The Challenge
Your main purpose is to create standout graphic artwork and build it into complete kids’ styles — ensuring Rip Curl remains a leader in surf fashion. Your designs will play a key role in strengthening customer perception of the brand and driving ongoing sales growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

Range Planning

• Understand seasonal sales targets for your categories and design with commercial outcomes in mind.

• Ensure product is trend‑relevant for our customer while generating the required volume and revenue.

• Work closely with Product Developers to monitor margins and highlight any costing challenges early.

• Collaborate with the Head of Design to understand expectations for each range and implement design briefs effectively.

• Develop cohesive stories and themes across ranges by working closely with the wider design team.

• Participate in range planning and architecture meetings.

Design & Product Development

• Design across multiple categories including Dresses, Shirts, Skirts, Walk Shorts, Rash Vests, Swim, Boardshorts, Jackets, Pants, Sweaters, Fleece, Tees and Graphics.

• Complete yardage and graphic design briefs as set by the design crew.

• Undertake deep trend research across relevant categories and present insights when required.

• Complete seasonal specifications from concept through to production in alignment with Product Manager briefs and Head of Design direction.

• Manage garment fittings, strike-off approvals and colour‑by‑fabric reviews — ensuring all prototypes reflect your design intent and meet Rip Curl quality standards.

• Collaborate with the design team to ensure timely handover of graphics, fabrics, trims and yardages for production.

• Produce high‑quality 4‑way repeating yardages with accurate colour and layer breakdowns.

• Use Illustrator, Photoshop and Mac‑based design programs confidently.

• Work closely within a complete apparel and accessories team to ensure graphic consistency.

• Continuously seek new ideas, technologies, fabrications and global innovation — and share this knowledge with the Design Team.

• Liaise with factories and suppliers to understand capabilities, opportunities and limitations.

Understanding the Customer

• Study all available sales and sell‑through data to inform design decisions.

• Build a deep understanding of the Rip Curl Kids customer — who she is, what she needs, where she shops and what keeps her loyal to the brand.

Relationships & Communication

• Be a strong, positive contributor to the department, modelling great communication and teamwork.

• Build excellent relationships with Sales, Retail, Product Development, Marketing and the Men’s Design team.

• Identify and suggest process improvements relating to communication, design workflow, timelines and administrative tasks.

What You Bring

• Tertiary qualification in Design (or related field).

• Advanced skills in Adobe Illustrator and strong competency in Photoshop.

• A collaborative, team‑oriented approach.

• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast‑moving design environment.

• Understanding of production processes, constraints and garment construction.

• Availability to travel interstate and internationally when required.

• Curiosity, initiative and a genuine passion for surf and youth fashion.