Lead, Energy Whitespace Materials Design

Nike; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike’s Energy White Space design team seeks a Lead Material and Color Designer who can shape the next generation of footwear and apparel. You’ll drive material language, color systems, and trim concepts that fuse performance with cultural relevance.

You’ll lead collaborations with internal designers and external partners, mentor teammates, and translate consumer insights into bold, disruptive design across new products while maintaining Nike’s edge and authenticity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or related field.
• 5–7 years designing innovative footwear, apparel, or related products.
• Experience translating insights into product solutions and narratives.
• Knowledge of form, color, and materials to elevate consumer experience.
• Strong design tool proficiency: Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D design software.

Responsibilities

• Trailblaze the future of Nike Design across materials and color.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners from concept to execution.
• Create a unique material and color language across the work.
• Contribute to trim creation and design point of view.
• Lead, mentor, and onboard design teammates.

Skills

Footwear design

Color/materials knowledge

3D design

Prototyping

Knit design

Presentation skills

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

AI tools

Keynote

PowerPoint

Acrobat

2D tech packs

Job description

Who We Are Looking For

We’re seeking an exceptional Lead Material and Color Designer for Energy White Space. At White Space, our mission is to future proof the brand when it comes to design. And for that we need to create products/projects that excite the next generation of top athletes and designers to come work with us to trailblaze and shape the future of Nike Design. Driving edge and innovation for Nike design.

Who We Are Looking For

We’re seeking an exceptional Lead Material and Color Designer for Energy White Space. At White Space, our mission is to future proof the brand when it comes to design. And for that we need to create products/projects that excite the next generation of top athletes and designers to come work with us to trailblaze and shape the future of Nike Design. Driving edge and innovation for Nike design.

You have a high level of taste and are fluent in different ways of working with high-caliber partners, co-creating and building trust along the way. You’re a curious observer, a problem solver, and a cultural sponge, constantly seeking insights to push material and color to the next level.

With a visionary eye for design and a fearless approach to innovation, you create work that disrupts, excites, and redefines. You think differently. You think conceptually. You thrive in collaboration, seamlessly translating between our world and that of external partners to deliver something entirely new, both in performance and aesthetics.

What You Will Work On

You’ll be trailblazing the future of Nike Design, focusing on serving the athlete* within and beyond our usual product propositions while bringing together innovation and cultural relevance.

Working closely with your White Space teammates, the broader internal team, and external partners, you’ll take ideas from concept through execution. You’ll craft a unique material and color language that brings edge and relevance across the work. You’ll also contribute to trim creation, helping to create a holistic design point of view.

Who You Will Work With

You’ll collaborate with some of the most creative and innovative minds across external partners, internal designers, developers, product managers, and engineers, bringing fresh ideas to life from concept to market.

You’ll take part in conversations that push boundaries. As a key voice in the creative process, you’ll inspire teams and communities while championing innovation at every step.

You will report to the Energy White Space Director.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING?

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, related field, or will accept equivalent combination of education, experience or training
• 5-7 years’ experience designing and developing innovative footwear, apparel and other products
• Knowledge of form, color, materials, human factors, related to elevating the consumer experience
• Ability to translate consumer knowledge and insights into product solutions and narratives
• Experience in technical footwear and apparel design
• Experience in knit design
• Strong Photoshop, Illustrator, AI creation tools skills
• Must be able to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs)
• Prototyping skills are a plus
• 3D design program experience is a plus
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
• Knowledge and experience with sustainable design and manufacturing are a plus
• Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, etc.
• Ability and passion to lead, mentor, and onboard Design teammates
• Contribute and align to shared team culture and behaviors
• Catalyst to make connections with other Design groups
• Motivated and hardworking about bringing others along
• Extraordinary and humble teammate.
• Collaborator with skill in connecting the dots
• Speaks up with courage for self and the team
• Open-minded, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view
• True passion for design, problem solving, strategic thinking, and high level of curiosity.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.