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About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Freelance Footwear Designer to join our team on a contract basis. The ideal candidate will blend commercial viability with social-first culture and street-level trend forecasting, possessing the ability to identify emerging viral footwear styles while maintaining technical expertise in construction and pricing architecture.

Responsibilities

• Spot and react to fast-moving viral footwear trends, social micro-trends, and youth culture movements.
• Translate high-hype concepts into commercial, brand-right footwear designs.
• Create detailed, factory-ready technical packages including specs, construction details, material callouts, and colorways.
• Design into specific price points and margin targets while managing material costs and tooling.
• Partner with developers and factories to review tech packs, line art, and physical prototypes.
• Provide clear correction notes to ensure design integrity and fit.
• Collaborate with internal teams to build a balanced, commercially strong footwear offering across key categories.

Requirements

• 4+ years of footwear design experience.
• Deep understanding of footwear construction, last development, outsoles, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven track record of identifying viral shoe trends early and adapting them for a young consumer base.
• Proven track record of designing into strict pricing architectures and target margins.
• Deep connection to the Urban Outfitters brand identity and customer demographic.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

• Footwear design
• Technical package creation
• Trend forecasting
• Commercial product design
• Material cost management
• Prototyping and sample review

Work Type

• Freelance
• Contract

Experience Level

• 4+ years

About the Company

• Urban Outfitters is a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, vintage, and homeware.
• The company values being progressive, creative, inclusive, responsible, and compassionate.
• The brand serves a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals.

Equal Opportunity

• URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
• Employment decisions are based on merit, job requirements, and business needs regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability.