Junior Designer - Hardgoods

We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.

Design sport-inspired apparel built for style, movement and confidence.

At Speedo, product has to do more than look good. It has to move with the swimmer, feel comfortable in the water and support performance, confidence and freedom of movement, whether someone is training, competing, learning or simply enjoying the swim.

Key Purpose:

The Junior Designer position is responsible for delivering consumer led global designs which align to the brand DNA and seasonal creative direction in collaboration with the Design team. This role will support the delivery of designs aligned with seasonal creative direction and product briefs, whilst maintaining brand direction and branding guidelines. This role is ideal for a designer who is passionate about the craft of industrial design and eager to develop hands-on experience across the design process: research and ideation, prototyping, refinement, consumer testing, and production.

Primary Responsibilities:

Design & Concept Development

• Support the development of innovative, functional, and commercially relevant hard-goods products from initial concept through production.

• Translate consumer insights, trends, brand direction, and business needs into compelling product concepts.

• Develop concepts through sketching, ideation, mood boards, trend boards, color/material stories, 2D artwork, and 3D visualization.

• Explore a range of creative solutions while maintaining a strong understanding of brand aesthetic, functionality, usability, and target consumer.

• Refine concepts based on feedback from Senior Designers and cross-functional partners.

Trend, Consumer & Market Research

• Research consumer behavior, emerging trends, competitors, materials, technologies, and product innovations to identify new opportunities.

• Stay current on trends across design, lifestyle, fashion, sport, swim, and relevant consumer-product categories.

• Conduct competitive research and contribute insights that help inform seasonal and long-term product direction.

• Look externally and laterally for inspiration, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the design team.

• Translate research and inspiration into visual trend presentations, mood boards, and actionable design concepts.

Product Development & Prototyping

• Support the product-development process from concept and prototype through sample review and final product execution.

• Create and refine 3D models and renderings to communicate product form, proportion, materials, colors, and finishes.

• Participate in prototype and sample reviews, identifying opportunities to improve design, functionality, materials, construction, and overall product experience.

• Collaborate with Product Development and external vendors/manufacturers to help ensure design intent is clearly communicated and maintained.

• Develop and maintain product specifications, design documentation, and other materials required throughout the development process.

• Build an understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, construction, cost considerations, and production feasibility.

Design Communication & Presentation

• Clearly communicate design ideas through sketches, renderings, prototypes, samples, presentations, and visual storytelling.

• Prepare and present trend boards, concept presentations, design directions, and product proposals to the design team and cross-functional partners.

• Use Adobe Creative Suite and 3D tools to create high-quality visual presentations and product concepts.

• Incorporate feedback effectively and communicate design rationale, opportunities, and recommendations.

• Help maintain clear and organized design files, presentations, samples, prototypes, and project documentation.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Team Support

• Partner closely with Senior Designers, Product Development, Merchandising, Marketing, Sourcing, and other cross-functional teams throughout the product-development process.

• Build strong working relationships and communicate effectively across teams to support successful product execution.

• Manage assigned projects and deliverables while balancing multiple priorities, deadlines, and evolving business needs.

• Approach feedback with curiosity and professionalism, demonstrating the ability to listen, adapt, and translate direction into stronger design solutions.

• Support the broader design team on seasonal initiatives, special projects, and evolving creative needs.

• Contribute to a collaborative, positive and respectful design studio culture. Bring curiosity, humility, initiative, and a solutions-oriented mindset to the team.

Qualification & Experience:

• 1–2 years of relevant experience in industrial design, product design, hard goods, sporting goods, or a related field; internships and relevant academic experience may be considered.

• Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience preferred.

• Demonstrated interest and foundational knowledge in product design and development, with an understanding of materials, construction, manufacturing, and production processes.

• Creative eye and strong design sensibility, with the ability to translate consumer needs, trends, and market insights into compelling product concepts.

• Curious and driven to seek inspiration externally and laterally, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to the design process.

• Ability to conduct consumer, market, and trend research to identify emerging opportunities and translate findings into relevant design directions.

• Experience developing and presenting trend boards, sketches, concepts, prototypes, samples, and design presentations.

• Strong understanding of the design process, from research and ideation through prototyping and refinement.

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Marketing, and other cross-functional teams.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working independently while knowing when to seek direction or support.

• A can-do, enthusiastic, and collaborative attitude, with a willingness to learn and support the broader design team across a variety of projects and tasks.

• Ability to take ownership of assigned tasks, manage priorities and deadlines, and seek guidance when needed.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• 3D modeling/rendering knowledge is required; experience with KeyShot is a plus.

• Strong visual communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design intent through sketches, renderings, presentations, prototypes, and samples.

• Product/design knowledge or previous experience working with consumer products, hard goods, accessories, sporting goods, or related categories is strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of and passion for swim, including an understanding of the competitive landscape, consumer, and broader sporting goods industry, is preferred.

• Thrives in a fast‑paced, team‑first, high‑energy environment, with a positive, can‑do, customer‑focused attitude.

Why Speedo?

Speedo is one of the world’s most iconic swimwear brands, built on a heritage of innovation, performance and a lifelong love of swimming.

From elite competition to everyday fitness, leisure and learning, Speedo creates product for every type of swimmer. It is a brand trusted in the water because it understands what matters: fit, movement, comfort, durability, confidence and performance.

Joining Speedo means becoming part of a team that cares deeply about helping people feel at home in the water, whether they are chasing a personal best, building confidence, training regularly or discovering the joy of swimming for the first time.

Perks & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous paid time off, product discounts, sample sales, medical and healthcare support plus additional benefits designed to support you at work and beyond.

You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our US Benefits page.

Pentland Brands and Speedo are equal opportunity employers and considers all applicants for employment on the basis of their individual capabilities and qualifications, consistent with applicable law and without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. In addition to complying with all applicable laws, we have a strong corporate commitment to inclusion, diversity and to ensuring that all current and future associates are compensated solely on job-related factors such as skill, ability, educational background, work quality, experience and potential. To achieve these goals, applicants are asked not to disclose salary history information.