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Gerard Smith

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🦌 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
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Interests

Photography
Design strategy
Product design and creation

Industries

Bike
Lifestyle
Outdoor
Run
Snow
Streetwear
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HomeSummaryActivityProjectsWork experienceEducation historyConnectionsCompanies

In my own words

Gerard

I'm Gerard, founder and design director of GPS Design Studio, I help premium hunting and outdoor brands by elevating their apparel through design, materials and innovation.

With 20+ years in the apparel industry, 4 as a freelancer, I’ve helped multiple outdoor and hunting brands bring their concepts and ideas to life.

Clients and previous brands include: Argali, Bass Pro, KLIM, Heads & Hides, Cabelas, Columbia Sportswear, Icebreaker, Berghaus.

I break down the phases to help you reach your brands apparel goals, drive innovation and increase revenue.

Services include: ✅ Creative/ Design direction ✅ Concept creation ✅ Apparel design and development ✅ Innovation strategy and tiering ✅ Factory-ready tech packs ✅ Product line planning ✅ Sample development ✅ Color direction

Now, I'm eager to partner with premium outdoor and hunting brands on a freelance basis, bringing my expertise in technical outerwear to your projects.

Let's discuss how I can help elevate your next collection.

Feel free to connect via LinkedIn DM or 📧 gerard@gpsdesignstudio.com

Trajectory

Jul 2021 — Now
Founder | Director Of Product Design | Design Consultant · GPS DESIGN STUDIO
•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
Nov 2022 — Nov 2023
Design Director · An Ultralight Hunting Brand
• 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.
Jan 2018 — Nov 2020
Senior Designer III - Titanium · Columbia Sportswear Company
Leading design for Columbia Sportswear's premium Titanium collection for all Outerwear and Sportswear.
Jan 2017 — Jan 2018
Senior Designer III - Europe · Columbia Sportswear Company
•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%+
Jun 2009 — Jan 2017
Senior Global Product Designer · Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
•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.
Sep 2012 — Feb 2013
Director of Global Product Design · Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
• 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
Jul 2006 — Jun 2009
Product Designer · Icebreaker Nature Clothing Inc
•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
Oct 2003 — Sep 2006
Special Projects Designer · Berghaus Ltd
•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
Mar 2003 — Aug 2003
Design Consultant · Macpac Ltd.
Designed technical climbing apparel, shell and insulated products.
Jul 2002 — Mar 2003
Sales Associate · The Climbers Shop

Activity

Education history

University of Derby logo

University of Derby

Master of Arts (MA) Performance Sportswear Design | 2000 - 2003

Middlesex University logo

Middlesex University

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Fashion | 1994 - 1997

Connections

C.J. Worden Jones profile background
C.J. Worden Jones profile photo

C.J. Worden Jones

Apparel & Soft Goods Prototyper | Design, Clo3D Simulations & Digital Pattern Development for Surf, Skate & Snow Brands • Sustainable and Eco Conscious Beach + Mountain outdoor lifestyle
Wings Hawaii

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