Graphic Designer jobs at Adidas in United States, Spartanburg

: Global Brands

: Creation Center Shanghai

Direct Reporting LineSenior Graphic Designer

Indirect/secondary reporting line: NA

: China

Number of Personnel Managedsee org. chart

Cost Center/Budget and/or Revenue Responsibility: no

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Develop short calendars industry-leading creativegraphic design

Key Responsibilities:

• Graphic design creative development of concepts that extend adidas apparel product strategy with a clear focus on China market needs across sportswear, kids, originals and basketball categories in the Graphic COE (Centre of Excellence) team

• Develop consumer-centric creative graphic design strategies and solution-driven execution

• Collaborate with the Product Design team to ensure holistic storytelling

• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to ensure consumer- and brand-focus

• Create highly relevant top-class graphic design solutions and ensure the accurate translation of those into tech packs, which include all relevant sketches, artworks, fit, material, color, and trimming information

• Follow up on creative strategy on strike off sample level and ensure maximum market and consumer relevancy

• Review and approve production stages of graphic design creative execution

• Maximize results within the given budget and timeframes

• Can-do mindset, seeking solutions driven within the complex multiple overlapping creation calendars with limited time and resource

• Present and communicate creative solutions with clarity, effectively selling ideas to a variety of stakeholders

• Identify opportunities for improvement and change and proactively initiate own proposals/projects

Key Relationships:

• Senior Graphic designers, Apparel designers

• Product Marketing

• Product Development, pattern maker

• Business Unit

• External Creative Resources (agencies, freelancers, ateliers, photographers, etc)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Abode Creative Illustrator, Photoshop & other design apps: expert level required

• Strong visual conceptualization and verbal presentation skills with the ability to create and showcase impactful, exciting visual concept

• Strong knowledge of Graphic design for apparel products that must include a good level of understanding of apparel product graphic design, graphic executions, branding, font, typography, logo & symbols & icons, illustration, layout, colors and story telling

• Strong knowledge of apparel product range as a collection that must include a good level of understanding of overall apparel business strategy and ability to utilize vital insight with deep thinking

• Art Direction of photoshoots, pre-press reviews, and approvals are bonus

• IT skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint: advanced /Outlook

• Language: English: excellent; Knowledge of Chinese is an advantage

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Under-graduate level Design education or a combination thereof

• Solid education and advanced experience in the creative development of communication tools

• At least 4-6 years experience in Graphic Design in the Graphic design/visual communication teams

• Graphic Design experience in the Sporting Goods/Fashion Industry will be an advantage

• Graphic Design experiencein another industry requires assessing knowledge of the apparel/fashion trend, passion for sports and products, and interest in apparel and sports industries

• Proven experience with the entire design process (project scope and time planning, design steps, production/execution of design solution, pre-press processes)

• Passion for adidas and it’s mission

• Passion for sports, culture, fashion, design

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Responsible for driving a creator culture to deliver against leading stories and product collections in the SPW Footwear segment.

Be unapologetically consumer obsessed generating relevant stories and products that excite the China market.

Have a professional balanced approach to work within a dynamic and creative environment whilst balancing the need for operational excellence and speed to market.

Key Responsibilities:

●Be a Consumer Obsession champion with a special emphasis on winning the China consumer

●Extend SPW FTW strategy in the given segment and maintain connectivity to Germany HQ creatives to ensure a one brand consumer facing message

●Advocate story telling throughout the design team and drive intuitive visual solutions in product concepts

●Design concepts and products that maintain consumer advocacy whilst delivering against the product brief

●Be a creator and an innovator always exploring fresh executions and materialization

●Motivate + lead fellow designers on the journey to winning consumers and market share whilst adhering to the strategic vision articulated by management

●Present stories and ideas cross functionally with effectiveness to gain consensus

●Always stay up to date on the latest trends both externally and internally

●Be responsible to drive team members and work within the constraints of close to market dynamics and speed

●Live the behavior philosophy of the brand built around creativity, collaboration and confidence

Key Relationships:

• Design Director, direct Design reports
• Product Marketing
• Product Development
• External Creative Resources (agencies, freelancers, photographers, etc)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

●Strong communication skills to articulate concepts, ideation and collections seamlessly to various members of the organization

●Have key insights into sportswear, streetwear and the market landscape

●Ability to excel and thrive in a team environment with a high level of diversity

●Deep knowledge of footwear creation process and how cross functional members contribute

●Ability to create leading propositions whilst also being a guru of commercializing trends with adidas codes

●Mature approach and ability to persuade, negotiate and compromise to produce win/win scenarios

●Knowledge of design, development and marketing processes with a passion for ideation sharing

●Intellectually curious and always seeking the new

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

●Bachelor or University Degree in industrial design or related educational experience and at least 6 years related work experience

●Experience in sportswear or sports footwear design with colors, materials and graphics experience being a preference

●Cross functional expertise in addition to Design would be advantageous

●IT: Superior experience in usage of all key design software and systems, expert in Design apps, plus excel, word, powerpoint and other systems or software that are impactful to conveying ideation visually

●Basic communication skills in English

Job Title:Senior Designer – ACC (M3)
Shanghai (CCS)
Department:Design

As a Senior Designer for ACreation Center Shanghai, you will lead the creation and development of innovative, trend-driven, and performance-oriented designs that embody the Adidas brand identity. You will play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional product solutions that align with Chinese consumer needs and strategic business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Creative Development:
  • Design and develop market-leadingACC(bags, headwearandsocks.) in alignment with seasonal concepts, brand DNA, and industry trends.
  • Create sketches, prototypes, and detailed technical packages to convey design intent.
  • Drive innovation by exploring unconventional approaches to design challenges, ensuring products stand out in competitive markets.
  • Incorporate cultural and regional influences into designs to resonate with Chinese consumers while maintaining global brand appeal.
  • Develop designs that combine aesthetics with advanced performance features, enhancing functionality for diverse use cases.
• Collaboration & Cross-functional Work:
  • Partner with Product Manager and Development teams to translate briefs into commercially viable designs.
  • Collaborate with Materials and Color Teams to ensure the integration of innovative materials and colorways.
  • Always maintain a consistent design language across regions.
• Consumer-Centric Focus:
  • Leverage consumer insights to inform design decisions, ensuring relevance to target audiences.
  • Continuously explore and apply trends in lifestyle, performance, and sustainability to design concepts.
• Leadership & Mentorship:
  • Provide guidance and feedback to junior designers, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence.
  • Drive initiatives that elevate team skills and design capabilities.

Key Relationships

• Product Manager
• Development Teams
• Materials Teams(MDI)
• External vendors and suppliers

Requirements

• Experience:
  • Minimum 5–8 years of experience in accessories design, with a strong portfolio showcasing innovative and commercially successful products.
  • Proven track record of working within a globalsportsbrand orlocal sports brand.
• Skills & Knowledge:
  • Strong expertise in 2D design tools (e.g., Adobe Illustrator / Photoshop).
  • Exceptional ability to create compelling visuals and presentations.
  • Deep understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and material innovation.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.
  • Familiarity with sustainability practices and trends in the design industry.
• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Industrial Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.

Competencies

• Creative Vision: Ability to conceptualize and deliver groundbreaking designs.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligns designs with brand and business strategies.
• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across teams and stakeholders.
• Leadership: Inspires and develops others to achieve creative excellence.
• Motivation: Demonstrates a deep passion for design and a keen sensitivity to evolving market trends.

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

To create commercial innovations which drive the product process from design direction through to production reality.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of shoe building from design sketch phase to manufacturing
• Design and develop solutions to achieve commercialization of iconic silhouettes.
• Act as an innovative solution provider for the label.
• Constantly resource new materials and processes in conjunction with new manufacturing techniques.
• Communicate and share new insights and best practices to enable potential new design solutions for the rest of the team
• Understand Head Office, Market and Customers design directions keeping innovative design aesthetics through cost engineered design solutions.

Requisite Education:

• University/Design School graduate in the area of Industrial Design.
• At least 5 years relevant work experience
• Good knowledge of lifestyle and sport culture
• Knowledge of the commercial channel beneficial
• Excellent English knowledge (oral & written).