Lead Designer

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for a Lead Designer in Footwear Color to combine their experience, problem solving abilities, and creativity to help build the future of Nike By You. The ideal candidate needs to elevate the Nike consumer’s footwear customization experience with a focus on both the art & science of Color. In this role, you will drive an emotional connection to footwear through the use of narrative and storytelling.  The ideal candidate needs to be a self starter, a highly creative problem solver, able to move quickly in a complex, dynamic, collaborative environment with interest to learn. You are eager to challenge the status quo, travel for consumer insights and product creation, embrace the unknown, and push boundaries in order to create industry-leading solutions that meet the needs of each athlete*. You are motivated to elevate our consumer’s experience by being on the cutting edge of trend, culture, sport, style, and have a passion for creating narratives and palettes that are innovative, distinct, benefit-driven and trend-relevant for a range of products. You are passionate about excellence and ensuring the emotional connection of our product for the consumer through the use of customization and storytelling!

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

As the Footwear Lead Color Designer in NBY, you will bring to life trend-relevant, narrative-driven concepts by being a color specialist at the product and collection level. This will require driving product excellence through the connection of design, development and manufacturing. Through research and deep consumer understanding, you will be on the cutting edge of color trends, fashion, art, design and sports-related products. You will lead a color team that delievers seasonal stories that are customizable by our Nike *athlete online, and includes both performance and lifestyle footwear.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

This role does not have direct reports and works directly with the Director of Design for NBY, as well as collaborate with a senior color designer and production assistant. You’ll gain dynamic leadership experience, enhance design skills, and increase expertise of Nike’s design philosophy, products, and processes. On a day to day basis you will be working with a wide-range of internal partners including Footwear Color Designers, Footwear Designers, Material Designers, Developers, and Product Line Managers.

WHAT YOU BRING

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion, Materials, Graphics, or other relevant design field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred design experience 5-7 years

EXPERIENCE:

• Expert in creating and editing files using Adobe programs including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign as well as Miro
• Ability to translate consumer knowledge/insights to narratives and product executions.
• Understanding of color / material trends, compatibility, and color placement
• Knowledge of product design and development process
• Excellent verbal, written, visual, and high-profile communication skills in local market language, including meeting facilitation and presentations a plus
• Ability to understand challenges or underlying concerns, share ideas and develop effective responses
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively in a diverse group
• Ability to network, influence and utilize internal and external resources
• Ability to articulate how color and material can affect product and sales
• High taste level / interest in culturally relevant design executions and details
• Ability to create concepts and explore new innovations and technologies and ideas.
• Experience building inspiration/concept presentations, and mood boards for seasonal concepts and direction.
• Meticulous attention to detail along with interest in higher level strategic thinking
• Participates in the communication and presentation of design concepts to internal and external audiences
• Talent for collaborating and building interpersonal connections with design and adjacent functions.
• Understanding of Footwear Product Creation process, a plus.
• Shows ability to self-manage and lead team through change and ambiguity.
• 10-15% travel nationally and internationally