Footwear Assistant Designer

WHY JOIN ALO?

Mindful movement. It’s at the core of why we do what we do at ALO—it’s our calling. Because mindful movement in the studio leads to better living. It changes who yogis are off the mat, making their lives and their communities better. That’s the real meaning of studio-to-street: taking the consciousness from practice on the mat and putting it into practice in life.

OVERVIEW

We are seeking a highly creative and detail-oriented Assistant Footwear Designer to join our passionate design team. In this role, you will support the footwear design process from concept through development, contributing to innovative, forward-thinking product across seasons. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, can successfully multi-task, and brings a positive, collaborative attitude to the team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the Senior Design Director on daily tasks throughout the footwear design process, including but not limited to:

• Ideation & Research – Conduct deep-dive trend research, competitive analysis, and in-person market research related to footwear, materials, silhouettes, and construction

• Sketching & CAD – Create and update footwear sketches and CADs throughout the development process, including uppers, outsoles, tooling, and color updates

• Development – Assist in launching, developing, and tracking footwear styles, materials, trims, hardware, outsoles, and colorways

• PLM / BOM – Accurately complete and maintain PLM entries and Bills of Materials for all footwear styles

• Fittings & Wear Tests – Participate in fittings, wear tests, and proto reviews; document feedback and follow up on design revisions

• Meetings – Document and take detailed notes during cross-functional weekly meetings and milestone reviews

• Sample Management – Organize and track inspiration samples, vendor samples, protos, SMS, and production samples

• Material Organization – Create and organize seasonal material, trim, and outsole binders

• Line Planning – Build and maintain the Senior Designer’s seasonal line plan / 1-pagers

• Prototype Reviews – Assist weekly proto reviews by gathering, labeling, and prepping samples

• Concept Boards – Assist in creating seasonal concept boards for presentations and milestone meetings

• Calendar Management – Adhere to design calendars, deadlines, and timelines, ensuring all tasks are completed accurately and on time

• Product Knowledge – Maintain strong knowledge of all footwear styles to support line editing and design refinement

• Merchandising Support – Support merchandising tasks including proto reviews, style outs, and line edits

• Studio Support – Assist with styling, organizing, setting up, and breaking down design spaces

• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Collaborate with other design assistants and cross-functional partners company-wide

• Operations Support – Check in with Design Operations Manager to support additional needs as required

• Leadership Support – Support the VP of Design with daily tasks including shipping, document prep, layouts, inspiration assets, and special projects

• Communication – Communicate clearly and effectively with design leadership and cross-functional teams

• Driving Capability – Driving ability is a plus for errands related to samples, inspiration pulls, and special projects

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or related field preferred

• 0–2 years of industry experience in footwear or fashion design

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

• Strong CAD skills with a focus on footwear

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word

• Knowledge of footwear materials including leathers, textiles, synthetics, rubbers, and trims

• Understanding of footwear construction, tooling, and manufacturing processes preferred

• 3D modeling and CLO experience a plus, but not required

• Knowledge of hard goods a plus, but not required

The base salary range for this position is $70,000-$75,000 per year which represents the current range for the base salary for this exempt position. Please note that actual salaries will vary based on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. As such, on occasion and when applicable, there is the possibility that the final, agreed-upon base salary may be outside of the upper end of the range. Please also note the range listed is just one component of the company’s total rewards package for exempt employees. Other rewards may include performance bonuses, long term incentives, a PTO policy, and many other progressive benefits.

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