Product Designer I

Outdoor Cap has been servicing the needs of the headwear industry for 47 years and is one of the world’s largest companies focused on business-to-business sourcing and manufacturing headwear. With customers in retail, team sports, golf, promotional products and more, working at Outdoor Cap is an opportunity to be part of a growing business building amazing products for some of the world’s greatest brands and companies.

The Product Designer I is responsible for working with a team of designers that share the common goal of creating original, innovative designs using Adobe CC. Involvement is in every phase of the product design process, including brainstorming, concept development, design execution and critique. Utilizing a full range of product design, identity design, branding, trending and sourcing knowledge, this position concentrates on every aspect of the product, understanding that it is a three-dimensional object with many facets.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Attends planning meetings and engages team to clarify direction
• Collaborates with other designers in the concept development process
• Brings innovative ideas for design and decoration to the team
• Executes design for assigned projects
• Applies brand identity, customer preferences, sales history, market benchmark and trend direction appropriately to meet the unique needs of the customer
• Ensures quality standards in all deliverables
• Gives and solicits feedback from other designers in order to continually raise the bar for quality
• Is objective and solution driven, working with Lead Designers and Directors to accommodate varying degrees of critique and revision
• Stays informed of technique and fabric availability at all factories
• Highly organized, maintaining awareness of workload, managing time and changes to project priorities
• Maintains awareness of new and continual changes to design requests, techniques, headwear styles and programs
• Provides detailed specification for the factory e.g. fabrication, color, technique, shape and references
• Researches the retail market, compiles and analyzes season relevant trending
• Communicates effectively and professionally
• Attends daily sample review meetings and identifies opportunities for improvement
• Is service oriented: reacts immediately to requests that may require quick turnaround in order to meet a deadline or exceed expectations
• Looks for opportunities to work quickly and efficiently, yielding both quality and results
• Maintains a file management system for accuracy, consistency and easy access
• Ensures that designs comply with internal and external guidelines
• Participates in skill development training in an effort to create value and maximize impact
• Employs a project management system to manage assigned projects
• Researches and analyzes current trend in the market, requiring occasional local and regional travel
• Protects Outdoor Cap and its property by securing artwork that is shared outside of the company
• Guarantees all designs respect copyright laws and follow intellectual property guidelines
• Upholds Outdoor Cap's Mission-Vision-Values and Founder’s Pillars by acting with integrity; working together as a team; treating each other with respect

Skills & Competencies

• Teamwork and Collaboration {Demonstrates commitment to team members and engages in collaborative, detail-oriented communication across all departments. Effectively sets priorities and manages timelines in order to get work done. Shows respect, builds trust and exhibits flexibility to change.}
• Design Acumen {Maintains awareness and understanding of the marketplace and industry trends. Creative and critical thinking driven by knowledge of principles of design: layout, typography, color, balance, composition and design trends. Fast and efficient learner with desire to further develop through training to expand technical proficiency, creative thinking and an increased working knowledge of headwear design.}
• Customer Service {Demonstrates commitment to our customers and represents Outdoor Cap in a professional manner. Provides exceptional service and responds to customer needs with urgency, thoughtfulness and attention to detail.}

Education & Qualifications

• Minimum Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design
• 2+ years of graphic design experience preferred
• Working knowledge of Adobe CC and Mac OSX

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (seated) 80% of the day and occasionally reach, bend and move inside the office to access files and product
• Local and regional travel up to 10%
• Required to have close visual acuity to perform computer tasks and operate other office machinery
• The person in this position frequently communicates with internal and external customers and must be able to exchange accurate information in a clear manner
• Ability to move 10-20 lbs. occasionally throughout day
• Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
• Able to hear a telephone ring

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign / reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.