Associate Designer, Footwear

Our Story

At Madewell, we believe that great style starts with great design. Since 2006, we’ve been creating premium denim and foundational wardrobe pieces for men and women that balance quality, authenticity, and versatility. From iconic jeans perfected by denim experts to the essential tee, the most versatile shoe, and the timeless leather bag—if it’s Madewell, it’s made well.

Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

About the Role

We are looking for an Associate Designer, Footwear to join our Design team and help bring our footwear vision to life across seasonal collections. This role will partner closely with Merchandising, Sourcing, and other cross-functional teams to develop product that is on-brand, commercially relevant, and aligned with the customer.

The Associate Designer will support the design and development of footwear from initial concept through final production, contributing to seasonal direction while managing the details and execution required to bring product to market.

What You’ll Do

• Support the design and development of seasonal footwear collections across key categories.
• Research and identify relevant fashion, color, material, silhouette, and consumer trends to inform product development.
• Create sketches, technical drawings, colorways, and design concepts under the direction of the Footwear Design team.
• Build and maintain seasonal design presentations, line plans, mood boards, and product documentation.
• Partner with Design and Merchandising to understand business needs, customer insights, and seasonal product strategies.
• Work closely with Sourcing to ensure designs are executed accurately and meet quality, cost, and timing expectations.
• Review samples and provide clear, detailed feedback on design, construction, materials, color, and fit.
• Participate in sample reviews and seasonal milestone meetings.
• Maintain accurate product information and ensure design details are communicated clearly throughout the development process.
• Support the creation and maintenance of tech packs and other product specifications.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail.
• Stay current on footwear, fashion, retail, and competitive trends and bring relevant inspiration and ideas to the team.
• Collaborate across functions to help resolve product and execution challenges throughout the development cycle.

What You’ll Bring

• 2–4 years of footwear design experience, preferably within fashion, specialty, or vertical retail.
• Strong understanding of footwear design, construction, materials, and manufacturing.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong sketching and technical drawing skills.
• A strong eye for color, proportion, material, and detail.
• Ability to translate trends and inspiration into commercially relevant product.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across creative and business teams.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn and contribute.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Footwear Design, or a related field preferred.
• We welcome you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity, and who feel connected to our brands and share our desire to make an impact. We’re always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow and evolve with our teams.