Lead Designer, Graphic Design

Nike; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike SKIMS is seeking a Lead Designer, Graphic Design in Los Angeles to turn culture and style insights into product-relevant graphic design for women’s sport and movement. You’ll design head-to-toe graphics and branding, collaborating with teams across footwear, apparel, and product development to reinforce the NikeSKIMS Design Ethos.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in graphic design, 5–7+ years of experience in apparel/footwear, a top portfolio, and mastery of Adobe CC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field.
• 5+ years of graphic design experience in apparel/footwear.
• Strong portfolio across footwear and apparel.
• Proficient in typography, print, pattern, and brand identity.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal teams including Footwear, Color and Apparel Designers, Developers, and Product Line Managers.
• Collaborate across teams to deliver creative solutions aligned with the NikeSKIMS Design Ethos.
• Manage deadlines, ensure design feasibility, and build consensus around design work.
• Execute the design and development of head-to-toe graphics and branding elements.
• Translate insights into product-relevant graphics for apparel and footwear.
• Maintain a hands-on approach across product creation, ideation, and product development.
• Work across product categories, supporting trend discovery and experiential direction, and contributing to product storytelling and graphic language.

Skills

Footwear

Apparel

Graphic design

Branding

Typography

Adobe CC

3D design tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design

Tools

Adobe CC

Schematic tools

Sketching

3D design tools

Job description

The Lead Designer, Graphic Design role at NIKE SKIMS focuses on developing head-to-toe graphics and branding elements for women’s sport and movement. The position turns culture and style insights into product-relevant graphic design, working closely with internal partners across product and design under the NikeSKIMS Design Ethos.

Location

Los Angeles, California, United States (onsite)

Compensation

USD 108,500 - 220,400 per yearly

Role Responsibilities

• Partner with internal teams including Footwear, Color and Apparel Designers, Developers, and Product Line Managers.
• Collaborate across multiple teams to deliver creative solutions in line with the NikeSKIMS Design Ethos.
• Manage deadlines, ensure design feasibility, and build consensus around design work.
• Execute the design and development of head-to-toe graphics and branding elements.
• Translate insights into product-relevant graphics for apparel and footwear.
• Maintain a hands-on approach across product creation, ideation, and product development.
• Work across product categories, supporting trend discovery and experiential direction, and contributing to product storytelling and graphic language.

What You Will Need

• Experience as a Graphic Designer with strong foundations across footwear, apparel, accessories, and lifestyle, able to drive graphic design expression across pillars within the Energy category construct.
• Team-oriented work style, contributing at a high level and owning key bodies of work, seasonal moments, and special projects.
• Highly organized systems thinking, comfortable working in ambiguity while managing multiple timelines and work streams, and navigating cross-functional constraints with clarity and momentum.
• Cultural curiosity and fluency, informed by design, music, fashion, sport, and emerging creative communities, using observation and insight rather than trend-chasing.
• A strong, well-curated graphic design portfolio demonstrating excellence in research, concept development, visual storytelling, process, and final execution.
• Portfolio must include both individual craft and collaborative work across complex projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and training.
• 5-7+ years of relevant graphic design experience (apparel/footwear).
• Strong taste level and understanding of current and emerging design influence and visual culture.
• Lead-level skills across ideation, design development, specification, and final execution, with knowledge of typography, print and pattern, sketching, illustration, brand identity, and visual systems across product and storytelling platforms.
• Proficiency in graphic applications, development, PR and schematic tools, and the apparel product creation process.
• Ability to work across multiple timelines and complexity levels, prioritizing short- and long-term projects while maintaining creative excellence and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to create concepts, iterate, and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary product and creative team in a fast-paced environment.
• Resilient, solutions-oriented approach that adapts quickly to shifting business needs without sacrificing creative integrity.
• High proficiency in Adobe CC is required.
• Familiarity with 3D design tools is a plus; willingness to learn is expected.
• Interest in team development, with self-awareness and the ability to reflect on strengths, growth areas, and learnings in support of others.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field

Experience Level

5 years minimum experience

Technology

• Adobe CC