Job Description

Exxel Outdoors is hiring a Product Designer II to help craft innovative, user-centered outdoor gear experiences. 

If you're passionate about purposeful design and the outdoors, this could be the perfect role for you!

POSITION SUMMARY:  

The Product Designer II is responsible for working on multiple product categories for a variety of in-house and private label brands. This role also conducts research and analysis for market trends, identifies gaps, challenges and opportunities within those markets.
Exxel Outdoors offers great benefits, product allowance, generous employee discounts, and awesome people (and dogs!) to work with. We can’t wait for you to join our team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Design

• Research, understand and identify product design opportunities.
• Actively generate new opportunities to enhance the brand. This includes product innovations in existing categories and exploring new product categories.
• Engage in a thoughtful ideation process that includes collecting inspirational imagery and materials, brainstorming concepts, extensive sketching of broad designs and detailed functionality, making quick 3D mock-ups.
• Work collaboratively on cross-functional teams to design and develop innovative and aesthetically engaging products and accessories that are consistent with direction of the Exxel brands.
• Design new product solutions coinciding with the business unit’s overall brand and sales strategy. Concepts should contain design language specific to each brand’s positioning based on its individual style and design ideology.
• Complex problem-solving for technical/saturated product categories and maintain a high level of efficiency and effective creative solutions.
• Create detailed Spec-Package including unique manufacturing processes if needed
• Research, understand and identify new processes and procedures that will help increase efficiency in the manufacturing of new products. This can pertain to fabric use, patterning, assembly, etc.
• Interpret product testing results to improve a product’s functionality, style, quality and success in the marketplace.
• Test working prototypes to ensure any newly developed design features function as intended. This includes personal field testing and collecting feedback from outside field testers.
• Review, approve and comment on color development, including lab dips, trims, and screen-print colors.
• Execute multiple projects from brief to spec and collaborate with development to SMS

Trends

• Research, strategize and communicate effective color and pattern strategies that can be applied to
• specific product lines.
• Interpret and present high-level trend forecasting to a digestible and applicable overview for cross functional understanding how the brands can evolve.
• Engage with the brands activities and the consumers who enjoy them to see how the activities are evolving and build empathy to validate design direction.
• Attend various brand related exhibitions/seminars to support and identify design strategy.
• Maintain a constant gauge on the latest market, retail and competitor trends and technologies and how they may translate to our products, brands and customers. Regular communication with Product Team with findings and recommendations.
• Travel to industry trade shows, development trips and retailer presentations as needed.
• Potential travel to factories in order to expedite the final development their designs, make comments on prototypes, review materials, construction and design details, along with understanding the most recent innovations in manufacturing.

Communication

• Work with the Director of Product to continually improve design communications.
• Present design concepts in both 2d and 3d space, digitally and physically, verbal and written.
• Design technical drawings that visually communicate a product’s form, features, functionality and material. The visual communication language should be universal and able to be interpreted by internal teams or overseas vendor, and translated into an accurate, functional prototype.
• Collaborate with development team to update products as they are sampled to maintain specs and other development documentation.
• Prepare product presentations for internal and external review.
• Effectively present product concepts, prototypes and samples to large groups.
• Collaborate with people and brands outside of Exxel to elevate the brands messaging and product
• Leads group design/research projects and “Blue Sky” projects.
• Develop cross-company standard documents to streamline communication and organization

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design 
• 3-5 years working in a product design and product development
• Experience with sketching, model making, sewing/patterning, spec development, print design, color and trend forecasting
• Highly proficient with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Microsoft Suite, 
• Understanding of manufacturing processes
• Experience with 2D sketching and 3D model making.
• Demonstrated ability to understand market trends and identify gaps and opportunities within those markets
• Strong ability to tackle new challenges and problem-solve in creative ways by thinking outside of the box
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

This job description is an overview of the scope of responsibilities for this job and is not intended to be an inclusive list of job tasks and expectations. With the evolution of Exxel Outdoors, LLC, the responsibilities of this position may change. The job must be prepared to accept new responsibilities and transfer others. 

Exxel Outdoors offers 3 Medical Plans, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, programs for additional life insurance for self, spouse and family, critical illness, short-term disability, and pet Insurance. Additionally, we offer an open work environment with a workout facility for employee use, telephone booths for privacy, and an expansive employee breakroom with an awesome view of the Flatirons. All employees receive 60% off MRSP on all our company websites, in addition to discount programs from many outdoor industry companies through Pro-Deals. Each year every employee receives a $200 allowance to buy any company product, plus you still can get the discount on any items purchased. In our corporate office, employees can bring dogs to work 2 days a week, and after 90 days have option for one work from home day, 4 10-hour days, or 9 9-hour days dependent on role in the organization. Exxel offers a minimum of 80.0 hours vacation, and 7 days sick to all Full-time employees, prorated for Part-time employees, and when during the year an employee begins with the company. Exxel invests in their employees by offering this benefit selection to all employees in our Colorado market!

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Salary range for the Product Designer II position is $62,500 -$70,000 annually based on education and prior experience.

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