Assistant Designer, Print
gapMillbrae (CA)
About the role
About the Role:
The Assistant Designer, Print supports the creation and execution of print and graphic concepts across Athleta product categories. This role sits within the Design team and partners closely with Concept, Product Development, and Merchandising to help bring seasonal concepts to life. Working under the guidance of the Surface Manager and Design leadership, this role contributes to artwork development, CADs, and technical setup while building foundational skills in the end-to-end print process from concept through commercialization. This role is ideal for someone who is highly creative, detail-oriented, and eager to learn and grow within a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
What You'll Do:
- Support the Surface/Print Design team in the creation and development of original prints and graphics that reflect the Athleta brand and customer
- Assist in translating seasonal concepts into print and graphic executions across product categories
- Create and update CADs, repeat layouts, placement graphics, and colorways using Adobe Creative Suite under team direction
- Partner with Color, Concept and Design teams to support alignment of artwork with seasonal palettes and product direction
- Assist in preparing artwork packages and files for vendor communication and development
- Support the review process of strike-offs and samples to help ensure print accuracy, scale, and color consistency
- Maintain and organize digital whiteboard spaces (e.g., Miro), including seasonal boards, artwork submissions, and development tracking
- Assist in building and maintaining digital libraries of print, graphic, and inspiration assets to support team access and creative development
- Color match seasonal color palettes to printers and maintain calibration.
- Support trend and market research focused on print, pattern, and graphic direction relevant to Athleta's customer
- Support in-season updates and help track multiple workstreams to meet key milestones
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Product Development, Technical Design, and Production to support on-time delivery
- Learn and adopt best practices for print development, file setup, and vendor communication through ongoing feedback and mentorship
Who You Are:
- 1-3 years of relevant experience (internships or entry-level roles included) in print, textile, or graphic design
- Strong creative sensibility with an understanding of print, pattern, and graphic design for apparel
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- Experience or interest in using generative AI tools (e.g., Fal, MidJourney, DALL • E, or similar) as part of the creative process
- Familiarity with digital collaboration tools such as Miro, with an understanding of how to organize and maintain shared workspaces
- Basic understanding of print repeats, placement graphics, and color application
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills
- Eagerness to learn, take direction, and grow within a collaborative team environment
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting
- Strong communication skills and a proactive, positive attitude
- Passion for Athleta's brand, customer, and lifestyle
Before you apply
Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.
Your profile is current
It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.
Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.