Lead Designer, Footwear Color, Material & Graphics Local Creation NA

Who You’ll Work With

This is an individual contributor opportunity reporting to the NA Footwear Design Director. You will work directly with the NA footwear design team, NA Product Management and Development teams, as well as Nike creative and business stakeholders.

About the Role

Nike Local Creation is one of the fastest product engines at Nike, enabling designers to connect with geo-specific consumers quickly and effectively. This competitive advantage allows the team to capture current and developing market trends as well as regionally relevant narratives with flexibility and speed.

We are looking for an experienced creative leader who embraces an entrepreneurial spirit and thrives in a team environment. The ideal Lead Designer will establish seasonal graphic direction, color, and material strategy for footwear product under the North America Express Lane business. This role requires active and energetic participation in the creative process, excellent cross-functional communication skills, and the ability to present design concepts to internal and external audiences while executing complex deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

The Lead Designer will be a versatile creative problem solver who excels under tight deadlines, with a strong understanding of emerging design and fashion trends, and extensive knowledge of footwear construction, color theory, and textiles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the NAEL design team in creating unique, geo-specific collections across Men’s, Women’s, Running, and Kids product on a seasonal basis.
• Set distinct color and material direction, and develop original content and product storytelling.
• Collaborate with Graphic Designers and production designers to develop prints, patterns, and trims.
• Work with Material Developers for all vendor-related material development.
• Partner with Product Management teams to build engaging, trend-driven narratives that meet the needs of target consumers.
• Engage with Development teams to communicate design intent, assist with schematic creation, and review and workshop prototypes.
• Manage and design presentation materials, and present concepts to internal teams, leadership, and external partners.

Qualifications

• BA/BFA/MA/MFA preferred in graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, apparel design, material design, textile design, or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, or training.
• 6+ years of preferred design experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current and emerging design and fashion trends in sportswear and streetwear footwear and apparel.
• Deep knowledge and experience in Color and/or Material design + Graphics specifically for product.
• Foundational understanding of footwear construction, schematic development, and tech pack creation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines simultaneously.
• Ability to translate consumer insights into thoughtful narratives and graphic storytelling.
• Strong visual and verbal presentation skills; able to effectively show and communicate design intent to internal and external audiences.
• Professional-level experience using Illustrator, Photoshop, and Miro.