Womenswear Footwear 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 skilled Freelance Footwear Designer to join our team on a contract basis. The ideal candidate lives at the intersection of commercial viability, social-first culture, and street-level trend forecasting. You possess an innate ability to spot emerging viral footwear styles, micro-trends, and "It" silhouettes before they hit the mainstream, paired with deep technical footwear construction expertise and a sharp eye for UO's target pricing architecture.

What You'll Be Doing

• Viral Trend & Market Direction: Spot and react quickly to fast-moving viral footwear trends, TikTok/social micro-trends, street style, and youth culture movements, translating high-hype concepts into commercial, brand-right footwear for the UO customer.
• Design & Tech Packs: Create detailed, factory-ready technical packages (including specs, outsole/upper construction details, material callouts, and colourways) that minimize revision rounds.
• Costing & Architecture: Work closely with the product development team to design into specific price points and margin targets. You must be adept at building high-value aesthetic footwear while staying savvy with material costs, tooling, and yield.
• Sample Execution: Partner with developers and factories to review tech packs, line art, and physical prototypes, providing clear correction notes to ensure design integrity and fit.
• Range Building: Collaborate with internal teams to build a balanced, commercially strong footwear offering across key UO categories (e.g., boots, casual shoes, sneakers, sandals, statement platform/mule pieces).

What You'll Need

• Footwear Expertise: 4+ years of footwear design experience (experience in fast-fashion, contemporary youth, or lifestyle footwear highly preferred). Deep understanding of footwear construction, last development, outsoles, materials, and manufacturing processes across various styles.
• Trend Savvy: Proven track record of identifying viral shoe trends early and adapting them rapidly for a young consumer base.
• Commercial Savvy: Proven track record of designing into strict pricing architectures and target margins without compromising brand aesthetic or product quality.
• Brand Alignment: A deep connection to the Urban Outfitters brand identity, customer demographic, and aesthetic spectrum.
• Communication: Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The Perks

N/A UrbanEU

Equal Opportunity Statement