Lead Designer, Core Studio Performance Footwear Color Design

Nike Inc; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking a Lead Color Designer to shape color strategy for performance footwear.

You will drive color narratives and seasonal stories that connect with athletes and consumers while coordinating with Design leadership, Product Marketing, Merchandising, and Development to deliver cohesive brand experiences. As a strategic leader, you will mentor a team of color designers and push for innovative color solutions across multiple franchises, ensuring execution is accurate from concept to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Design or related field; diverse education acceptable.
• 4–6 years of technically challenging color design experience.
• Understanding of color trends and color application in product creation.
• Attention to detail across multiple product lines for consistent color execution.
• Familiarity with materials/fabrics, trims, and dye techniques.
• Strong verbal and written communication with cross‑functional partners.
• Ability to network, influence, and articulate color impact on product and sales.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive color strategy across Nike Core Performance Footwear franchises.
• Create impactful seasonal color stories and cohesive product journeys.
• Plan and execute designs with Senior Manager and Core Studio Footwear Color Design team.
• Own franchise-level color direction and collaborate with Design, Product Marketing, Merchandising, and Development.
• Mentor and develop a team of color designers to foster creativity and growth.
• Drive color application, palette architecture, and storytelling to influence brand direction.

Skills

Color design

Color storytelling

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Color trends

Color application

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

The first point of contact that you will collaborate with is the Design team, consisting of Footwear Product Design, Color, Materials, and Graphics. Layering in Design leadership, Product Marketing, Merchandising, Color/Material/Trim Development, as well as Tech Development.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for an exceptional Lead Color Designer to help shape the future of Nike Performance Footwear through powerful, consumer-driven color strategy, storytelling, and innovative color execution. This role is an opportunity to lead color direction across multiple key performance franchises, influencing how athletes connect with product and how the brand comes to life on a global stage.

The ideal candidate brings a deep passion for sport, culture, and innovation, with the ability to translate insights into compelling color narratives that elevate product and build brand distinction. They are a strategic thinker, collaborator, aspiring leader who can identify opportunities, assess and initiate priorities and new avenues for consumer impact. You are flexible, adaptable to changing priorities, drive alignment across a diverse set of cross-functional partners. You will bring strong color and apparel industry insights and have experience building stories that connect with the consumer and culture.

Here, you will strategize around product positioning and strive to create meaningful product. A broad understanding of consumer needs, competitor products, consumer retail habits, color, and market trends is important, as you apply these insights into color solutions.

• Bachelor's degree in Design, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• Minimum 4-6 years of technically challenging color design experience
• Understanding of color trends, technical color knowledge as related to product creation, color compatibility, and color application
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to manage complexity across multiple product lines, ensuring color execution is intentional, accurate, and consistent from concept through commercialization.
• Demonstrates rigor in color application, storytelling, and product review processes while maintaining a high standard of design excellence.
• Familiarity with product manufacturing processes including materials/fabrics; trims; dye techniques
• Strong verbal, written, visual, and high-profile communication skills in local market language, including meeting facilitation and presentations
• Ability to understand challenges or underlying concerns, share ideas and develop effective responses or elevate to higher management; work independently, collaboratively. and harmoniously in a diverse group
• Ability to network, influence, and utilize internal and external resources as well as to articulate how color can affect product and sales

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

As our Lead Designer, you will define and drive color strategy across some of Nike’s most important performance footwear franchises. You will create impactful seasonal color stories, build cohesive product journeys, and develop color solutions that strengthen consumer connection and fuel business growth.

You will work with the Senior Manager and Core Studio Footwear Color Design team to plan and execute designs, strategize use of palettes across a range of product, and get the opportunity to own work at the franchise level for one of the most exciting and impactful categories at the Nike. Working collaboratively with Design, Product Marketing, Merchandising, and Development, you will create focused solutions for success.

You will:

• Work with Design leadership to lead and execute franchise-level color vision across the Core Performance Footwear portfolio, one of the most exciting and impactful portfolios at the brand.
• Identify new opportunities to build color narratives that amplify product innovation and strengthen brand expression.
• Partner closely with Design, Product Management, Merchandising, Development, Graphics, partners to create seamless and compelling product and stories.
• Identify emerging cultural, consumer, and marketplace opportunities and trends to influence future color direction.
• Mentor, inspire, and model excellence for a team of color designers, fostering creativity, excellence, and growth.
• Drive strategic thinking around color application, palette architecture, and storytelling to create meaningful consumer impact and influence brand direction.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how Nike Performance Footwear shows up in the marketplace-creating color strategies that not only energize iconic franchises but also help define the future of the brand and make an impact across the business.