Color and Materials Footwear Designer - February 2026

For one of our clients in the fashion industry, we are looking for <b>a  freelance Footwear Color Material Designer.</b><br /> <br /> <strong>1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION</strong><br /> a. Short Description<br /> The scope of the project is Product Design for Originals Kids – FW27 season.<br /> b. Purpose<br /> The objective of the project is to create impactful product designs and color &amp; material concepts for the FW27 Originals Kids collection.<br /> This collection has significant cultural and financial importance. The Kids team works on key franchises and collaborations with major international brands and represents a major volume driver for the Kids business.<br /> c. Need for External Contractor<br /> An external contractor is required due to the need for: <ul> <li><span>Expertise in both product design and color &amp; materials design</span></li> <li><span>A fresh perspective</span></li> <li><span>Strong knowledge of the sneaker market and culture, which is not available internally</span></li> </ul> <div> <hr /></div> <strong>2. SERVICE DESCRIPTION</strong><br /> Marketing will provide briefs and all relevant product information upfront.<br /> The contractor will independently perform the following services: <ul> <li><span>Attend onsite project briefings due to physical materials for each product</span></li> <li><span>Create footwear concept designs based on the provided vision and project brief (max. 250 articles)</span></li> <li><span>Develop initial product and color &amp; material concepts and directions (max. 250 articles)</span></li> <li><span>Produce detailed design files including:</span> <ul> <li><span>Technical specifications</span></li> <li><span>CADs</span></li> <li><span>Bills of Materials</span></li> <li><span>Technical drawings</span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span>Revise rollouts based on consolidated feedback from review sessions</span></li> <li><span>Prepare and finalize color CADs and material maps for handover to the Development team and suppliers/factories</span></li> <li><span>Create clear and compelling design presentations (PowerPoint, Miro, or other design tools)</span></li> <li><span>Upload files to digital platforms (Creation Portal, SharePoint, Miro, etc.)</span></li> <li><span>Attend onsite design reviews with Design and Marketing teams</span></li> <li><span>Attend FW27 Asia factory trip to review physical samples and adjust designs onsite</span></li> <li><span>Independently adjust designs based on feedback and professional expertise</span></li> <li><span>Submit all documentation, handouts, and guidelines for approval</span></li> </ul> Goal:<br /> Design a portion of the Originals Kids FW27 collection in accordance with the marketing briefs. <div> <hr /></div> <strong>3. TIMELINES &amp; MILESTONES</strong> <ul> <li><span>April 24, 2026: Handover of all documentation, presentations, and design tech packs</span></li> <li><span>May 25 – June 19, 2026: Asia factory trip for physical sample review and onsite adjustments (or according to project calendar)</span></li> </ul> <br /> <b>Start date:</b> 16/02/2026<br /> <b>End date:</b> 26/06/2026<br /> <b>Estimated working days:</b> 90 in total or 38.5 hours/week<br /> <b>Work setup:</b> 50% onsite in Herzogenerauch, Germany / 50% remote<br /> <b>Travel:</b> Mandatory travel to Asia for 2 weeks (end of May – beginning of June)<br />