Gerard Smith
🦌 Elevating outdoor & hunting brands through innovative apparel design | Freelance design director ready to collaborate 🦃
Portland | US
Skills
- Creative Concept Design
- Product Innovation
- Design Team Coordination
- Director level
- Apparel
Interests
Photography
Design strategy
Product design and creation
Summary
Activity
Work experience
GPS DESIGN STUDIO
Founder | Director Of Product Design | Design Consultant | 07/2021 - Current
•Bringing Design Strategy, Advanced Concepts/ Innovation and Apparel Design to forward thinking Brands in the Outdoor/ Hunting and Fishing industries.
•Clients include: Argali, Bass Pro, Cabelas, KLIM, Heads & Hides
An Ultralight Hunting Brand
Design Director | 11/2022 - 11/2023
• Leading design for the world's premier ultralight hunting brand.
• Set overall design and innovation direction in the conceptual development of product lines, key product design trends, and implementation of the design aesthetic across the product portfolio.
• Color Palette Direction and Evolution.
Columbia Sportswear Company
Senior Designer III - Titanium | 01/2018 - 11/2020
Leading design for Columbia Sportswear's premium Titanium collection for all Outerwear and Sportswear.
Columbia Sportswear Company
Senior Designer III - Europe | 01/2017 - 01/2018
•Leading design for Outerwear and Sportswear for Mens/Women's and Youth for the European Market
•Increased adoption rate for new designs accelerated growth rates for EMEA 10%+
Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
Senior Global Product Designer | 06/2009 - 01/2017
•Ability to lead long term creative strategy and seasonal product line whilst increasing sales targets.
•Managing innovation platforms and
prototyping across all product range categories.
•Inspire other team members by managing best practices, positive attitude and sound judgment
•Initiating global consumer insights and market research to drive product focus.
•Presentations to global sales teams, distributors and external audiences.
Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
Director of Global Product Design | 09/2012 - 02/2013
• Liased with four reports, contract designers for the season, both locally and internationally.
• Spearheaded design work to meet merchandising and design briefs
• Oversaw that the Icebreaker brand aesthetic was coherent across all ranges.
• Designed both high performance and lifestyle merino wool product, trend research, color palette, trim design
Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
Product Designer | 07/2006 - 06/2009
•Drove design and passion for both high performance and lifestyle merino wool product, trend research, ideation, consumer insights, fabrication, color palette and trim design.
•Increased unit base layer sales over to 150k units.
•Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop.
•International travel
www.icebreaker.com
Berghaus Ltd
Special Projects Designer | 10/2003 - 09/2006
•Introduced RF welded seams, bonded seams and thermal molding to apparel while driving long term innovation platforms
•Launched athlete focused designs for climbing apparel for global expeditions to Patagonia and the Himalayas
•Design, color theory, branding design, trim design, fabric development and construction.
•Presentation to global sales teams, distributors
and external audiences.
www.berghaus.com
Macpac Ltd.
Design Consultant | 03/2003 - 08/2003
Designed technical climbing apparel, shell and insulated products.
The Climbers Shop
Sales Associate | 07/2002 - 03/2003
Education history
University of Derby
Master of Arts (MA) Performance Sportswear Design | 2000 - 2003
Middlesex University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Fashion | 1994 - 1997
