Area:                                                                                                                       GCA
Department:                                                                                                           CCS / Future City
Direct Reporting Line:                                                                                          Senior Director, CCS APP
Indirect/secondary reporting line:                                                                       n.a.
Subsidiary/country:                                                                                              China
Location:                                                                                                               Shanghai
GSMS Grade:                                                                                                        M3
Number of Personnel Managed:                                                                         see org. chart

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

As a Future City (FCC) APP Lead Designer, you will be responsible for driving apparel product design for Adidas in China’s T3–T7 markets. You will also need to manage external design teams, ensuring that the designs align with the brand’s standards while addressing the specific needs of this market segment; meanwhile, supporting the Line Manager in developing design strategies and executing them during the design process. Additionally, FCC requires a huge focus on local market trends, optimize design workflows, and contribute to the creation of commercially competitive and brand-consistent products.
 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design of apparel products for T3–T7 markets, ensuring alignment in colour, materials, fit, and graphics with both market needs and brand standards.
• Manage and coordinate external designers to ensure high-quality, timely, and consistent design output.
• Analyse local market trends, consumer needs, and competitor activities, translating insights into design concepts.
• Oversee the complete creative process, identifying industry trends in colour, materials, and graphics, and influence merchandising and assortment strategies
• Collaborate with the Design Director and Product Marketing teams to implement design strategies and product plans.
• Execute design tasks in compliance with Adidas brand standards and legal regulations.
• Work closely with the Product Development team to ensure feasibility and efficiency in design implementation.
• Liaise with suppliers and external resources to support product development and production processes.
• Lead and mentor the design team both creatively and organizationally, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration
• Manage all stages of the design workflow, from concept generation to sample development, ensuring on-time delivery of commercially viable products.
• Adjust design directions or optimize existing designs based on feedback and market response.
  
  Key Stakeholders
• Product Marketing (PM)
• Product Development (DA)
• Business Unit (BU)
• Designer
• Senior Design Director
• External Resources
   

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Fashion Design or a related field.
• At least 5-8 years of experience in apparel design, preferably in mass-market or local market-focused design.
• Strong understanding of the consumer needs and design trends specific to China’s T3–T7 markets.
• Solid people management and leadership skills to hire, develop, and inspire the design team
• Prior experience managing external designers or small design teams is a plus.
• Familiarity with functional and sportswear design processes and commonly used materials (e.g., polyester, cotton, print techniques).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and external resources and clearly articulate design concepts and project requirements.
• Proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop) and office tools (e.g., MS Office).
• Strong problem-solving and time-management skills, with the ability to adapt to changes and complete tasks efficiently.
• Fluency in Mandarin/English is preferred.