Entry
Return
| Brand | |
|---|---|
| Location |
Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto Ward, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY *Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations. |
| Update | May, 11 2026 |
Job Description
■Recruitment Background:
Under the slogan “YOUR FREEDOM: The freedom to reinvent yourself,” GU offers fashion that everyone can enjoy, leveraging its strengths in trends, price, and speed.
In 2026, Francesco Risso—who has earned high acclaim worldwide—assumed the role of Creative Director at GU. Building on the manufacturing foundation GU has cultivated, the brand is stepping into its next phase, driven by a clearer creative vision and the development of high-quality products.
Even amid prerequisites such as mass-production feasibility, reproducibility, and value for money, there is a greater demand than ever for planning, development, and design capabilities that view these constraints not as limitations but as new challenges, and successfully bring products to market.
Within the R&D organization, you will work closely with related departments—including Merchandising, Production, and Material Development—to enhance product quality without compromising the creative vision, based on a deep understanding of pricing, costs, and production context.
■ Department Overview:
GU’s R&D Department is a product development organization dedicated to bringing the brand message “YOUR FREEDOM” to life through our products. It comprises designers and patternmakers from all departments selling at GU—including Men’s, Women’s, Kids, and Merchandise—who work tirelessly every day to develop products that deliver fashion everyone can enjoy worldwide.
We handle everything from market and trend research to material selection, specification design, and product development with an eye toward mass production. While prioritizing price, quality, and speed, we deliver products that balance fashion and practicality to customers around the world.
■Job Description:
You will be responsible for graphic design work. Specifically, this includes the following:
・New Product Development and Proposals:
Through global market research and trend analysis, you will plan collaborative products based on the “YOUR FREEDOM” concept and translate these ideas into designs.
・Proposals at Product Meetings:
Twice a year—for SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter)—we hold product meetings to decide which items to offer, in which colors, materials, and silhouettes, in what quantities, and how to market them. You will present your product proposals during these meetings.Additionally, through discussions with leaders from various internal departments around the world—including MD, VMD, Product Planning, MK, and global country managers—you will participate in developing product strategies and sales plans that encompass the entire process from product development to delivery to customers.
・Management of the Product Development Process:
We expect you to lead the entire process—from brainstorming ideas to product commercialization—end-to-end. As needed, you will visit partner fabric mills and garment factories to ensure high-quality manufacturing.
・Target items include T-shirts, sweatshirts, and select merchandise.
・The Job Description may change depending on departmental transfers or organizational restructuring, within the scope of duties related to each department within headquarters.
■ Career Path
Graphic content plays a vital role in expressing GU’s fashion and trends. You’ll have the opportunity to deliver highly fashionable and well-designed graphics—not just to specific customers, but to a wide range of customers—and provide them with the joy and satisfaction of wearing our products. Depending on your aspirations and aptitudes, you’ll have diverse career paths available to you as a designer, including roles not only as a graphic designer but also as an apparel designer, as well as future career development opportunities at our global locations.
Under the slogan “YOUR FREEDOM: The freedom to reinvent yourself,” GU offers fashion that everyone can enjoy, leveraging its strengths in trends, price, and speed.
In 2026, Francesco Risso—who has earned high acclaim worldwide—assumed the role of Creative Director at GU. Building on the manufacturing foundation GU has cultivated, the brand is stepping into its next phase, driven by a clearer creative vision and the development of high-quality products.
Even amid prerequisites such as mass-production feasibility, reproducibility, and value for money, there is a greater demand than ever for planning, development, and design capabilities that view these constraints not as limitations but as new challenges, and successfully bring products to market.
Within the R&D organization, you will work closely with related departments—including Merchandising, Production, and Material Development—to enhance product quality without compromising the creative vision, based on a deep understanding of pricing, costs, and production context.
■ Department Overview:
GU’s R&D Department is a product development organization dedicated to bringing the brand message “YOUR FREEDOM” to life through our products. It comprises designers and patternmakers from all departments selling at GU—including Men’s, Women’s, Kids, and Merchandise—who work tirelessly every day to develop products that deliver fashion everyone can enjoy worldwide.
We handle everything from market and trend research to material selection, specification design, and product development with an eye toward mass production. While prioritizing price, quality, and speed, we deliver products that balance fashion and practicality to customers around the world.
■Job Description:
You will be responsible for graphic design work. Specifically, this includes the following:
・New Product Development and Proposals:
Through global market research and trend analysis, you will plan collaborative products based on the “YOUR FREEDOM” concept and translate these ideas into designs.
・Proposals at Product Meetings:
Twice a year—for SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter)—we hold product meetings to decide which items to offer, in which colors, materials, and silhouettes, in what quantities, and how to market them. You will present your product proposals during these meetings.Additionally, through discussions with leaders from various internal departments around the world—including MD, VMD, Product Planning, MK, and global country managers—you will participate in developing product strategies and sales plans that encompass the entire process from product development to delivery to customers.
・Management of the Product Development Process:
We expect you to lead the entire process—from brainstorming ideas to product commercialization—end-to-end. As needed, you will visit partner fabric mills and garment factories to ensure high-quality manufacturing.
・Target items include T-shirts, sweatshirts, and select merchandise.
・The Job Description may change depending on departmental transfers or organizational restructuring, within the scope of duties related to each department within headquarters.
■ Career Path
Graphic content plays a vital role in expressing GU’s fashion and trends. You’ll have the opportunity to deliver highly fashionable and well-designed graphics—not just to specific customers, but to a wide range of customers—and provide them with the joy and satisfaction of wearing our products. Depending on your aspirations and aptitudes, you’ll have diverse career paths available to you as a designer, including roles not only as a graphic designer but also as an apparel designer, as well as future career development opportunities at our global locations.
Qualifications
■ Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities
・Practical experience in graphic planning and development as an apparel designer
・The ability to develop viable product concepts based on market and trend research
・Proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator
■Preferred Experience, Skills, and Abilities
・Experience using English for internal tasks, such as email correspondence and creating simple documents
・Ability to read and understand information on overseas trends and collections in English and apply it to planning
*When applying, please submit a portfolio showcasing your past work along with your resume and work history (submission via URL is also acceptable)
・Practical experience in graphic planning and development as an apparel designer
・The ability to develop viable product concepts based on market and trend research
・Proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator
■Preferred Experience, Skills, and Abilities
・Experience using English for internal tasks, such as email correspondence and creating simple documents
・Ability to read and understand information on overseas trends and collections in English and apply it to planning
*When applying, please submit a portfolio showcasing your past work along with your resume and work history (submission via URL is also acceptable)
Work Conditions
■Company Name: GU Co., Ltd.
■Employment Type: Contract Employee (Fixed-term contract with a 3-month probationary period)
(Depending on performance and evaluations during the first year of the contract employee term, if you meet our criteria for full-time employment, we will consider hiring you as a full-time employee starting in the second year.)
* The employment contract as a contract employee will end after a one-year term and will not be renewed.
* If you are not hired as a regular employee, your employment contract will end upon expiration of the contract term
■ Annual Salary
・Annual Salary Range: 4.25–8.64 million yen (Monthly Salary: 280,000–540,000 yen)
・Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (※All subject to company regulations)
・Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
・Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)
*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.
■ Working Hours
Either the standard work hours system or the flex-time system
(Determined based on job duties, expected role, and assigned department; details will be provided during the job offer interview)
・Standard Work Hours System
8 hours of actual work and 1-hour break between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
・Flexible Work Hours System
Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours: 6:00–9:00 and 14:00–20:00; overtime work may occur
■ Holidays and Leave
Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays), annual paid leave, special and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*Whether public holidays are also considered days off in addition to the days off listed above will be specified individually in the contract for part-time employees
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)
■Insurance Coverage
Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)
■ Employee Benefits
Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Mutual Aid Association, Partnered Welfare Programs, Employee Discount Program, Cafeteria, Dedicated Shuttle Bus (for commuting to the Ariake Office), Defined Contribution Pension Plan (full-time employees only)
■Other
・Our company actively recruits mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
- You may apply to multiple companies within the Fast Retailing Group simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds at multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
- Based on your submitted resume and interview performance, we may suggest other positions or companies within the Fast Retailing Group.
・Secondhand Smoke Policy: Smoking is generally prohibited on company premises and indoors; we do not have designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)
■Employment Type: Contract Employee (Fixed-term contract with a 3-month probationary period)
(Depending on performance and evaluations during the first year of the contract employee term, if you meet our criteria for full-time employment, we will consider hiring you as a full-time employee starting in the second year.)
* The employment contract as a contract employee will end after a one-year term and will not be renewed.
* If you are not hired as a regular employee, your employment contract will end upon expiration of the contract term
■ Annual Salary
・Annual Salary Range: 4.25–8.64 million yen (Monthly Salary: 280,000–540,000 yen)
・Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (※All subject to company regulations)
・Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
・Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)
*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.
■ Working Hours
Either the standard work hours system or the flex-time system
(Determined based on job duties, expected role, and assigned department; details will be provided during the job offer interview)
・Standard Work Hours System
8 hours of actual work and 1-hour break between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
・Flexible Work Hours System
Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours: 6:00–9:00 and 14:00–20:00; overtime work may occur
■ Holidays and Leave
Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays), annual paid leave, special and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*Whether public holidays are also considered days off in addition to the days off listed above will be specified individually in the contract for part-time employees
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)
■Insurance Coverage
Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)
■ Employee Benefits
Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Mutual Aid Association, Partnered Welfare Programs, Employee Discount Program, Cafeteria, Dedicated Shuttle Bus (for commuting to the Ariake Office), Defined Contribution Pension Plan (full-time employees only)
■Other
・Our company actively recruits mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
- You may apply to multiple companies within the Fast Retailing Group simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds at multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
- Based on your submitted resume and interview performance, we may suggest other positions or companies within the Fast Retailing Group.
・Secondhand Smoke Policy: Smoking is generally prohibited on company premises and indoors; we do not have designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)
Location
Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.