Senior Principal Designer - Footwear

Main focus to design / deliver new products, systems, innovative ideas, and unique, new experiences in the industry of golf (footwear) that challenge the status quo.
Responsible Key role is steering the design direction as well as the development and redesign of successful existing products in golf footwear through all facets of the development calendar.  Create design and concept boards to communicate seasonal direction and design theme application to the finished product and product lines.
Plays and integral role in researching global design trends and color palettes, traveling to fashion shows, retail market and market consumer visits.
Works directly with sales and marketing to uphold integrity of the brand and business/marketing plans to suit the needs of the end user.

Team Leader within three Branded product lines.
Create brand identity to young company's newly created product lines ranging from casual / lifestyle, performance, and Medical / diabetic footwear.  Work directly with sales and marketing to uphold integrity of business/marketing plans to suit the needs of commercial as well as cutting edge product/technologies.  Responsible for design and development of new concepts through brainstorming, creating storylines with visuals, rough sketch ideas, following up with full tech packs which include thorough cost effective developmental plans from material call outs to color palette selections.  Work with resources in China from first round prototypes and full-scale blue prints, to finalizing product to its completion state for commercialization. Travel overseas and domestically for trade shows in search of product trends relevant to the footwear / apparel industry.

Director of Design

Technical Running: July 2004 - January 2008
Shapes the design direction in a specific market category and translates market input into innovative designs. Trend knowledge
identifies design solutions and creative input to the team
uses knowledge of costing and shoemaking to develop cost efficient innovative product designs. Demonstrates a solid understanding of the impact that design and the company's brand identity play in the global marketplace. Coaches and mentors less experienced staff. Works with product development team to create sketches for upper and sole designs within the timelines established. Develops tech packages for the engineering group to use in creating outsole CAD's. Uses team dynamic to evaluate color and design combination associated with apparel and works closely with team of developers to research materials and construction methods. Business partner to product development staff to achieve business plans. Partners with other category lead designers and developers to provide cross category leadership. Create a cross pollination within the category channels. Established a climate for the design team's creative expression. Facilitated partnership with advanced concepts. Team of the Quarter Award Q3-2006 and Q1-2007.

Coaches and mentors less experienced staff

Senior Designer

for a team that was created to embark on a new category for New Balance in American football. Demonstrated a thorough knowledge of this industry's channel. Rapidly generated multiple design concepts. Independently investigated and analyzed problems. Research and brake down complex problems to arrive at multiple solutions. Incorporate in-depth knowledge of the competition, the customer, product costing, product performance and the manufacturability in formulating designs. Translated marketing input into innovative designs. Incorporated fresh contemporary market savvy ideas into design cooperative working relationship among team members.

Sole designer

Footwear Designer

September 2001 - September 2002
Designed footwear brand concepts exclusively for key accounts geared towards more of an itemized business than merchandising, from a high-end performance line to the lower end price points

itemized business than merchandising

3D Model Maker/Footwear Designer

Graphic Designer/Illustrator

Product Engineer/Model Maker

Find out detailed information about Daren Weddle, Senior Principal Designer - Footwear 

Daren Weddle: Senior Principal Designer - Footwear

Daren Weddle

ACUSHNET COMPANY

KLAS SHOES, LLC

NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

REEBOK INTERNATIONAL, LTD

NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

FILA USA INC

PLANET SPORTSWEAR

TOWN AND COUNTRY FINE JEWELRY GROUP

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT LOWELL