Senior Graphic Designer

Job Title

Area: Global Brands

Department: Creation Center Shanghai

Direct Reporting Line: Director ORI/BB/GFX APP Design

Indirect/secondary Reporting Line: NA

Subsidiary/Country: China

Location: Shanghai

GSMS Grade: M 3

Number of Personnel Managed: See org. chart

Cost Center/Budget and/or Revenue Responsibility: No

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Develop short calendars industry-leading creative graphic design solutions to extend the global adidas apparel collection (all categories) for the Greater China Area market and amplify the relevancy and desirability of adidas brand image, from sell-in to sell-out (consumer-facing).

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the 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.

High-frequency communication to Germany HQ key graphic design team members to maximize harmonization between local product creation and global collection for sportswear, kids, originals, and basketball.

Lead the execution of creative strategies to ensure end-to-end creative excellence from sell-in to sell-out (consumer-facing).

Create together with the direct reports graphic designers 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.

Grow, mentor, and support the direct reports, leading creative leadership, influencing to the graphic designers.

Seek out new Graphic Design resources that can deliver world-class results.

Key Relationships:

Design Director, direct Design reports, 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 concepts

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 storytelling

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 6-8 years experience in Graphic Design on a managerial level (team lead level) in the Graphic design/visual communication teams

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

Graphic Design experience in another industry requires assessing knowledge on 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 its mission

Passion for sports, culture, fashion, design