Swimwear Designer

About Us

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we've become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them.

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values:

Progressive - we move with the mood Creative - we champion limitless minds Inclusive - we open our platforms to all communities Responsible - we work to reduce our impact on the environment Compassionate - we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5

Sound like you, why not join us?

Role Summary

We are looking for a highly creative and technical Freelance Swimwear Designer to join our team on a contract basis. You have an innate ability to spot viral swimwear aesthetics-from trending silhouettes and viral print directions to social-driven micro-trends-and translate them into cohesive collections. Crucially, you combine this trend sense with deep technical swimwear construction knowledge and a sharp understanding of our price architecture.

What You'll Be Doing

• Viral Trend & Concept Direction: Identify and translate fast-moving viral swim trends, resort/street style, and social media micro-trends into brand-right concept boards, print/colour palettes, and key seasonal silhouettes tailored to the UO customer.
• Technical Design & Tech Packs: Create detailed, factory-ready technical packages, including flat sketches, print placement specs, hardware callouts, lining/padding details, and construction notes tailored to stretch fabrics.
• Fit & Construction Expertise: Leverage a deep knowledge of stretch fabrics, elastic tension, coverage levels, and support structures (wire, boning, moulded cups) to ensure exceptional fit across diverse body types.
• Costing & Architecture: Work closely with product development to design directly into target margins and retail price points. Smartly engineer styles using cost-effective fabric yields, hardware options, and construction methods without losing design impact.
• Sample Execution & Fittings: Participate in fit sessions (in-person or virtual), providing clear callouts and spec adjustments to factories to streamline the sample approval process.

What You'll Need

• Swimwear Expertise: Dedicated experience in swimwear design (experience in contemporary youth markets highly preferred). Advanced knowledge of swimwear fabrics (recycled nylon/spandex, textured ribs, crinkles, lurex), elastic applications, trim/hardware sourcing, and specialized stretch construction.
• Trend & Social Savvy: Proven ability to capture viral swim moments, internet-led aesthetics, and youth trends early, adapting them rapidly for commercial success.
• Commercial Savvy: Skilled at designing into strict pricing architectures and target margins while maintaining high-perceived value.
• Software & Graphic Skills: High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) for tech packs, vector flats, and print/pattern recolouring.
• Brand Alignment: Deep understanding of the Urban Outfitters customer, aesthetic spectrum, and lifestyle brand positioning.

The Perks

N/A UrbanEU

Equal Opportunity Statement