WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This is an individual contributor opportunity reporting to the NA Footwear Design Director and involves working directly with the NA Footwear Design Team and the NA Footwear Product Management and Development teams. The Footwear Lead Designer will also collaborate with an Apparel Lead Graphic Design counterpart to concept head-to-toe Footwear and Apparel expressions. They will also be accountable to Express Lane Design and Business Leadership, Jordan Brand Creative Leadership, and Jordan Brand Business stakeholders.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for a Lead Footwear Designer, Color, Graphics & Materials, who will work with a cross-functional team of design, product management, and development partners. The ideal candidate is a creative who understands how to deliver story and style. Through the design of Footwear product, this role will create industry leading FW collections that connect with local consumer expression through authentic local narratives. The Lead Designer will be a versatile creative problem solver who excels under tight deadlines, has a strong understanding of emerging design and fashion trends, and extensive knowledge of footwear construction, color theory, graphic creation, materials and trims to create highly covetable product that connects to the Streetwear and Lifestyle consumer in their local market. They have an eye for detail and motivation to craft premium product. This role has a unique opportunity to drive hyperlocal narrative and a holistic vision for style that resonates with Streetwear and Lifestyle consumers in the North American (NA) geography. This designer will be an active and energetic participant in the creative process and have excellent cross-functional communication skills, presenting design concepts to internal and external audiences and executing complex deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

Experience:

• TO BE CONSIDERED, YOU MUST SUBMIT A CREATIVE DESIGN PORTFOLIO. PLEASE PROVIDE WEBSITE LINKS OR ATTACH PDF FILES WHEN YOU APPLY.
• +7 years relevant work experience in Color Design, Material Design, Graphic Design, Product Design in agency or in-house setting.
• BA/BFA/MA/MFA preferred in graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, material design, textile design or a related field or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Foundational understanding of Footwear construction, color and material and trim development, schematic development and tech pack creation
• Understanding and ability to create Footwear Color & Material concepts that coordinate with a holistic head-to-toe design expression
• Strong leadership skills with ability to mentor and inspire other functional designers
• Effective communicator and collaborator with cross-functional partners
• Strategic thinker that can organize and inspire creative initiatives, and influence others
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines

• Passion for the Sport, Culture and Fashion
• Connection to contemporary art & design and streetwear trends
• Strong passion for research and gathering trend, cultural and market insights, and ability to translate consumer and Athlete* insights into thoughtful narratives and graphic storytelling
• Proven ability to create concepts, iterate and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary product and creative team in a fast-paced environment
• Creates Color and Material designs that are industry leading, trend right and that consistently incorporate consumer/athlete insights through powerful storytelling, emotional connectivity and relevance
• Produces presentation materials in conjunction with design and category teams that effectively communicate the concept behind the line for internal and external audiences
• Proficient ability to apply and perform color and graphic design skills, including drawing/sketching, typography, ideation, color theory, use of texture, spacing, and scale, visual presentation development and layout that is supported by a portfolio of non-computer-based creative art and graphic design
• Uses advanced design skills to create original color, material and/or textile designs that appropriately reflect Nike Brand design ethos
• Computer literate using Mac platforms with a high digital design acumen in design-based software (Creative Suite)
• Experience with 3D and AI Design tools is not required, but is a plus

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

If this is you, you will be helping to lead the NAEL Jordan Brand design team in creating unique, geo-specific collections across Men’s, Women’s and Kids footwear product on a seasonal basis. This will include setting distinct color, material and graphic direction, crafting hyperlocal narratives in the voice of the Jordan Brand, and executing highly crafted expressions on footwear product. The Lead Designer will work closely with Product Management teams to build engaging, trend-driven narratives that meet the needs of target consumers and will partner regularly with Development teams to communicate design intent, help with schematic creation and review and workshop prototypes. The ideal candidate will also be responsible for managing and designing presentation materials and presenting concepts to teams and leadership.

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.