Lead Designer (Footwear)

Role Overview:

The Lead – Design will spearhead the creative direction, product storytelling, and aesthetic evolution of assigned footwear and non-footwear categories including Hush Puppies, Floatz, Scholl, and emerging lifestyle extensions.

The role demands a blend of creative artistry and commercial intelligence, driving consumer-relevant design that is both trend-leading and manufacturable at scale.

This individual will lead the concept-to-prototype journey, aligning brand DNA, seasonal narratives, material innovation, and digital design precision to deliver distinctive, premium-quality products.

Primary responsibilities:

1. Creative Direction & Category Leadership

• Own the design strategy and seasonal line architecture for assigned categories — reflecting brand ethos, consumer insights, and market trends.
• Build design language consistency for Hush Puppies, Floatz, Scholl, and Non-Footwear segments, ensuring aesthetic differentiation and consumer appeal.
• Translate global fashion, comfort, and sustainability trends into commercially viable product concepts.
• Drive creative storytelling through color, material, and finish direction (CMF).

2. Design Development & Execution

• Lead the full design process — from concept sketching, 3D visualization, and prototype refinement to final product sign-off.
• Create tech packs, CADs, and material boards for development teams and manufacturing partners.
• Integrate 3D design tools (e.g., Rhino, CAD/CAM, 3D visualization software) to accelerate prototyping and enhance design accuracy.
• Collaborate with the TPD and Product Development teams to ensure design intent translates seamlessly into manufacturable outcomes.

3. Brand & Consumer Alignment

• Deeply understand brand positioning and target consumer behavior across comfort, fashion, and lifestyle categories.
• Work closely with Marketing and Merchandising to build seasonal product narratives and campaign-ready product stories.
• Regularly track competitor benchmarks, new launches, and consumer feedback to refine design direction.
• Balance innovation and brand consistency to ensure each range strengthens category equity.

4. Innovation & Collaboration

• Partner with material and sourcing teams to introduce new technologies, comfort systems, sustainable materials, and construction techniques.
• Collaborate with the mould, TPD, and vendor partners to ensure aesthetic integrity and technical feasibility.
• Foster a culture of creative experimentation while maintaining cost and time discipline.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews, ensuring alignment with product timelines and Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Degree/Diploma in Footwear Design from FDDI, NFT, or equivalent international design institute.
• Advanced qualification in Footwear or Product Design (International Design School preferred) will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• 8–10 years in footwear design and product creation within branded or lifestyle footwear organizations.
• Proven experience handling multi-category portfolios (comfort, fashion, lifestyle, and non-footwear accessories).

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in CAD, Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop, and 3D design software.
• Strong understanding of lasts, materials, patterns, and mould integration.