Work Preference
Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic
Karli Foster
Open To Work

Karli Foster

Portland,OR

Work Preference

Job Search Status

Open to work
Desired start date: Immediately

Desired Job Title

Design Director, Footwear ColorDesign Director, Brand Creative Direction, Color, Materials & Trend

Work Type

Full TimePart TimeContract WorkConsulting

Location Preference

HybridRemoteOn-Site
Location: Portland, OR
Open to relocation: Yes

Salary Range

$160000/yr - $200000/yr

Important To Me

Company CultureHealthcare benefitsPaid time offPaid sick leaveWork-life balancePersonal development programsCareer advancement

Summary

My name is Karli Inez Foster, and I am a Designer and Director with over 25 years of experience within the sporting goods industry. Throughout my career, I have led dynamic design teams across apparel and footwear categories, shaping brand-level color and material strategies and pioneering forward-thinking footwear and apparel concepts. My work is driven by a passion for aesthetics and a curiosity about the intersection of art and science - particularly how color, material, and form influence human interactions with consumer products and environments. In every project, I am inspired by the creative process and the boundaries within which we work, developing a visual language that is both innovative and rooted in strong aesthetic principles. I am committed to guiding with purpose and curiosity, where collaboration thrives, ensuring that the design process remains inspiring and engaging. Thank you for considering my experience and vision. I look forward to the opportunity to explore how my background aligns with your creative goals.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications

Work History

Design Director, Footwear Materials LTD

NIKE, JORDAN BRAND
Portland, USA
02.2025 - 02.2026
  • Mentored junior designers, guiding best practices and creative solutions for material usage in lifestyle footwear for men, women, and kids, enhancing overall design quality.
  • Presented material concepts and designs directly to senior leadership teams at various stages of the project lifecycle.
  • Organized cross-functional workshops to brainstorm innovative product ideas across color, material, and graphics, driving collaborative creativity and design alignment.
  • Led design projects from concept to completion, ensuring key storytelling in alignment with seasonal brand vision.

Design Director, Footwear Color

LULULEMON ATHLETICA
Portland, USA
09.2022 - 06.2024
  • Created custom footwear color palettes, aligning marketing objectives with color strategies across product categories and seasonal launches for men's and women's lines.
  • Led team of designers through creative process from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with brand vision.
  • Developed design processes and operating calendars to streamline workflows and enhance team output.

Design Director, Brand Creative Direction, Color, Materials & Trend

ADIDAS AMERICA
Portland, USA
08.2018 - 01.2022
  • Aligned color and material design strategies with brand vision through collaboration with cross-functional business units, enhancing key performance platforms across a $25B global business.
  • Curated color and material design trends by conducting pre-season market research on cultural insights and consumer preferences.
  • Led seasonal creative direction workshops and bi-annual exhibitions to showcase and socialize the seasonal narrative and toolbox
  • Fostered creativity and skill development in junior designers while managing team dynamics and project execution.

Senior Design Expert, Brand Creative Direction, Color, Materials & Trend

ADIDAS AMERICA
Portland, USA
01.2016 - 08.2018
  • Aligned color and material design strategies with brand vision through collaboration with cross-functional business units, enhancing key performance platforms across a $25B global business.
  • Conducted pre-season market research on cultural insights and consumer preferences to curate color and material design trends.
  • Developed brand-level color and material concepts to highlight new performance and sustainability technologies in apparel and footwear.
  • Facilitated seasonal creative direction workshops and bi-annual exhibitions to showcase and socialize seasonal narratives and toolboxes.

Senior Designer Apparel, Sports Performance and Lifestyle

ADIDAS GERMANY
Herzogenaurach, Germany
08.2009 - 01.2016
  • Designed and developed unique capsules, establishing first apparel franchise for Adidas: Z.N.E. which continues to operate successfully.
  • Presented design proposals to stakeholders, effectively articulating vision and rationale to secure approval.
  • Evaluated design prototypes for alignment with quality standards and brand aesthetics, enhancing product viability.
  • Worked closely with developers to ensure smooth implementation of designs.
  • Collaborated with external vendors to ensure timely project delivery.
  • Conducted user testing sessions to identify usability issues and proposed design solutions accordingly.
  • Created schematics of design, components and assembly procedures.

Designer Apparel, Sports Performance

ADIDAS AMERICA
Portland, USA
02.2007 - 08.2009
  • Conducted user research to inform design decisions, identify areas of improvement to enhance the user experience.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams including product marketing, developers, go-to-market, to ensure a smooth transition from concept to production-ready assets.
  • Managed multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
  • Examined product samples and adjusted designs to meet quality standards.
  • Developed all materials and trims as well as branded graphics and placement to ensure holistic design approach.

Apparel Designer

FREELANCE
Portland, USA
01.2006 - 02.2007
  • Client: Nike Swim, employed through affiliate licensee; Jantzen. Created unique Nike brand swim designs for Mens, Womens and Kids.
  • Client: Sameunderneath Sustainable Clothing; established consistent fit patterns and streamlined technical specs and design packs across the Mens and Womens range.
  • Established connections within sporting goods industry post fashion school, enhancing professional network

Designer Apparel & Textiles; Outdoor Sportswear

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR CO.
Portland, USA
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Designed apparel ranges for mens, womens, and kids categories focusing on outdoor lifestyle sports, enhancing brand alignment with hiking and trekking activities.
  • Designed and developed unique textiles for men's and women's shirting
  • Collaborated with development teams to refine product fit and implement design adjustments, ensuring consumer satisfaction and product quality.
  • Conducted seasonal focus groups with consumers to gather insights that directly influenced design decisions and improved product relevance.

Education

Associate of Arts - Arts & Sciences

ART INSTITUTE
PORTLAND
05.2006

Some College (No Degree) - Liberal Arts And Sciences

Portland Community College
Portland, OR

Skills

  • Footwear Color Design
  • Apparel Product Design
  • Color Design Direction
  • Color Trend Forecasting
  • Color Palette Creation
  • Sport Performance & Streetwear Design
  • CMF, Textile and Trim Design
  • Advanced Innovation Concepts - Footwear
  • Creative Direction
  • Design strategy
  • Design leadership
  • Macro Trend & Cultural Insight Analysis
  • Adobe creative suite
  • Visual storytelling
  • Exhibitions & Workshops
  • Public Speaking
  • Effective communication
  • Strategic thinking
  • Sustainability

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual
German
Professional

Certification

Apparel Patternmaking Certificate

Affiliations

Moms Demand Action - Gun Sense Laws in America

Timeline

Design Director, Footwear Materials LTD

NIKE, JORDAN BRAND
02.2025 - 02.2026

Design Director, Footwear Color

LULULEMON ATHLETICA
09.2022 - 06.2024

Design Director, Brand Creative Direction, Color, Materials & Trend

ADIDAS AMERICA
08.2018 - 01.2022

Senior Design Expert, Brand Creative Direction, Color, Materials & Trend

ADIDAS AMERICA
01.2016 - 08.2018

Senior Designer Apparel, Sports Performance and Lifestyle

ADIDAS GERMANY
08.2009 - 01.2016

Designer Apparel, Sports Performance

ADIDAS AMERICA
02.2007 - 08.2009

Apparel Designer

FREELANCE
01.2006 - 02.2007

Designer Apparel & Textiles; Outdoor Sportswear

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR CO.
01.2000 - 01.2005

Associate of Arts - Arts & Sciences

ART INSTITUTE

Some College (No Degree) - Liberal Arts And Sciences

Portland Community College
Karli Foster