Vans: Associate Designer, Material Concepts

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.  

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of an Associate Designer, Materials Concepts at Vans looks a little like this.

You’ll support the Senior Manager of Material Concepts in developing seasonal direction and material palettes that inspire and guide our global footwear and apparel design teams. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute creatively while learning the fundamentals of material innovation, trend storytelling, and seasonal design execution.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Assist in preparing and refining seasonal material palettes for footwear and apparel.
• Help create visual tools for key seasonal milestones.
• Support cross-category alignment by maintaining and updating material application guides.
• Research emerging trends and materials to provide inspiration for seasonal concepts.
• Partner with the material development team to maintain the material archive.
• Prepare digital and physical presentation assets for internal and external reviews.
• Track key tasks and timelines to ensure deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Support creation and distribution of seasonal material assets.

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 0-2+ years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Textiles, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Basic understanding of material properties, color theory, and textile design fundamentals.
• Working knowledge in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Keynote, and Excel.
• Ability to create clear, polished, and visually compelling design assets.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Clear communication and collaboration across teams.
• Eagerness to learn, take initiative, and grow in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple projects while maintaining creative consistency.
• Familiarity with AI design tools is a plus.

Location requirement: Hybrid schedule in-office in Costa Mesa, CA.

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

To learn more about Vans’ benefits package, follow this MyVFBenefits.com and click “Looking to Join VF”.

To learn more about Vans‘ Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to www.vans.com.

Now WE have a question for YOU.

Are you in?

Hiring Range:

$60,480.00 USD - $75,600.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sale