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Join Vivobarefoot as a Colour & Material Designer to advance nature-inspired footwear design and combat lifestyle dangers
Overview
Salary
No salary declared 😔
Location
Bristol, UK
Expires
Expires at anytime
Organisation summary
At Vivobarefoot, we aim to counteract toxic and sedentary lifestyles that harm people and the planet. We create footwear collections imbued with a deep connection to nature and our barefoot philosophy. As a Colour & Material Designer, you'll have the opportunity to contribute significantly to our purposeful, long-lasting design //
Role Summary
- Shape the colour, material, and finish narratives that embody our barefoot philosophy.
- Lead seasonal CMF direction across all categories.
- Create cohesive concepts balancing performance, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility in collaboration with other teams.
- Prepare compelling presentations, CMF boards, material stories, and detailed design documentation.
- Play a supportive role in wider creative direction and keep abreast of footwear, materials, and sustainability innovations.
Role Requirements
- Solid experience and expertise in footwear design and construction.
- A comprehensive understanding of colour theory, material selection, and trend forecasting, especially in sustainable materials or circular design principles.
- Proficiency in 2D and 3D design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Rhino or equivalent 3D software.
- Strong hand sketching and visual storytelling capabilities.
- Adequate organizational skills, detail-oriented, and able to juggle multiple projects.
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Product Design, or equivalent.
Application Process Details
Not detailed in job description
Vivobarefoot is on a mission to change toxic, sedentary lifestyles that are harming humans and the planet. We are seeking a Colour & Material Designer with a robust portfolio in both performance and lifestyle footwear to advance our collections through nature-led colour and material storytelling.
The role: As a Colour & Material Designer, you will shape the colour, material, and finish stories that embody our barefoot philosophy and deep connection to nature. You will lead seasonal CMF direction across all categories, evolve the core colour palette, and translate brand narratives, consumer insights, and global trends into purposeful, long-lasting design. You will work closely with footwear design, development, sustainability, and marketing teams to create cohesive concepts that balance performance, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility. From concept to communication, you will bring ideas to life through compelling presentations, CMF boards, material stories, and detailed design documentation. You will also support the wider creative direction of the team, mentor as needed, and stay connected to innovation in footwear, materials, and sustainability.
Job requirements: You must be highly experienced in footwear design, with expertise in footwear construction, tooling, and material application. Strong knowledge of colour theory, material selection, and trend forecasting is essential, particularly with experience in sustainable materials or circular design principles. Proficiency in 2D and 3D design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino, or equivalent 3D software is required. Strong hand sketching and visual storytelling abilities are crucial, along with being a confident communicator and collaborator across cross-functional teams. You should be organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple projects in parallel. A Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Product Design, or equivalent is required.
Benefits: Vivobarefoot offers a 25-day holiday allowance (pro rata), 4 additional days each year to volunteer, get outdoors, or focus on your wellbeing, and a day off for your birthday. Benefits include Private Medical Health care, including mental health, dental and eye care, a Livebarefoot Pot of up to £1,000 per year, free seasonal Vivo footwear, discounts for friends & family, a pension matched to 5%, 4 Vivo Gatherings annually, a travel allowance, generous gender-neutral parental leave, Death in Service up to 6 times your salary, group income protection insurance, long service awards, a car salary sacrifice scheme, and a cycle to work scheme.
