Chelsey Richmond

Footwear Design and Development Manager

La Mesa, CA

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About

Growing up I've always had a passion for design and problem solving. I'd say "Oh this is amazing, but what if this changed to that?" or "Why was this made that way, why not try this instead?". At 18 I knew I needed a way to feed my curiosity and that is what drove me to getting a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Design. During school I was hired as an intern for a skate shoe company called Airspeed, a company that was founded by the late Bill Mann. The internship later turned into a full-time position where I sole (pun intended) designer and that was my start in the footwear industry. After Airspeed I worked freelance as well as full-time for established companies and start ups. Working freelance and remotely has taught me self motivation and discipline. The start up companies allowed me to access a variety of projects. I've worked on anything from trade show booths, packaging, logos, magazines ads, photography, social media and more, helping to expand my skill sets beyond shoes. I've also had the chance to work on different sides of the shoe industry, women's, skate, men's dress, motorcycle, and kids footwear. These companies have helped me learn constructions, molds, materials, and how small changes can affect the look or feel of the shoe drastically. Beyond making pretty things I like to know the ins and outs of the manufacturing process, working closely to ensure the development comes out properly and that we can easily streamline the manufacturing process reduce labor, material waste and so on. I've worked with manufacturers in China, India, and Vietnam. Whenever I work with a new factory I like to learn the country and company culture so I know how best to work with the coordinator/developer. My passion for design and problem solving continues to take me on new adventurous paths, discovering even more horrible footwear puns.
Education
- INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
  
  ART INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA
Experience
- DESIGN MANAGER
  
  Kurkside
  
  San Diego, CA
  
  Dec 2016 - Present (4 years 9 months)
  
  Kurkside is a startup children's footwear company. I'm currently in charge of all design, development, and production for footwear as well as the packaging, graphics, and photography while working with the owners to develop the brand identity. Beyond that, I coordinate and hire outside talent if I'm unable to work on the project myself.
  
  RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
  - As a remote design manager, I keep a ﬁrm schedule balancing life and work and consistently remain highly self-motivated. - I'm involved in every step of the footwear design process from initial concept to production and all the way down to the customer experience.
  - I work/ed with manufacturers in Vietnam, China, and Mexico, maintaining communication and relationships.
  - I travel overseas about every other month to approve lasts, molds, and pullovers, establish grading standards, approve manufacturers, and coordinate production.
  - I'm in charge of all graphics including logos, packaging, tradeshow booths, website, social media, sales decks, and more. - If I'm unable to work on the graphics myself, I then will ﬁnd and hire an outside freelance designer and give that person art direction.
  - I've been a photographer/photo editor for social media and marketing purposes as well as in charge of ﬁnding and hiring a photographer and establishing the look of the photoshoot.
  - For each season I present new products and overall brand direction to the President and CEO.
  - I'm consistently aiming to improve the design, product quality, and customer experience.
- Freelance Design Manager
  
  Roame
  
  San Diego, CA
  
  Dec 2014 - Present (6 years 9 months)
  
  Roame is a startup motorcycle brand under Integrated Tech Apparel, LLC. that had a goal of creating a lifestyle high top shoe that has protection and increased visibility at night by integrating light up turn and brake signals into the bottom of the shoe.
  
  RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
  -Establishing manufacturing in China and Vietnam using my relationships.
  -Maintain relationships and travel overseas to develop designs and set production requirements.
  -Work directly with the CEO in order to create a functioning product from concept to production.
  -Work with an engineer to overcome electronic and footwear production obstacles to remove any failure points during and after the production process.
  -Consistently improve the product to create a simple production process with a complicated product.
  -Create photo and graphics for Kickstarter, Backerkit, Instagram, and Indiegogo.
  -Create packaging, instructional booklet, and gifs.
- Freelance Deisgner
  
  DJO Global
  
  San Diego, CA
  
  Mar 2016 - Apr 2016 (1 month)
  
  Bluprint is a new comfort, lifestyle footwear brand for Men and Women. I was responsible for trend research, design, materializing, tech packs, and presentations for the entire women’s line as well as half the men’s line for the season. DJA Bracing is a line of medical-grade brace wear. I worked directly with the design director to complete knee, wrist, ankle, and back brace tech packs during a tight deadline.
- Junior Designer
  
  Naughty Monkey
  
  San Diego, CA
  
  Jan 2014 - Aug 2015 (1 year 7 months)
  
  Naughty Monkey is a Women’s leather fashion brand under Brand Headquarters that sells to boutiques and department stores.
  
  RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
  -I was one of two designers that were in charge of the entire Naughty Monkey brand design/development for each season.
  -Responsible for last, mold, leather, material, and accessory design/development for each season.
  -Visited our China sample room and the material markets for seasonal, hands-on development and sourcing.
  -Worked directly with the sales team to ensure we deliver the desired items for each of our Nordstrom, Buckle, and Zappos buyers.
  -Personally developed a time and money-saving photorealistic rendering standard to show each buyer product variations versus waiting for a sample.
  -Designed detailed jeweled sandals with our India based factories.
  -Worked with many varieties of leather, synthetic leathers, and textiles.
- Senior Designer
  
  Airspeed
  
  Huntington Beach, CA
  
  Dec 2011 - Aug 2013 (1 year 8 months)
  
  Airspeed is a footwear brand under In California Inc. that specializes in the skate market and sells mainly at Walmart. The line consists of men, women, children, and toddler sizes. I began as an intern in school, became a design associate, and then became the senior designer.
  
  RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
  -Designed, materialized, and developed hundreds of colorways for Men’s, Women’s, Kid’s, and Toddler’s every season.
  -Created and presented directly to the Walmart buyers for all genders and received direct feedback.
  -Communicated the design to the companies sample room in China and visited to further develop each style.
  -Maintained communication with our overseas sample room and manufacturers.
  -As an intern, I was responsible for supporting the senior designers by creating line art and tech packs.
  -Prepared sketches, trend reports, and colorway studies.
Awards

Honors and Dean's List
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