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Color Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Athleta

Director of Color

San Francisco, CA

$173K - $224K/yr

Manage, mentor, and support color designers, fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration. * Present seasonal color vision to design, merchandising, and leadership teams, inspiring cross ...

Everlane

Color Design Associate

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$20.50 - $32/hr

The Color Design Associate supports the Design Managers and VP of Design in creating seasonal color palettes and visual assets, as well as in managing dip and basic pattern development and approvals.

Everlane

Color Design Associate

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20.50 - $32/hr

The Color Design Associate supports the Design Managers and VP of Design in creating seasonal color palettes and visual assets, as well as in managing dip and basic pattern development and approvals.

TravisMathew

Designer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

Responsible for designing seasonal menswear & SMU products within (but not limited to) the ... Strong creativity in color, print, and pattern * Strong written and verbal communication skills

Crateandbarrel

Designer

West Hollywood, CA · On-site

Designers work with customers to help plan and design their spaces. Through elevated designs and ... color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental ...

Crate & Barrel Holdings

Designer

West Hollywood, CA · On-site

Designers work with customers to help plan and design their spaces. Through elevated designs and ... color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental ...

K B M Office Equipment, Inc.

Designer

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

Description The Designer plays a key role in developing furniture plans, specifications, and visual ... EEO STATEMENT KBM Hogue does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion ...

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How much do color designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for color designer in California is $23.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.47 and $23.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Color Designers in their role?

Color Designers often encounter challenges such as maintaining color consistency across different media and substrates, staying updated with evolving trends, and effectively communicating their color choices to clients or collaborators who may not have a design background. They may also need to balance creative vision with practical limitations, such as material restrictions or production processes. Navigating tight deadlines while ensuring high-quality results can also be demanding. However, these challenges foster a dynamic work environment and encourage growth in both technical and creative problem-solving skills.

What does a Color Designer do?

A Color Designer is responsible for selecting and applying colors to characters, props, and environments in animation or design projects. They work closely with art directors and production designers to ensure consistency and mood alignment. Their role involves creating color scripts, palettes, and guides to maintain a cohesive visual style.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Color Designer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Color Designer, you need a strong sense of color theory, design fundamentals, and an eye for visual harmony, often supported by a background in graphic design, art, or related fields. Familiarity with digital design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and color management systems is typically required, and certifications in color science can be advantageous. Strong communication, creativity, and attention to detail are important soft skills that help Color Designers work effectively with teams and clients. These skills ensure that color choices consistently align with brand, product, or project goals, creating visually compelling and effective results.

What are the most commonly searched types of Color Designer jobs in California? The most popular types of Color Designer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Color Designer jobs in California? For Color Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Color Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Color Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Color Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Color Designer job openings:
Color Designer jobs near you
Director of Color

Director of Color

Athleta

San Francisco, CA

$173K - $224K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

About Athleta

For the past 25 years, we’ve committed ourselves and our brand to a single aim: to empower all women and girls. Inspiration. Collaboration. Connection. Inclusivity. It’s what we do best, and we’re on the hunt for people who share our passion for leading an active lifestyle, growing personally as well as professionally, and creating game-changing products and experiences.

We use business as a force for good by putting people and the planet right up there with profit, which is why Athleta is a certified B Corp. Ready to make a move? Join us. Because we know that alone we’re strong, but together we’re unstoppable.

About the role

The Director of Color will lead the vision, strategy, and application of color at Athleta. This individual will blend deep knowledge of color theory, trend forecasting, and consumer insights to deliver compelling, cohesive seasonal palettes, overseeing the process from concept to consumer.The ideal candidate has an elevated taste level and a strong understanding of the technical aspects of apparel creation, materials, and finishing techniques. You bring a balance of creativity and analytical rigor, with the ability to establish the structure, processes, and systems needed to transform vision into exceptional results.

What you'll do

Color Creation

  • Create and lead the color strategy and vision each season.
  • Partner with design leadership to define seasonal color intent, inspiration, and aesthetic direction.
  • Evaluate trends, consumer insights, and competitive landscapes to inform strategic color decisions.
  • Create aspirational color presentations and tools that inspire product and leadership teams.

Operational Excellence

  • Establish and maintain clear workflows, timelines, and checkpoints for color processes and the color team.
  • Collaborate with Design Ops and cross-functional partners to maintain calendar alignment and remove roadblocks.
  • Introduce new tools, systems, or methods that enhance color workflows and collaboration.

Quality & Execution

  • Ensure all colors across the collection meet the highest standards of execution.
  • Partner closely with the color development team to support development, tools, and palette application.

Leadership

  • Manage, mentor, and support color designers, fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration.
  • Present seasonal color vision to design, merchandising, and leadership teams, inspiring cross-functional adoption.
  • Lead regular touchpoints to ensure consistency, cohesion, and alignment with brand vision and aesthetic guidelines.
Who you are
  • 12+ years of experience in color design in fashion, ideally within the active space.
  • Strong understanding of color theory, color development, and production processes.
  • Possess an elevated taste level and an innate ability to translate trends through a brand lens.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining clarity and focus.
  • Demonstrate agility in shifting priorities and responding to change with a calm, solution-oriented mindset.
  • Skilled at guiding teams through change with steadiness, clear communication, and organized decision-making.
  • High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; Miro experience is a plus.
  • Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
  • Ability to influence and build strong cross-functional relationships.

Salary Range: $173,000.00 - $224,900.00
Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.

Benefits at Athleta
  • Merchandise discount for our brands: 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, and 30% off at Outlet for all employees.
  • One of the most competitive Paid Time Off plans in the industry.*
  • Employees can take up to five “on the clock” hours each month to volunteer at a charity of their choice.*
  • Extensive 401(k) plan with company matching for contributions up to four percent of an employee’s base pay.*
  • Employee stock purchase plan.*
  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.*
  • See more of the benefits we offer.

*For eligible employees

Gap Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We have received numerous awards for our long-held commitment to equality and will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive environment of belonging. In 2022, we were recognized by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers and one of the Best Employers for Diversity.

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