Jr. Designer, Global Footwear

At ASICS, we empower our employees to pursue their career goals. If this sounds like you, then we want you on our team.

ASICS has been dedicated to designing the most technically advanced footwear and athletic products in the world for over 60 years. All of that comfort, fit, and functionality starts within the minds of the passionate people that work within our walls.

Based upon our core values, everyone's input and contributions are respected at ASICS America. We nurture a collaborative environment and hire team members that are never content, always pushing through their own limitations, continually in the pursuit of improving performance, are innovative and creative, reach for new challenges, and always aim to surpass the next goal.

Our Mission: We pledge to bring harmony to the body and soul

ASICS, an acronym derived from the Latin phrase, Anima Sana In Corpore Sano - a sound mind in a sound body. Staying true to the philosophy by which it was founded, every ASICS innovation, every concept, every idea is intended to create the best product. Our mission is to become the number one brand for the sports enthusiast. To accomplish this, we pledge to continue to make the best product; striving to build upon our technological advances and pushing the limits on what we can learn from the body and its needs in athletic gear.

POSITION PURPOSE / SUMMARY STATEMENT (defines the major functions/purpose of the position):

The Performance Running Footwear Design Team at Asics is seeking to add a passionate and focused Footwear Designer to our diverse team of creatives. In this role, you will apply your proven design skills toward the seasonal delivery of innovative category defining running footwear for our spectrum of athletes. As a self-motivated critical thinker, you will push the bar on tangible performance benefits through striking modern design solutions grounded in your problem-solving skills, collaboration with triad team members, Athletes and Asics R&D department. With a complete knowledge and practice of footwear constructions, manufacturing processes, and materials, you will multi-task projects that satisfy briefing targets for the consumer and price points. Communicating your designs to team members and management is clear and inspiring to others, with narrative concepts that drive form and function seamlessly. Above all else, with a deep understanding of Asics brand heritage, your work details a bold and modern evolution of Asics design DNA.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES (include titles of positions directly reporting to this position):

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Interacts with all levels throughout organization including employees and outside vendors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborates with the Design Manager to create seasonal creative direction for category silos, material concepts, and artwork examples and blue-sky ideas.
• Creates trends and competitive market research data and provides in a format for product managers and team members review easily for seasonal inspiration, competitive research, and line planning.
• Creates design options in an acceptable format, meeting deadlines, to present to product managers and team for selecting and narrowing down of the lines.
• Follows provided briefs by product managers and team targeting consumer and price point efficiently.
• Provides completed upper and tooling tech packs and materialization specs to development meeting deadlines in an acceptable format to begin sourcing for the season with cost in mind. Communicate designs to color team with clear and simplified CAD documentation.
• Collaborates well with other team memberds and assists on projects as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Brings a track record of skillful technical performance athletic design with proven success on the market
• Strong conceptual thinking, technical problem-solving skills, and ability to advance creative dialogue with team members
• Expert Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate of Sketch book Pro. 3D/VR software experience a plus.
• Clear 2D and 3D design communication skills in digital and hand sketching, presentation preparation
• Ability to translate current footwear trends and athlete insights into forward looking performance running footwear
• Thorough knowledge of shoe construction, materials, color, and maneuverability to affect pricing, sustainable design, and manufacturing knowledge a plus
• Expertise in tooling design and precise tech pack creation
• Hand prototyping skills a plus
• Establishes an understanding of the US consumer market and all global regions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentations, contributing to meetings, communicating with 3rd party vendors, and supporting team members
• Commitment to continuously researching both the competitive landscape as well as maintaining thorough knowledge of our customer base
• Strong organizational skills for managing timelines and assisting team members as needed
• A motivated self-starter that also thrives in a diverse collaborative environment
• Strong merchandising skillset.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Customer Orientation
• Innovation & Creativity
• Collaboration & Mutual Respect
• Leadership
• Results Driven

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• 1-3 years footwear design experience
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. /B.S.) in Industrial Design or similar or equivalent work experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate or Sketch book Pro.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Experience with Office 365 like applications a plus.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Must be able to see, hear, speak, and write clearly in order to communicate with employees and/or other customers.
• Manual dexterity required.
• Office work, some lifting, considerable walking.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: In general, the following conditions of the work environment are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job within the environment.

• The office is clean, orderly, properly lighted, and ventilated. Noise levels are considered low to moderate.

ASICS America Corporation reserves the right at any time, with or without notice, to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign, or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities within your general skill set or capabilities. ASICS America Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.

#LI-Hybrid

COVID-19 Precautions for Offices (Irvine, Boston, New York):

• Personal Protective Equipment (Face Masks) are required
• Personal Protective Equipment (Face Masks) will be provided upon request
• Daily mandatory Health Screening Questionnaire
• Daily cleaning requirements for individual desks and shared spaces
• Physical distancing required at all times
• Employees are working hybrid remote schedules. All employees telecommute on Fridays
• These precautions are subject to change based on Federal, State, Local laws, and the needs of the business

COVID-19 Precautions for Byhalia Distribution Center:

• Personal Protective Equipment (Face Masks) are required and provided
• Daily mandatory Health Screening Questionnaire
• Daily cleaning requirements for individual desks and shared spaces
• Physical distancing required at all times
• Employees working in offices are on Shift A (M, W) or B (T,Th) schedules, opportunity to telecommute on Fridays for office staff
• These precautions are subject to change based on Federal, State, Local laws, and the needs of the business

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employee(s) assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employee(s) assigned to this job. ASICS America Corporation reserves the right at any time, with or without notice, to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities within your general skill set or capabilities. ASICS America Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.