Senior Graphic Apparel Designer

Posted 5 days ago

takedown sportswearLawrenceville (GA)

Graphic Designers Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)

SENIORITY

Senior

Apply

About the role

Senior Graphic Apparel Designer

Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia or Remote Employment Type: Full-Time Experience Level: 5+ Years Founded in 2006, Takedown is a leader in the combat apparel space with a broad lifestyle product assortment born in wrestling. Takedowns broad assortment and authentic product assortment exceeds the needs for athletes and business alike.

About the Role: We're looking for a highly skilled and concept-driven Senior Graphic Apparel Designer with experience in licensed merchandise, athlete branding, and t-shirt design. In this role, you'll lead the creation of graphic tees and apparel collections across our lifestyle, sports, and combat sports verticals — with a special focus on licensed IP, athlete collaborations, and trend-driven drops. You'll be responsible for developing bold, authentic, and on-brand designs that resonate with our customers — from fight fans to streetwear lovers. You should have a deep understanding of pop culture, typography, print production, and retail merchandising. You'll also play a key role in designing athlete capsule collections, licensed property drops, and evergreen t-shirt programs. This is a senior-level design role that collaborates closely with marketing, production, and licensing teams to bring collections from concept to shelf.

Key Responsibilities:

Own the creative development of graphic t-shirts and apparel across key categories (licensed tees, athlete capsules, seasonal collections, etc.)Design original graphics for screenprint and DTF applications that reflect brand voice, market trends, and IP guidelines
Develop concepts, moodboards, and line plans for drops, campaigns, and evergreen programs
Design licensed merchandise aligned with brand partnerships, athlete endorsements, and league approvals
Lead graphic development for athlete-specific merchandise, including walkout tees, event capsules, and personal branding
Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, ecomm, sales) to ensure graphic lines meet calendar deadlines and campaign needs
Prepare files for production with correct spec, sizing, color callouts, and print techniques
Maintain creative consistency across different collections while tailoring design to individual athletes, brands, or licenses

Required Skills & Experience:

5+ years of experience in graphic apparel design, preferably within streetwear, sportswear, or licensed merchandise
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Strong portfolio showcasing graphic t-shirt work, licensed design, and athlete-focused collections
Deep knowledge of graphic and apparel trends across combat sports, athletics, and lifestyle markets
Strong sense of composition, typography, and print application techniques
Clear communication, organization, and ability to manage multiple deadlines across fast-moving programs
Experience working with licensed IP or co-branded product lines, including understanding of style guide compliance and approvals
Comfortable leading concept presentations and working with athletes or influencers to bring collaborative products to life

Bonus Points:

ForBackground in combat sports, wrestling, MMA, or athlete marketing
Experience designing for DTC e-commerce brands or social-first product launches
Familiarity with sublimation, embroidery, or cut-and-sew product customization
Understanding of licensing processes and approval workflows with leagues or IP holders
Experience designing for retail or event-based product drops (e.g. tournaments, fight cards, seasonal activations)

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.