$75,000–$125,000 Per Year
Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Apparel Design, Brand Management, Communication Skills, Cross-Functional, Design Services, Fashion Trends, Fine Art, Forecasting, Graphic Design, Graphical Presentations, Graphics, Graphics Programming, Graphics Software, Illustrating Ability, Licensing, Maintain Compliance, Mentoring, Merchandising, Multitasking, Organizational Skills, People Management, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Printing, Product Development, Product Reviews, Project/Program Management, Quality Metrics, Retail Channel, Sales, Seasonal Design, Time Management, Trend Analysis, Typography
Apparel Graphics Designer
Reports To: Director of Graphic Design / Senior Director of Graphic Design / VP of Graphic Design / SVP of Design
Direct Reports: Assistant Graphic Designer / Associate Graphic Designer / Senior Associate Graphic Designer
Position Overview
Our client is seeking a Graphic Designer to join their creative team and play a key role in developing seasonal graphic apparel collections across multiple licensed and private-label programs. This individual will collaborate closely with Design, Merchandising, Sales, and Product Development teams to create trend-right graphics that resonate with fashion-conscious youth consumers and active lifestyle markets.
The ideal candidate possesses a strong eye for color, typography, illustration, and emerging trends, with experience creating graphics for apparel programs that balance fashion, sport-inspired influences, and commercial appeal.
Key Responsibilities
- Create original graphic concepts, prints, and artwork for apparel collections, including t-shirts, fleece, activewear, and fashion basics.
- Develop seasonal graphic direction aligned with customer, category, and market needs.
- Execute artwork from concept through final production while ensuring adherence to licensing and brand standards where applicable.
- Prepare graphics for internal presentations, line reviews, and customer meetings.
- Create production-ready artwork and color separations for screen printing and other embellishment techniques.
- Review strike-offs, lab dips, and artwork submissions, providing clear and actionable feedback to Product Assurance and Production teams.
- Coordinate standards, artwork packages, and supporting materials throughout the development process.
- Research fashion, graphic, color, and cultural trends relevant to youth, active, and lifestyle apparel markets.
- Shop retail and digital channels to identify emerging trends, competitive opportunities, and white-space concepts.
- Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Sales, and Brand Management teams to conceptualize and launch seasonal collections across multiple channels of distribution.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and meeting calendar deadlines.
- Ensure line sheets, design catalogs, artwork libraries, and production logs are organized and up to date.
- Support showroom merchandising and seasonal market presentations.
- Mentor and develop junior design team members, providing guidance, feedback, and creative direction.
- Participate in special projects and initiatives as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, or a related field.
- 5+ years of graphic design experience within the apparel, fashion, or consumer products industry.
- Experience designing for youth, teen, and active lifestyle categories strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of fashion graphics, trend forecasting, typography, color, and print techniques.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong illustration skills are a plus.
- Proven ability to mentor and develop junior-level designers.
- Portfolio demonstrating a trend-forward aesthetic with a strong understanding of youth fashion and sport-inspired design.
Work Environment
This position requires a consistent in-office presence to facilitate collaboration, product reviews, and hands-on engagement with apparel samples, fabrics, trims, and graphic applications. Regular interaction with cross-functional teams ensures alignment on product vision, quality standards, and seasonal objectives.
Compensation
Salary Range: $75,000 – $125,000 annually