Senior Specialist - Apparel Graphics & Print Design

Location: Zurich

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Product Design

In short

We’re looking for a Senior Specialist Print and Graphics designer with a passion for colour, storytelling, and innovation in performance apparel. You’ll play a key creative role in shaping the visual language of our collections — from bold athlete-led statements to refined commercial executions. In this role, you’ll drive the seasonal graphic and print direction across categories, working from concept to final production and collaborating closely with design, development, and materials teams globally. You’ll combine a contemporary aesthetic with a deep understanding of process and production — leading projects that merge creativity, sustainability, and precision.

Your Mission

Define and execute the seasonal print and graphic direction for apparel collections in collaboration with the Head of Apparel Design and Creative Direction.
Lead concept, research, and trend exploration — translating cultural, colour, and material trends into innovative graphic stories for performance and lifestyle products.
Create original all-over prints, placement graphics, trims, and embellishments, from hand-drawn concept to digital artwork.
Develop commercial take-downs from pinnacle athlete collections to ensure brand cohesion across tiers.
Own tech pack creation, ensuring colour separations, repeats, and placement details are production-ready and accurate.
Use CLO 3D / V-Stitcher to visualise artwork placement, scale, and proportion on garments.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Managers, Development, Merchandising, and Fabric teams to deliver market-relevant designs that meet technical and cultural needs.
Partner with suppliers through the full production process — providing strike-off feedback, ensuring colour accuracy and print consistency across vendors.
Research and implement new print and application techniques, driving innovation in sustainability and material efficiency.
Contribute to the ongoing evolution of the brand’s graphic identity, ensuring alignment between performance and style narratives.
Mentor junior designers, sharing best practices in design process, production accuracy, and creative exploration.

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Your story

BA or equivalent in Textile Design, Graphic Design, or Surface Design.
7+ years’ experience in print and graphic design within fashion and sportswear — with a proven ability to translate creative concepts into technically sound, high-impact products.
Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and working knowledge of CLO 3D / V-Stitcher.
Strong understanding of print techniques, colour separations, grading, and material applications for both luxury and performance contexts.
A sharp eye for colour, composition, and brand storytelling.
Experience leading design direction and collaborating across categories and teams.
Demonstrated ability to deliver sustainable design innovations and reduce waste through print engineering or process refinement.
Excellent presentation and communication skills — comfortable sharing creative direction with senior stakeholders.
Highly organised, self-motivated, and proactive in managing multiple seasonal timelines.
Fluent in English; additional languages are an asset.

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About the Team

You will be part of the highly creative Apparel Design Team based in Zurich. The Apparel Design team is embedded in the Global Design Studio, which is responsible for all of On’s disruptive product designs. It includes Apparel Design, Accessories Design, Design Direction, Footwear Design, and Innovation Design. All designers closely collaborate with Developers, Product Managers and Innovation, coming together and working towards fulfilling On’s purpose of igniting the power of Human spirit through movement.

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What we offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Build the better you

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.