Associate Concept Designer

Number of Vacancies1
Job TitleAssociate Concept Designer
Location7410-Private Label
Job Description

Reports to: Design Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Location: Zumiez Home Office - Lynnwood, WA

 

Zumiez and Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, skateboards, and snowboards for young men and women who want to express their individuality through the fashion, music, art, and culture of action sports, streetwear, and other unique lifestyles. Headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, Zumiez operates over 700 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. We operate under Zumiez in North America, Blue Tomato in Europe, and Fast Times in Australia.

The Zumiez Product and Brand Services (PBS) team is responsible for over 30 unique brands spanning various categories, including men's and women's apparel, accessories, and snow/skate hardgoods. These brands are comprised of private label, licensed, and owned brands.

 

Position Purpose

The Concept Designer is pivotal in the early stages of the design process. Their primary responsibility is collaborating closely with the product design and merchandising leaders, using trend analysis and informative data to shape trend-right design concepts. The Concept Designer is also involved in ongoing processes such as supporting brand development, seasonal trend ideation, and various tasks to support design Leadership.

 

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with design leadership to create on-brand seasonal concepts through digital mood boards that help guide the design process.
• Support the Design Director with researching and developing new brand and collection concepts.
• Maintain an understanding of brand aesthetics, seasonal product priorities, and the current business state.
• Engage with cross-functional teams, integrating their feedback into design concepts to ensure alignment with brand guidelines.
• Participate in seasonal trend shopping to gain insights into the aspirational and competitive landscapes.
• Oversees the seasonal trend shopping report development.
• Support the design leadership in building various research and pitch decks.
• Assist the graphic design team with monthly printable concepts.
• Responsible for presenting concepts to leadership, design, and buying teams.
• Assist with seasonal trend workshops and presentation development.
• Support the Design Director with maintaining, evolving, and building DNA for private label brands.
• Establish, manage, and update a digital database for trend and brand resources.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to adapt seasonal trends and product information for the store teams.
• Actively identify areas of process and systems improvement and proactively find solutions.
• Other duties assigned by the Manager.

 

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Concept Designer or in a similar role in the fashion industry, with a strong portfolio of work demonstrating expertise.
• Desire to work in a collaborative environment and build strong relationships with business partners & teammates
• Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, and Office 365
• Experience in building informative and engaging presentations and pitch decks.
• In-depth knowledge of fashion and graphic trends.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail and a keen eye for aesthetics.
• Innovative mindset and a passion for pushing creative boundaries.
• Able to travel domestically and internationally for approximately 3-4 weeks each year.

 

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Ability to sit/stand in a stationary position in an office environment for extended periods and work on a Mac or PC without limitations. Must be able to distinguish colors and inspect the material on the product.

 

Benefits:

• Salary Range $68K - $73K yearly
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, following an initial wait period.
• 401k after one year of service
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life Insurance
• Ten days of accrued paid vacation.
• Bonus Potential
• Stock Purchase Program
• Open, casual, pet-friendly office environment
• Employee Discount on Zumiez product
• On-site skate park, on-site cafeteria

This job description is not all-inclusive and is only intended to describe the general nature of the work. All job responsibilities are essential job functions. Job responsibilities and requirements are subject to modification to accommodate individuals with disabilities reasonably. The Company reserves the right to modify the job description as it deems necessary for proper business operations.