Lead, Energy Whitespace Materials Design

Nike Inc; Beaverton, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. seeks a Lead Material and Color Designer for Energy White Space in Beaverton, OR. You will craft a distinct material and color language, collaborate across teams, and push innovative design that excites athletes and designers alike.

You will lead projects from concept to market, mentor teammates, and contribute to trim creation while aligning with our global design strategy. This role demands vision, collaboration, and a fearless approach to innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field or equivalent
• 5-7 years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear, apparel and other products
• Strong knowledge of form, color, materials and human factors
• Ability to translate consumer insights into product solutions and narratives
• Experience with technical footwear and apparel design and knit design
• Prototyping skills are a plus
• 3D design program experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Trailblaze the future of Nike Design, focusing on athlete-centric concepts
• Collaborate with internal and external partners from concept to market
• Craft a unique material and color language across projects
• Contribute to trim creation and holistic design viewpoints
• Lead, mentor and onboard Design teammates

Skills

Footwear design

Color theory

Materials science

3D design

Prototyping

Mentoring

Collaboration

Visual storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

AI creative tools

Keynote/PowerPoint

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.

You have ahigh level of tasteand 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 betrailblazing 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 totrim 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 partinconversations 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 theEnergy 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.