Patrick Grace
Footwear Designer · Technical Outdoor
Greater Boston, MAWork Experience
Senior Footwear Designer
Technical Outdoor2023 – Present
USA -Taking on a role that utilizes my extensive knowledge of footwear design and development to an outdoor global brand; collaborating
to bring a more global presence and market share with premium lifestyle amd technical outdoor performance footwear products. footwear products.
Product Design Consultant
Goden Design2021 – Present
USA
-Working with various clients across various consumer product markets, utilizing all my past experiences and key development relationships.
-Together with clients, I offer design and development solutions with a seamless and thorough process. Taking a client from a targeted brief to a completed consumer product ready for the marketplace.
Senior Footwear Designer: New Creation
Lacoste2022 – 2023
UK -Taking on a role that utilizes my extensive knowledge of footwear design and development to a sport heritage global brand; collaborating to bring a more global presence and market share with premium lifestyle amd performance products.
Senior Mens AND Womens Footwear Designer New Creation
New Creation2022 – 2023
England, UK -Taking on a role that utilizes my extensive knowledge of footwear design and development to a sport heritage global brand; collaborating to bring a more global presence and market share with premium lifestyle amd performance footwear products.
Freelance Footwear Design & Development
Goden Design LLC2021 – 2022
UK -Working with various clients across various global footwear markets, utilizing all my past experiences and key development relationships. -Together with clients, I offer design and development services as a seamless and thorough process. Taking a client from marketing brief to completed product line(s).
Head of Mens Footwear Design
Clarks Global Collection2020 – 2021
-Tasked at designing, developing, and managing new product for the Men's Clarks Collection (formerly Clarks Essentials) brand. -This sub-brand provided products for the higher volumed based value propositions of the Clarks brand portfolio, including strategically
targeted global premium products focused at "Glocal" market needs. -Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development.
-I have had a concentrated effort to collaborate on making our products more sustainable. Not only from a material and compound build, but
also through a fabrication and manufacturing lens. Always trying to optimize the overall product and process(s). -Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in India for seasonal
development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world. -Help to mentor and give product solutions or aesthetic direction to my design team members.
Head of Footwear Design
Clarks Men's Global Essentials/Collection2020 – 2021
USA -Tasked at designing and developing new product for the Men's Clarks Essentials (formerly Clarks Collection) brand. -This sub-brand provided products for the higher volumed based value propositions of the Clarks brand portfolio, including strategically targeted global premium products focused at "Glocal" market needs. -Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development. This role also includes the execution from product concept to commercialization hand off. -I have had a concentrated effort to collaborate on making our products more sustainable. Not only from a material and compound build, but also through a fabrication and maunfacturing lens. Always trying to optimize the overall product and process(s). -Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in India for seasonal development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world. -Help to mentor and give product solutions or aesthetic direction to less experienced designers.
Mens AND Womens Design Manager
Clarks Artisan Global Collection2016 – 2020
-Tasked at designing and managing both Men's and Women's design teams for the Clarks Artisan and Clarks 1825 premium footwear lines. -This sub-brand provided products for the higher premium value propositions of the Clarks brand portfolio, including Clarks Originals.
-Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development.
-Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in China/India for seasonal development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world.
-Help to mentor and give solutions or aesthetic direction to my team of designers.
Head of Footwear Design
Clarks Men's Artisan Global Collection2016 – 2020
USA -Tasked at designing and developing new product for the Men's Clarks Artisan (formerly Clarks 1825). -This sub-brand provided products for the higher premium value propositions of the Clarks brand portfolio, including Originals. -Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development. This role also includes the execution from product concept to commercialization hand off. -Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in China/ India for seasonal development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world. -Help to mentor and give solutions or aesthetic direction to less experienced designers
Senior Footwear Designer
Clarks Men's North America and International2008 – 2016
USA -Men's Designer who worked with and supported the Men's Design team to create all types of Men's footwear products for the following brands; including Clarks, Clarks Originals, Unstructured, and in-line Clarks Men's Casual product line(s). -Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development. This role also includes the execution from product concept to commercialization hand off. -Was the catalyst into getting collaborative relationships started with street brands such as, CONCEPTS, SUPREME, and KITH. -Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in China/ India for seasonal development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world.
Senior Mens AND Womens Footwear Designer
Clarks Clarks ORIGINALs Clarks Unstructured2008 – 2016
-Worked with and supported the Men's Design team to create all types of Men's footwear products for the following brands; including Clarks,
Clarks Originals (Men's & Women's), UNstructured product line(s).
-Setting the direction for the seasonal color palette, trend direction, technology development, and seasonal material sourcing and development. -Was the catalyst into getting collaborative relationships started with street brands such as, CONCEPTS, SUPREME, and KITH.
-Travel as the lead designer/developer to oversee other brands within our Clarks portfolio to sourcing facilities in China/India for seasonal development trips, as well as lead market research trips to international shops around the world.
Footwear Designer II
Steve Madden2007 – 2008
New York & Boston, Massachusetts, USA -Responsible in creation and development of Men's Footwear line for the Steve Madden Men's Athletic product line. -Lead the product creation for multiple seasonal developmentsfrom product concept to commercialization hand off. -Headed up design for multiple seasonal trips to China to execute the product development and then present the finished product to retailers during seasonal FFANY, WSA/Platform, and Project shoe shows.
Senior Mens Footwear Designer
Steve Madden2007 – 2008
New York & Boston, Massachusetts, USA
-Responsible in creation and development of Men's Footwear line for the Steve Madden Men's Athletic product line. -Lead the product creation for multiple seasonal developments from product concept to commercialization hand off.
-Headed up design for multiple seasonal trips to China to execute the product development and then present the finished product to retailers during seasonal FFANY, WSA/Platform, and Project shoe shows.
Mens AND Womens Footwear Designer II
Tommy Hilfiger2005 – 2007
-Responsibilities included, leading the creative design and development direction for the Women's Athletic footwear product for the Tommy
Hilfiger brand, and support the design and development team of the Men's Athletic footwear product for the Tommy Hilfiger brand. -Headed up travel on multiple fronts; as the lead designer to our sourcing facilities in China during seasonal development trips, as well as the
lead on market research trips to international shops around the world. -Worked very closely with the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate creative leads to help communicate a consistent brand identity.
-My designs helped increase the business by over 20%, especially in the very competitive vulcanized footwear marketplace.
Footwear Designer II
Tommy Hilfiger (Stride Rite Corporation)2006 – 2007
New York, USA -Responsibilities included, leading the creative design and development direction for the Women's Athletic footwear product for the Tommy Hilfiger brand, and support the design and development team of the Men's Athletic footwear product for the Tommy Hilfiger brand. -Headed up travel on multiple fronts; as the lead designer to our sourcing facilities in China during seasonal development trips, as well as the lead on market research trips to international shops around the world. -Worked very closely with the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate creative leads to help communicate a consistent brand identity. -My designs helped increase the business by over 20%, especially in the very competitive vulcanized footwear marketplace.
Footwear Designer I
Tommy Hilfiger (Stride Rite Corporation)2005 – 2006
New York, USA -Responsible for the creative design direction for the Women's Athletic footwear product for the Tommy Hilfiger brand. -Headed up travel on multiple fronts; as the lead designer to our sourcing facilities in China during seasonal development trips, as well as the lead on market research trips to international shops around the world. -Worked very closely with the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate creative leads to help create and communicate a consistent brand identity.
Kids Footwear Designer
Stride Rite2004 – 2005
-Strived to learn and excel at the proper processes to design, create, and develop new lines of boys and girls footwear for Stride Rite and Sperry Top-Sider product lines.
-Took on development trips to our sourcing facilities in China within first 6 months of starting my career.
Associate Footwear Designer
Stride Rite Children's Group2004 – 2005
-Strived to learn and excel at the proper processes to design, create, and develop new lines of Boys Footwear for Stride Rite and Sperry Top-Sider product lines. -Took on development trips to our sourcing facilities in China within first 6 months of starting my career.
