Overview
Director, Graphic Design Jobs in Shanghai, Shanghai, China at adidas
Design Director –Graphic Design COE
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization
The Graphic Design Director is responsible for leading and driving the creative vision, graphic language, and visual storytelling across multiple product categories and consumer touchpoints. This role shapes and elevates the brand’s graphic design direction for the Greater China market while ensuring alignment with global brand strategies and creative standards.
The position leads a Centre of Excellence (COE) team of graphic designers, fosters innovation, builds a high-performance creative culture, and partners closely with Product Design, Color & Materials, Marketing, Brand Communications, Product Management, and Development teams to deliver industry-leading consumer experiences.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Leadership
- Define and drive the seasonal graphic design vision and strategy across assigned categories and concepts.
- Translate consumer insights, cultural trends, and brand priorities into compelling graphic narratives.
- Establish a strong and distinctive visual language that enhances brand desirability and commercial success.
- Ensure creative excellence and consistency across all products and consumer-facing experiences.
- Champion innovation in graphic applications, storytelling methods, print techniques, and digital design solutions.
Design Direction & Execution
- Oversee the end-to-end graphic design process from concept creation to final product execution.
- Review and approve creative concepts, artwork, graphics, branding elements, and seasonal collections.
- Ensure all graphic assets meet brand standards, commercial objectives, and product creation timelines.
- Drive excellence in typography, illustration, branding systems, patterns, prints, graphics, and visual identity creation.
- Lead trend forecasting and market research to identify future design opportunities.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of graphic designers and creative professionals.
- Build a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing creative culture.
- Conduct performance management, career development planning, and succession planning.
- Foster creativity, curiosity, and innovation through mentoring and continuous learning opportunities.
- Attract and retain top creative talent.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Design, Product Management, Development, Marketing, Brand Communications, and Business Units.
- Collaborate with Global Creative Centers and regional stakeholders to align creative strategies.
- Present design concepts and seasonal visions to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Facilitate alignment across multiple teams while balancing consumer needs, brand objectives, and business priorities.
Business & Strategic Impact
- Contribute to category and organizational growth through strong consumer-relevant creative solutions.
- Support long-term creative strategies and business initiatives.
- Drive efficiency and effectiveness within the design organization.
- Balance creative ambition with commercial viability and operational feasibility.
Key Relationships
Internal
- Senior Design Director
- Design Directors and Category Design Leads
- Product Managers
- Development Teams (PD&S)
- Global Graphic teams
- Business Units (BU)
External
- Creative agencies
- Graphic suppliers and vendors
- Freelance designers and consultants
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Design & Creative Expertise
- Deep expertise in graphic design, visual communication, typography, illustration, branding, and storytelling.
- Strong understanding of product graphics, print techniques, material applications, and visual identity systems.
- Demonstrated ability to translate brand strategy into compelling consumer-facing design solutions.
Leadership
- Proven ability to lead and inspire creative teams.
- Strong coaching, mentoring, and talent-development capabilities.
- Ability to drive change, influence stakeholders, and foster collaboration.
Strategic Thinking
- Strong understanding of consumer trends, market dynamics, and cultural influences.
- Ability to balance long-term vision with short-term business deliverables.
- Capability to identify new opportunities for creative innovation and business growth.
Communication & Collaboration
- Outstanding presentation, storytelling, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
- Proven experience working within a global matrix organization.
Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Ai software).
- Knowledge of digital design tools and emerging creative technologies.
- Understanding of AI-assisted creative workflows is an advantage.
Personal Attributes
- Passion for design, innovation, and culture.
- Strong consumer-first mindset.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset.
- High degree of adaptability, resilience, and accountability.
Requisite Education And Experience / Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Design, Fine Arts, or related field.
- Master’s degree or equivalent design specialization is a plus.
Experience
- 10-12+ years of graphic design experience within sportswear, fashion, lifestyle, consumer products, or related industries.
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing creative teams.
- Proven track record of delivering commercially successful and consumer-relevant creative products.
- Experience working in global and cross-functional environments.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in graphic design, brand storytelling, and creative leadership.
Preferred
- Deep understanding of Greater China consumer trends and cultural insights.
- Experience leading large-scale seasonal collections and brand initiatives.
- International exposure and collaboration with global creative organizations.
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.
Title: Director, Graphic Design
Company: adidas
Location: Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Category:
