Senior Graphic Apparel Designer

Job Title: Senior Graphic Apparel Designer Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia or Remote Employment Type: Full-Time Experience Level: 5+ Years

About Us

Founded in 2006,Takedown is a leader in the combat apparel space with a broad lifestyle product assortment born in wrestling. Takedowns broad assortment and authentic product assortment exceeds the needs for athletes and business alike.

About the Role

We’re looking for a highly skilled and concept-driven Senior Graphic Apparel Designer with experience in licensed merchandise, athlete branding, and t-shirt design. In this role, you’ll lead the creation of graphic tees and apparel collections across our lifestyle, sports, and combat sports verticals — with a special focus on licensed IP, athlete collaborations, and trend-driven drops. You’ll be responsible for developing bold, authentic, and on-brand designs that resonate with our customers — from fight fans to streetwear lovers. You should have a deep understanding of pop culture, typography, print production, and retail merchandising. You’ll also play a key role in designing athlete capsule collections, licensed property drops, and evergreen t-shirt programs. This is a senior-level design role that collaborates closely with marketing, production, and licensing teams to bring collections from concept to shelf.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the creative development of graphic t-shirts and apparel across key categories (licensed tees, athlete capsules, seasonal collections, etc.)
• Design original graphics for screenprint and DTF applications that reflect brand voice, market trends, and IP guidelines
• Develop concepts, moodboards, and line plans for drops, campaigns, and evergreen programs
• Design licensed merchandise aligned with brand partnerships, athlete endorsements, and league approvals
• Lead graphic development for athlete-specific merchandise, including walkout tees, event capsules, and personal branding
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, ecomm, sales) to ensure graphic lines meet calendar deadlines and campaign needs
• Prepare files for production with correct spec, sizing, color callouts, and print techniques
• Maintain creative consistency across different collections while tailoring design to individual athletes, brands, or licenses

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in graphic apparel design, preferably within streetwear, sportswear, or licensed merchandise
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Strong portfolio showcasing graphic t-shirt work, licensed design, and athlete-focused collections
• Deep knowledge of graphic and apparel trends across combat sports, athletics, and lifestyle markets
• Strong sense of composition, typography, and print application techniques
• Clear communication, organization, and ability to manage multiple deadlines across fast-moving programs
• Experience working with licensed IP or co-branded product lines, including understanding of style guide compliance and approvals
• Comfortable leading concept presentations and working with athletes or influencers to bring collaborative products to life

Bonus Points For

• Background in combat sports, wrestling, MMA, or athlete marketing
• Experience designing for DTC e-commerce brands or social-first product launches
• Familiarity with sublimation, embroidery, or cut-and-sew product customization
• Understanding of licensing processes and approval workflows with leagues or IP holders
• Experience designing for retail or event-based product drops (e.g. tournaments, fight cards, seasonal activations)