Designer I Footwear

About the position

L.L.Bean is seeking a Designer I to join our Product Creation team in Freeport, Maine. In this key role you will be working on Active & Casual Footwear. L.L.Bean, design is responsible for the product aesthetic for all product categories. This role requires relocation to Maine. We are working a hybrid schedule with a minimum of three days at our Headquarters Building in Freeport, ME.

Responsibilities

• Creating product aesthetic inclusive of color, pattern, and style.
• Partnering with Designers, Product Developers, Last Engineers, Sourcing and Corporate Merchants in conducting market research to evaluate competitive set, identify seasonal trends, and decide on seasonal concept direction.
• Collaborating with Product Development to select toolings, last shapes, materials, outsole/midsole designs, upper designs, technology, colors and trims & relate them to the product design, function, and style.
• Collaborating with Design leadership on seasonal corporate color palettes and ensuring on-brand, commercial color direction and color compositions.
• Creating, designing, and engineering footwear direction and styling; collaborating with Corporate Merchants to recommend lasts, & toolings.
• Creating and deciding on brand appropriate / viable surface pattern and print direction.
• Building and creating seasonal concept and mood boards to establish and identify key looks, trends, concepts, color, fabric, trim, and silhouette direction.
• Offering on-brand commercially viable product ideas.
• Creating seasonal trend direction, seasonal trend presentation, seasonal trend, and vendor decks.
• Identifying and communicating seasonal color palettes.
• Supporting creation of the product design strategy at a collection level, vs. an item level.
• Researching and developing brand appropriate trends and product ideas.
• Conducting research on market and competitive brands - domestic travel for inspiration and trade shows.
• Traveling to Asia/Vietnam/El Salvador to meet with material suppliers and vendors for research and product development and to ensure all product is commercialized to the very highest standards.
• Working with CM (Corporate Merchandise) Managers to ensure viability of products and product opportunity fills need within the assortment.
• Collaborating to select material direction for hand feel, drape aesthetic and partners closely with Product Developers to ensure vision of design, margin and target price is met.
• Applying knowledge and expertise to ensure consistency and cohesiveness of line through perfect pairings and cohesive look of the collection and key looks.
• Introducing new and on brand silhouettes and styling details every season.
• Selecting all materials and works with sourcing/PD Partners to ensure products passes testing.
• Working with graphics department to instigate graphic and surface pattern direction.
• Presenting fresh and commercial color and pattern for key items and relist programs to ensure they look fresh and commercial each season.
• Communicating with sourcing partners to ensure materials and all surface pattern is executed to the very highest standard.
• Working with Colorist to approve material lab dips, compound colors, and strike offs, etc.
• Presenting sketches and proto samples at appropriate check-ins and meetings using Illustrator, Photoshop, visual 3D tools.
• Creating and updating an accurate pre-production BOM and CC in Flex PLM.
• Partnering with PD (Product Development) to finalize product details with vendors.
• In collaboration with PD, creating comprehensive development spec packages.
• Attending all show fittings to provide relevant feedback regarding fit and styling.
• Attending Retail walkthroughs to ensure retail presentation meets design intent.
• Ensuring all milestones/deadlines are achieved and successful. Attending to align on M2M key strategies, initiatives & actions.

Requirements

• 4-year degree required
• 3+ years of relevant experience required
• Strong cross functional communication and relationship building skills
• High-level discretion and accountability
• Ability to balance strategic and tactical responsibilities

Benefits

• Programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals.
• Maintaining a healthy work-life balance.