Design Director - Footwear

<p><em>(This is a New York based role)</em></p> <p>The<strong> </strong>Design Director, Footwear leads the creative direction, design execution, and development process across all categories within footwear.<br>This role is responsible for translating brand vision into product that reflects the Aimé Leon Dore aesthetic — balancing innovation, utility, and craftsmanship while maintaining design consistency and commercial viability.</p> <p><strong>Duties and Responsibilities:</strong></p> <p><strong>Creative Direction &amp; Concept Development</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead the seasonal creative direction and design narrative for footwear in alignment with the brand’s overall design vision.</li> <li>Develop seasonal mood, color, and material direction that supports brand storytelling and cross-category cohesion.</li> <li>Partner with the SVP of Design and SVP of Product to define long-term category strategy and product evolution.</li> <li>Ensure product design reflects ALD’s balance of heritage inspiration, contemporary design language, and elevated craftsmanship.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Design Execution</strong></p> <ul> <li>Oversee design process from concept through final sample, ensuring accuracy, quality, and timeliness.</li> <li>Approve sketches, prototypes, and materials; provide clear creative feedback to design and development teams.</li> <li>Ensure silhouettes, details, and materials adhere to brand standards and category performance needs.</li> <li>Collaborate with technical design, product development, and sourcing teams to ensure feasibility and cost alignment without compromising design intent.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cross-Functional Collaboration</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner closely with Apparel Design, Merchandising, Production, and Marketing to ensure product alignment across categories.</li> <li>Collaborate with Retail and Creative teams on seasonal storytelling, launch strategy, and brand imagery.</li> <li>Liaise with vendors and factories on sample execution, materials innovation, and technical refinement.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Leadership &amp; Team Management</strong></p> <ul> <li>Manage and mentor the Footwear Design team, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and collaboration.</li> <li>Set clear seasonal goals and deliverables, ensuring milestone adherence and design excellence.</li> <li>Provide feedback and development opportunities to designers, strengthening internal creative capability.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>8–10 years of design experience in footwear ideally within a luxury, lifestyle, or designer brand.</li> <li>Proven track record in developing cohesive, elevated collections across categories (footwear).</li> <li>Strong knowledge of materials, construction, and manufacturing processes.</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to lead a design team and manage cross-functional relationships.</li> <li>Highly skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, 3D design tools, and presentation rendering.</li> <li>Deep understanding of cultural and design references aligned with ALD’s aesthetic.</li> <li>Excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills<strong>.</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong><span class="s1">Salary Range: </span></strong><span class="s1">$130,000 - $140,000</span></p> <p class="p6">&nbsp;</p><div class="content-conclusion"><p>Aimé Leon Dore is from Queens, NY. With a strong focus on simple yet powerful design, we are driven to create timeless work by portraying an aesthetic that is uniquely our own.</p></div>