), honorable discharge or military status, protected citizen status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained guide dog 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.
