Graduate thesis focused on footwear product, resulting in a disruptive business plan combining culturally inspired sneaker releases with pop-up shop distribution strategy.
Course work includes: Sketching, 3D Design, Research, and Directed Study[Thesis]

The mission of the undergraduate program in architecture is to develop analytical thinking and creative making within the discipline of architecture.  
Course work includes: Design/Visual Studies, Art & Architecture History, and Design Studios

Multi-day exercise in Design Thinking, investigating the methodology documented by renowned IIT’s Institute of Design and analysing IDEO's creative philosophy, melding Californian iconoclasm with fostering of new ideas and invention.

Intended for both current and new product managers working in digital who want to apply a portfolio of modern practices to developing their products and teams. 
Course work included: Digital Product Management, Agile Meets Design Thinking, Hypothesis-Driven Development, Agile Analytics, and Managing an Agile Team

Bike

Fashion

Lifestyle

Music

Sustainability

Cinema

Disruptive Product Shaper - Driving Brand Growth utilizing Design Thinking

Marketing & Sales

In a cluttered Oregon garage where the pungent scent of rubber and dreams hung in the air, they met a living legend.  That summer day in 1976, my father was presented a pair of prototype shoes that he swiftly threw in the trash.  Little did he know that moment would later ignite a child’s imagination.  From a young age, I realized the power products have to inspire.  This is not solely tied to their functionality or seamless integration into our daily lives, they must also have an emotional resonance with users.  Utilizing a design thinking methodology, I help to create product experiences that people love.

• Grow and manage USA-based product team to develop end-to-end product creation 
• Defining the future of On by focusing on the a connection with the coming-of-age, Gen Z consumer
• Own Training category strategy, pitching product roadmap to On founders and ELT
• Organize and lead seasonal kickoff hosting 25 attendees comprised of key category stakeholders

Senior Lead - Product Strategy

• Participating in brand strategy discussions
• Reviewing and providing feedback product development cycles and cost structure
• Assisting the Company in analyzing market research to understand preferences of their consumer and identify white space opportunities
• Reviewing design concepts to advise on product viability
• Providing the Company with assistance with go-to-market strategy and evaluating cadence of launches and initiatives

Strategic Advisor

• Owned product merchandising and line planning functions of a DTC start-up running brand(~$40M/yr)
• Identified consumer needs and market opportunities to inform apparel product assortment
• Designed and developed custom hardline & softline accessories to enhance capsule storytelling
• Curated collaborations with globally influential brands such as J.Crew and Ciele Athletics
• Managed footwear go-to-market strategy with cross-functional partners and key stakeholders
• Led DEI initiatives to deepen employee understanding of social and racial justice

Product Director - Apparel, Accessories, and Footwear

Georgia-based hot sauce start-up achieved +$100k sales in 2022.  The company was sold to Edible Gardens($EDBL) in November 2022.  Fash-forward to 2024: Pulp is now carried by Whole Foods Market, Morton Williams, Diebergs Markets, Target, and Woodman's.

• Pitched executive team the category strategy/road map which achieved +50% growth to 10M€ FY20
• Managed +600K€ yearly operating budget by establishing product development plan
• Choreographed cross-functional teams using design thinking principals to execute projects such as the Index.01, the world’s first fully recyclable performance running shoe
• Analyzed qualitative customer insights and quantitative customer data to drive increased market share 	and empower direct-to-consumer(DTC) retail
• Contributed to digital transformation to improve customer engagement and usability, specifically SEO and UI/UX for direct-to-consumer channels

Global Product Manager, Running

• Identified brand-right consumer personas and established product market fit to achieve top 5 marketshare in United States
• Launched connected footwear[hardware-software] to integrate with MapMyRun application to track runner training and progress
• Introduced lifestyle footwear category, "Sportstyle", combining innovation with market trends as an intrapreneur
• Generated qualitative A/B testing of product offering with brand athletes and run crews/communities to validate new concepts on a quarterly basis

Product Line Manager, Running & Sportstyle

• Designed first footwear style to sell 1 million pairs in a calendar year by leveraging multi-channel distribution strategy
• Piloted product category, Track & Field, by researching market and launching disruptive brand top sellers
• Executed color design and assortments to progress women’s product offering managing +100 articles
• Curated key executive-level design presentations to elevate alignment throughout footwear category

Footwear Designer II, Running/Training

• Created top 5 selling franchises in both the Outdoor/Hike and Winter footwear categories
• Grew running market brand equity through in-depth consumer insights and expanded offering
• Re-imagined brand design heritage to expand lifestyle footwear collection

Footwear Designer, Running, Outdoor, & Lifestyle

Sales Associate

Footwear Design Intern

Supervisor

Design Intern

Custom Interior Architecture and Fixture Design

Architectural Intern

Edward Brent James is a Senior Lead - Product Strategy at On in Baltimore, Maryland.

Edward Brent James — Senior Lead - Product Strategy at On

Edward Brent James

Skills

Interests

Industries

Education history

Academy of Art University

University of Pennsylvania

University of California, Berkeley

University of Virginia Darden School of Business