Design Director, Kids Fashion & Athletic Footwear

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Kids Fashion & Athletic Footwear

Company: American Exchange Group

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design & Development (Footwear)

Date Posted: 2026-06-01

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative vision and seasonal design strategy for kids fashion, athletic, and licensed footwear collections, ensuring alignment with brand positioning and market trends.

• Drive end-to-end product development from concept ideation, trend research, and consumer insights to commercialization and global production oversight.

• Foster innovation in product concepts, materials, construction, and performance attributes to meet evolving consumer needs and competitive demands.

• Oversee and mentor a design team, cultivating a collaborative and high-performing environment focused on creative excellence and efficiency.

• Partner cross-functionally with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, and Production teams to ensure successful execution of seasonal assortments and product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a senior leadership position within the product design function, specifically focused on the highly competitive and trend-driven kids' footwear market. The emphasis on "fashion & athletic footwear" and "licensed categories" indicates a need for a candidate who can navigate diverse product types and brand collaborations. The "on-site 5 days a week at our NYC HQ" requirement highlights the importance of in-person collaboration and team presence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute a compelling creative direction and seasonal design strategy across kids' lifestyle, athletic, casual, and licensed footwear segments.

• Conduct in-depth trend research, analyze consumer insights, and perform competitive landscape assessments to inform product direction and identify emerging opportunities.

• Develop innovative and marketable product concepts that resonate with target demographics and align with brand identity and commercial objectives.

• Manage the complete design lifecycle, from initial sketches and material selection through prototype review, wear-testing, and final commercialization, ensuring design integrity at every stage.

• Create detailed footwear concepts, specifying materials, color palettes, constructions, and silhouette direction for diverse product categories.

• Collaborate closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing, and Production teams to align on seasonal assortments, timelines, and production requirements.

• Effectively manage relationships and design approvals with licensors, ensuring all products meet brand standards and contractual obligations.

• Communicate technical design specifications and revision requests to overseas factories and development partners, overseeing prototype development and sample feedback cycles.

• Critically review prototypes and incorporate wear-test feedback to optimize fit, function, comfort, performance, and aesthetic appeal.

• Champion material innovation, explore advanced construction techniques, and drive cost engineering initiatives while preserving the core design intent and quality.

• Present seasonal creative concepts, line reviews, and strategic product plans to senior leadership, key stakeholders, and external partners with clarity and conviction.

• Build, mentor, and develop a team of talented designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure strict adherence to design calendars and manage multiple product categories and competing deadlines effectively within a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic creative leadership, hands-on design execution, and cross-functional project management. The mention of "licensors," "overseas factories," and "major retailers" points to a need for a candidate experienced in global supply chains and retail partnerships within the footwear industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent professional experience will be considered.

Experience: 8–12+ years of progressive experience in footwear design, with a significant specialization in kids' footwear, athletic footwear, or licensed product categories. Proven track record of leading design teams and managing multiple product categories concurrently.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading creative direction and setting seasonal design strategies for footwear.

• Strong understanding of kids' consumer behavior, current fashion trends, athletic performance trends, and broader marketplace dynamics.

• In-depth knowledge of footwear construction, materials, fit principles, costing, and global development processes.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for design creation, manipulation, and visual storytelling.

• Proven ability to create comprehensive tech packs, detailed specifications, and product documentation for international development teams.

• Excellent cross-functional leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to drive consensus and collaboration across diverse departments.

• Exceptional organizational capabilities, time management, and presentation skills.

• Ability to thrive and maintain high performance in a fast-paced, high-volume, and dynamic work environment with evolving priorities.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience managing licensed brands and navigating associated approval processes.

• Proven success in partnering with overseas factories and global sourcing teams to ensure timely and quality production.

• Background within mass market, off-price, fashion footwear, or high-volume retail environments.

• Understanding of sustainability initiatives, innovative materials, and emerging footwear technologies.

• A genuine passion for children's products, compelling storytelling, trend forecasting, and consumer-centric design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is substantial, indicating a need for a senior-level candidate with a proven history of success in the footwear industry, particularly in the specified categories. The emphasis on "major retailers" suggests familiarity with high-volume, often price-sensitive, retail environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of footwear design projects showcasing a range of kids' fashion, athletic, and/or licensed footwear concepts.

• Demonstrations of creative ideation, including mood boards, trend research, color palettes, and silhouette explorations.

• Examples of technical design skills, such as detailed sketches, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop renderings, and well-documented tech packs.

• Case studies highlighting the end-to-end design process from initial concept to commercialization, including problem-solving and collaboration with development teams.

• Evidence of understanding and applying consumer insights and market trends to product design.

Process Documentation:

• Samples of tech packs and specification sheets that clearly articulate design intent, materials, construction details, and quality standards for factory partners.

• Documentation of trend research and market analysis that informed design decisions.

• Examples of collaboration with Product Development or Merchandising teams, illustrating workflow and communication strategies.

• Evidence of managing the design calendar and meeting development deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only display creative talent but also demonstrate a strategic approach to design, understanding of commercial viability, and the ability to manage complex product lifecycles and cross-functional collaborations within the footwear industry.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The anticipated base salary for this position is between $120,000 and $150,000 annually. This range is an estimate and will be finalized based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, educational background, internal equity considerations, and geographic location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits: Includes medical, dental, vision insurance, and supplemental insurance options.

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan: Company match provided to support long-term financial goals.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Ample paid time off for vacation, personal days, and sick leave.

• Paid Holidays: Company observes standard federal holidays.

• Half Day Fridays: Enjoy shortened workdays during both Summer and Winter seasons.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): A tax-advantaged savings account for healthcare expenses.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Allows pre-tax contributions for healthcare or dependent care expenses.

• Tax-Free Commuter Benefits: Assistance with commuting costs.

• Exclusive Employee Merchandise Discounts: Discounts on American Exchange Group products.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. The role requires a consistent on-site presence at the NYC headquarters, with the added benefit of Half Day Fridays during specified seasons.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Design Director role in New York City, reflecting the seniority and specialized expertise required. The benefits package is robust and includes several attractive perks like Half Day Fridays and employee discounts, which are valuable differentiators.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fashion Accessories & Brand Management (Footwear, Tech Wearables, Watches, Jewelry, Handbags, Fashion Accessories, Home, Beauty). American Exchange Group operates as a leader in distributing globally recognized brands, private labels, and licensed brands to major international retailers.

Company Size: American Exchange Group is part of a larger entity, indicated by the broad range of product categories and distribution networks. While the exact size of the design team isn't specified, the company's scope suggests a medium to large organization with established departments for product development, sales, sourcing, and marketing.

Founded: Founded with a vision to disrupt the status quo in fashion accessories, American Exchange Group has grown into a significant player by focusing on value, quality, and staying ahead of trends. Its history is rooted in brand management and international distribution.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is likely structured to support various product categories and brands. This role will lead the Kids Fashion & Athletic Footwear segment, implying a team of designers, potentially assistant designers, and graphic artists reporting to this Director.

• This role will report to a senior executive, likely a VP of Design or Chief Merchandising Officer, and will collaborate extensively with cross-functional leaders in Merchandising, Product Development, Sales, Sourcing, and Production.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied, with responsibilities including trend research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis to inform design strategy.

• Workflow optimization will be critical, managing the end-to-end design process from concept to commercialization within tight deadlines.

• Automation might be leveraged in design tools (Adobe Suite) and potentially in communication or project management systems, though the emphasis is on creative output and process management.

Company Website: www.axnygroup.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's business model as a brand management and distribution leader suggests a fast-paced, commercially focused environment. The success of the company relies on its ability to quickly identify trends and bring commercially viable products to market through strong retail partnerships.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, Design Director, indicating a significant level of responsibility and strategic input. It sits at the director level within the product design hierarchy, managing a specific product category (Kids Footwear) and likely a team of designers. This level requires not only creative expertise but also strong leadership, strategic thinking, and business acumen.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will report to a higher-level executive within the design or merchandising organization, such as a VP of Design, Chief Creative Officer, or Chief Merchandising Officer. They will, in turn, manage a team of designers responsible for specific product lines within the kids' footwear portfolio.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is directly tied to the commercial success of the kids' fashion and athletic footwear collections. Their ability to forecast trends, create desirable products, and manage the design-to-production pipeline directly influences sales volume, brand perception, and profitability for American Exchange Group and its retail partners. The strategic alignment with licensed brands amplifies this impact, as brand equity is a key driver of product success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance to VP of Design, Chief Design Officer, or a broader divisional leadership role overseeing multiple product categories or brands.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to gain deeper influence over product strategy, brand development, and market positioning for key accounts.

• Specialization Expansion: Possibility to expand expertise into other footwear categories or related product areas within the company's diverse portfolio.

• Industry Network: Building strong relationships with licensors, retailers, and global manufacturing partners, which can open doors for future opportunities.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Developing leadership skills through building and mentoring a design team, a valuable asset for future career progression.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a Design Director in a company like American Exchange Group is typically upward within the organization, focusing on increased strategic responsibility, team management, and broader business impact, rather than lateral moves to entirely different industries without significant retraining.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at the company's NYC Headquarters. This indicates a traditional office environment designed for collaboration, creative work, and team interaction.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY (10018). This specific location in NYC likely offers access to a vibrant fashion and retail ecosystem, with potential proximity to major retail partners and industry events.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement suggests an environment that encourages face-to-face interaction, brainstorming sessions, and team meetings, crucial for creative roles.

• Tools and Technology: Access to standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and likely a physical design studio with resources for sketching, material swatching, and prototype review.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with design team members, product developers, merchandisers, sales teams, and potentially external licensors and factory representatives. The emphasis on collaboration is key for a fast-paced product development cycle.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the significant perk of Half Day Fridays during both Summer and Winter seasons. This offers a better work-life balance, particularly during those periods, while still maintaining the required on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in NYC, combined with the Half Day Fridays perk, suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration and team synergy but also recognizes the importance of employee well-being and work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and creative output. Be prepared to highlight specific achievements relevant to kids' footwear, athletic design, and licensed products.

• First Round Interview: Likely with the hiring manager (e.g., VP of Design) to discuss your design philosophy, leadership style, experience with specific product categories, and understanding of the market. Expect questions about your approach to trend forecasting and concept development.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A crucial stage where you will present your portfolio, discuss key projects in detail, and potentially walk through a design challenge or case study. This is an opportunity to showcase your process, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate your design rationale.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Merchandising, Product Development, and Sales to assess your ability to collaborate, understand commercial needs, and communicate technical requirements effectively.

• Final Round Interview: Typically with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best represent your experience in kids' fashion, athletic, and licensed footwear. Showcase a range of styles and complexities.

• Highlight Process: Don't just show final designs. Detail your creative process, from initial research and concept ideation through development and commercialization. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the commercial success of your designs (e.g., sales performance, positive retailer feedback, successful approvals).

• Tech Pack Examples: Include clear, well-organized examples of tech packs and specifications to demonstrate your technical proficiency and attention to detail.

• Storytelling: Frame your presentation as a narrative. Explain the challenge, your approach, the solution, and the result. This makes your work more engaging and memorable.

• Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to American Exchange Group's business – emphasize your understanding of their market, brand collaborations, and retail partnerships.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach a specific design challenge, such as developing a new collection for a particular retailer or brand, or how you would address a design or development issue.

• Prepare to articulate your thought process, demonstrate how you would leverage trends and consumer insights, and outline your collaboration strategy with other departments.

• Practice presenting your ideas concisely and persuasively, anticipating questions about feasibility, cost implications, and marketability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior design role will heavily emphasize the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their design process, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach. A strong understanding of the commercial aspects of footwear design for major retailers is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating vector-based designs, sketches, and technical illustrations. Proficiency in creating detailed line art and colorways is expected.

• Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for mood boards, rendering, color palette development, material textures, and visual presentations.

• 3D Design Software (Optional but Preferred): While not explicitly stated, familiarity with 3D footwear design software (e.g., Gravity Sketch, CLO 3D, Browzwear) is becoming increasingly valuable for visualization and prototyping, and could be a significant advantage.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned for this design role. The focus is on design software and project management. However, familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) may be beneficial for managing design workflows and deadlines.

• PLM Systems (Product Lifecycle Management): Experience with PLM systems is often beneficial in product development environments for managing product data, specifications, and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around industry-standard design software. The emphasis is on visual creation and technical documentation (tech packs). Any additional technical skills, such as 3D design or familiarity with PLM systems, would be a strong differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A strong emphasis on generating fresh ideas, pushing creative boundaries, and bringing innovative product concepts to life.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where designers work effectively with product developers, merchandisers, sales teams, and external partners.

• Commercial Acumen: Understanding the business side of design – market trends, consumer needs, cost implications, and retailer requirements – to create commercially successful products.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, technical specifications, and quality standards to ensure product integrity and consumer satisfaction.

• Adaptability & Agility: Ability to respond quickly to changing trends, market demands, and feedback in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants in cross-functional teams, contributing creative insights while also understanding and respecting the constraints and objectives of other departments.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to refine designs and improve processes. Regular design reviews and line reviews are key.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of trends, insights, and best practices within the design team and across departments to foster collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a blend of creative excellence and commercial pragmatism. Success in this role will depend on the ability to balance artistic vision with the practical realities of high-volume product development and retail partnerships.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Trend Cycles: Staying ahead of fast-moving fashion and athletic trends, especially in the kids' market, requires continuous research and quick adaptation.

• Balancing Creativity with Commerciality: The need to create innovative designs that are also commercially viable and meet the specific requirements of major retailers and licensed brands.

• Managing Global Development: Effectively communicating design intent and managing revisions with overseas factories to ensure quality and timely production.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating priorities and perspectives across different departments (Sales, Merchandising, Development, Sourcing) to ensure cohesive product strategies.

• High-Volume Output: Meeting the demands of a high-volume production environment while maintaining design quality and innovation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Trend Forecasting & Market Analysis: Access to industry trend reports, trade shows, and market research to deepen understanding of consumer behavior and future trends.

• Material & Technology Exploration: Opportunities to research and integrate new materials, sustainable practices, and innovative footwear technologies into designs.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Developing leadership skills through managing a design team, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to strategic decision-making.

• Industry Exposure: Engaging with licensors, major retail buyers, and global sourcing partners, providing exposure to different facets of the fashion and footwear industry.

• Product Strategy Development: Gaining experience in shaping broader product strategies and line architecture for significant market segments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior design role in the fast-paced fashion industry, requiring a proactive and strategic approach to problem-solving and continuous learning. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to advance their career in design leadership and product strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for leading a design team through the development of a new kids' footwear collection, from initial concept to market launch." (Focus on team management, workflow, and cross-functional collaboration.)

• "How do you stay ahead of fashion and athletic trends, particularly within the kids' market, and how do you translate those trends into commercially viable product designs for major retailers?" (Highlight research methods, trend analysis, and commercial application.)

• "Walk us through a challenging project where you had to balance a licensor's brand guidelines with design innovation and production constraints. What was your approach and the outcome?" (Demonstrate problem-solving, negotiation, and understanding of licensed product development.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about American Exchange Group's business model and its position in the market?" (Research the company's recent news, brand partnerships, and market strategy.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and innovative environment within a design team, especially when working with diverse personalities and skill sets?" (Discuss your leadership and team-building philosophy.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation like a story, detailing the "why" behind your design choices, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.

• Showcase Process: Dedicate slides or sections to your research, ideation, sketching, technical drawings (tech packs), material selection, and prototype review stages.

• Quantify Success: Whenever possible, include data points on sales performance, positive feedback from retailers or licensors, or successful product approvals.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with Product Development, Merchandising, Sales, and Sourcing teams on specific projects.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to present your work concisely, focusing on the most impactful projects and demonstrating a clear understanding of the business objectives. Practice your timing to ensure you cover key points efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to blend creative vision with commercial execution, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the footwear product lifecycle, especially within the context of major retail partnerships and licensed brands.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your resume and a comprehensive portfolio through the American Exchange Group careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features relevant work in kids' fashion, athletic, and/or licensed footwear. Highlight your process, from initial concept to commercialization, and include examples of tech packs and market analysis. Tailor the selection to showcase how your skills align with American Exchange Group's business model and retail partners.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 8-12+ years of footwear design experience, leadership roles, and successes in managing multiple categories and collaborating with global teams and major retailers. Use keywords from the job description, such as "creative direction," "trend forecasting," "footwear construction," and "licensed product development."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a clear narrative. Be ready to discuss strategic questions about design leadership, trend interpretation, commercial viability, and cross-functional collaboration. Prepare specific examples of how you have driven successful product launches and managed design teams.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research American Exchange Group's current brand portfolio, recent news, key retail partnerships, and their overall market strategy. Understand their approach to brand management and product distribution, and be prepared to articulate why you are a strong cultural and strategic fit.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.