Jonn Langan

Creative Director, Leader in Performance Design, Innovation, Brand Building and Empathetic Leadership

Phone:

+41 (0)79 450 53 80

Email:

jonnlangan@hotmail.com

Address:

CH: Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland

UK: Wingerworth, Derbyshire, UK

A Bit About Me

With over 25 years design and development experience in the outdoor and performance sports apparel industries, I have built a deep and thorough knowledge of what is needed to be successful.

Across brand strategy, product creation and collection development, I have consistently built an adaptive and yet robust set of abilities, to enable the successful development of products for the right market and situation, and within strategic budgets.

Through careful planning and analysis I have consistently delivered on both long term strategic initiatives, as well as on impactful key market disruption projects, all whilst successfully leading and managing various teams.

Communication is power and I truly believe that an idea cannot come to fruition if it is not properly cared for throughout the process. Therefore I build and develop creative timelines and processes that take time to offer space and clarity for everyone involved, whilst maintaining a strong focus and direction.

Work History

Download CV

August 2024 - Present

June 2021 - June 2024

May 2020 - June 2021

December 2017 - May 2020

October 2009 - December 2017

September 2006 - August 2009

June 2005 - May 2006

September 2003 - June 2005

June 2002 - April 2003

May 2001 - June 2002

March 2000 - May 2001

October 1998 - March 2000

The North Face - Design Manager | Performance

Establishing design & product creation excellence.
Manage a team of designers, plus freelancers and graphic agencies.
Drive a strong sustainability & circularity vision anchored around The North Face 2025 Sustainability Commitments.
Ensure the team delivers against the seasonal calendar milestones, product timelines & seasonal objectives.
Work in close partnership with Development Managers, Merchandise Managers and Global Design Counterparts.
Monitor product development to ensure style, fit, quality, detail requirements are addressed.
Work closely with Design Director to build seasonal concepts and colour strategy.
Address Target consumer, wearing occasions, market opportunities.

Jack Wolfskin - Senior Designer | Outdoor Technical

Creative lead on performance categories (Discovery | Ski Touring | Light Hiking | Trekking | Bikepacking).
Outdoor Technical team lead with direct designer reports.
Creation and communication of brand handwriting across category through both visual and technical detailing.
Colour theory & application across all areas.
Key cross team communication to align brand concepts across all product departments (Apparel-Footwear-Equipment-Accessories).

Key Highlights:

Texapore x Schoeller design lead (Inc. ISPO award winning Discovery Jacket SS23).
Ski Touring collection concept relaunch design lead (Inc. ISPO award winning Alpspitze Air AW24).

Jonn Langan Studio - Creative Director | Apparel Designer

Creative lead on projects, with focus on brand ideation & creation.
Brand strategy and creative direction.
Collection management with brand values at the centre and performance and manufacturing process aligned with expected margin and profits.
Driving Brand DNA through all aspects of a collection from styling and materials to components and marketing.

Key Highlights:

Sseams magazine and agency collaboration.
Dryad brand ID with trail running collection creation.
Nordic Outdoor brand ID creation.
Lecturer @ Sheffield Hallam University focusing on Performance Sportswear.

Rab - Creative Lead

Creative lead on all performance categories.
7 direct designer reports.
Day to day department decision making.
Creation and communication of brand handwriting across category through both visual and technical detailing.
Build varying strategies to better future proof brand aspirations.
Communication lead for manufacturing and trim to ensure clear and precise development strategy.
Key cross team communication with technical department, management, sales and marketing to align strategies.

Key Highlights:

Khroma ski touring concept.
Skyline mountain trail running concept.
Gore-Tex 3L & Paclite+ concept and factory onboarding.

Kitchen Design & Jonn Langan Studio - Creative Director | Apparel Designer

Creative lead on projects, with focus on brand ideation & creation.
Brand strategy and creative direction.
Collection management with brand values at the centre and performance and manufacturing process aligned with expected margin and profits.
Driving Brand DNA through all aspects of a collection from styling and materials to components and marketing.

Key Highlights:

Asics 5 year global running project creative direction & design lead (2012 - 2017).
Asics London 2012 & Rio 2016 Olympic collections.
Asics South Africa & Australia rugby collections including RWC15 kits (2014 - 2016).
Oxbow & Billabong Snow collections.
Skunkfunk "K" Line collection.

Skis Rossignol - Senior Designer

Technical apparel design and development.
Market research with trend analysis.
Cross team briefing & communication.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

1907 premium heritage ski collection.
All-Mountain innovation ski collection.
Seven Artistic Sins (SAS) hardgoods collaboration freestyle ski collection.
Nordic ski collection redevelopment.

Goldwax | Designdock - Brand Creation | Senior Designer

Set up of brand values, ID and graphic identity for new Goldwax brand concept.
Market research with trend analysis.
Liaison with factories for research and development of collection.
Product line management.
Material concept development.
Apparel & graphic design & development.

Bench - Senior Designer

Apparel design and development on all categories.
Market research with trend analysis.
Cross team briefing & communication.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

Increased sales turnover from £3.2 million to £7.4 million in one fiscal year (2003-04) based on new collection concepts.
Successful re-structuring of collection and subsequent expansion of brand reach into new markets.

Reebok - Designer

Apparel design and development on key categories.
Market research with trend analysis.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

Working with Reebok’s US sports licenses (NFL) & (NBA) to produce UK relevant collections.

Ellesse - Designer

Apparel design and development on key categories.
Market research with trend analysis.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

Re-development of factory working process’ with new technical file format.
Design and development of an international Pro Tennis line.

Umbro - Designer

Apparel design and development on key categories.
Market research with trend analysis.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

Promotion from SMU designer to main branded designer.
Pro-Training collection concept to sit alongside licensed kit design.

Gelert - Outdoor Apparel Designer

Apparel design and development on all categories.
Market research with trend analysis.
Factory liaisons & prototype meetings.
Presentation packages throughout process.

Key Highlights:

Creation, design & development of Gelert's first ever apparel collection.
Far-East development trips to initiate and develop new collections.
Developed key understanding of factory process’.