Assistant Footwear Designer

Overview

Michael Kors is a globally recognised American luxury lifestyle brand specialising in ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear and handbags. As part of Capri Holdings, the brand operates alongside other global luxury labels within a multi-brand group, offering cross-brand mobility and a design-led, commercial approach to product development.

Role & Responsibilities

• Support the Design Director, Senior Designer and Technical Designer across the full product development cycle for Outlet/Cutup women’s footwear.
• Research and analyse seasonal fashion trends, runway materials and competitive commercial market insights to inform design direction.
• Produce shoe sketches, CADs and technical specifications aligned to concept direction for off-price channels.
• Present design concepts and sketches to internal stakeholders and incorporate feedback.
• Assist with material, color selection and detailing; prepare proto presentation boards and layer-up treatment specs.
• Support fit corrections and the development of prototypes through to pre-production refined samples.
• Participate in costing, CAD and sketch reviews, market meetings and cross-functional cadence; take and distribute meeting notes.
• Communicate daily developments with factories and liaise with product development, merchandising and materials teams to ensure cost-effective execution.
• Create and maintain legal decks, organise design archives, material library and footwear proto samples.
• Provide administrative support for design meetings, including tracking proto shipments and preparing presentation materials.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years design experience within the women’s footwear industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in footwear design or a related field preferred.
• Strong hand-sketching skills; proficiency producing CADs and technical specs.
• Experience creating footwear specifications and basic knowledge of footwear construction and materials (synthetic and fabric types preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise multiple deadlines, meet milestones and manage time effectively.
• Self-motivated, proactive, highly organised and collaborative team player.
• Working knowledge of PLM preferred; graphic manipulation experience preferred but not required.

Skills

Experience

At least 2 years of design experience in women’s footwear, with hands-on involvement in sketching, spec creation and prototype development through pre-production.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in footwear design or related field preferred.

Benefits

Generous paid time off & holiday calendar; Summer Fridays; Internal mobility across brands; Cross-brand discount; Exclusive employee sales; Fav 5 cards (employee friend & family discount); 401(k) match; Paid parental leave; Thrive wellness program; Commuter benefits; Gym discounts

Culture

Michael Kors offers a creative, fast-paced environment rooted in commercial design and global distribution, with opportunities to collaborate across Capri Holdings’ portfolio. The workplace emphasises inclusivity, internal mobility and cross-functional teamwork, supporting employees through design-driven, market-focused projects.