Lead, Brand Creative Retail, Seasonless Story Design, NA

PHK, North America

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Under the direction of a Design Director and a Sr Manager, and in partnership with Store Designers, Retail Producers and cross-functional peers, you will realize innovative, original retail environments, displays and digital solutions for retail stores. You will collaborate with internal and external design teams to complete multiple projects and ensure the creative intent, design results, timelines and budgets are met.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike seeks a Lead-level Story Designer for Retail: an innovator who will support and develop consumer-led retail concepts and drive the evolution of the Nike retail business. A creative, collaborative, and strategic teammate who develops impactful and scalable design solutions for immersive retail environments and experiences.

The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in both 2D and 3D spatial design, with the ability to seamlessly integrate graphics, materials, fixtures, lighting, digital experiences, and environmental storytelling into holistic retail environments. They are constantly exploring new possibilities in immersive design and creating solutions that elevate Nike’s brand standards and enhance the consumer retail experience.

You have a proven track record of leveraging emerging technologies to create engaging spaces, meaningful consumer interactions, and memorable brand experiences.

You are comfortable working across multiple design disciplines, including Environmental Graphic Design, Spatial Design, Multimedia Art, Fixture Design, Material Exploration, and Digital Experiences.

You are a strong visual thinker who can ideate innovative concepts, communicate ideas clearly through sketches and visualizations, and remain hands-on throughout the design process. You have a deep understanding of the entire design lifecycle—from concept development through production and execution—including material specifications, technical drawing packages, fabrication methods, construction processes, and installation requirements.

Most importantly, you are a highly collaborative partner who thrives in cross-functional environments, builds strong relationships, and works effectively with internal teams, agency partners, fabricators, and vendors to bring innovative concepts to life.

• Minimum of 8+ years of progressive, technically sophisticated design experience in graphic, experiential, interior, or brand design and a demonstrated ability to apply these skills in ways that elevate brand excellence. 2+ years of people leadership is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, graphic design or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education and experience, and training.
• A passion for the Athlete*, Sport, and Culture.
• Demonstrated strength in managing a design studio in the delivery of progressively complex projects of varying scales, budgets, and timelines.
• 6+ years of progressive, technically sophisticated design experience in architectural design, environmental graphic design, experiential design or brand design and a demonstrated ability to apply these skills in ways that elevate brand excellence.
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, architecture, industrial design, spatial design, environmental design, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• A passion for the Athlete*, Sport, and Culture.
• Demonstrated strength in operating in a design studio and delivering progressively complex projects of varying scales, budgets, and timelines.
• Expert-level design skills in concept development, ideation, visualization, drawing/sketching, typography, color theory, material exploration, environmental graphics, and spatial design.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate immersive 2D and 3D retail experiences through presentation materials, space planning, and storytelling.
• Strong knowledge of current trends in color, graphic design, art, photography, architecture and experience design — and their application to the sport industry.
• Strong knowledge of production design, fabrication, materiality, and emerging manufacturing trends.
• Strategic thinking and adept at connecting the dots across multiple approaches and outputs.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage ambiguity and create compelling solutions when the way forward is not always clear.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to present new concepts and designs to small and large groups, including presenting to executive leaders and external partners.
• Proven ability to manage multiple and competing work priorities, demands and changes.
• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence, align, and work effectively across diverse cross-functional teams, leadership levels, agency partners, fabricators, and vendors.
• Proven success working in highly collaborative and fast-paced environments.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with a highly developed ability to cultivate relationships in an open, positive and inclusive environment.
• A sense of humor, positivity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• A strong portfolio of relevant work.
• Demonstrated expertise using computer design applications including SketchUp, Enscape, Figma, Keynote, Miro, and Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with motion graphics, video-editing, Auto CAD, Cinema 4D, Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray is a plus. 

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

• Support and partner with the Design Director and Sr. Design Manager to adapt, extend and execute the Seasonless Story Design vision and strategy across the Nike stores portfolio.
• Lead a design process of clear ideation focusing on exploration of consumer journey, brand experiences, color, materiality, texture, proportion, scale, and environmental storytelling of sport worlds to create immersive retail concepts in both 2D and 3D environments.
• Ensure project goals and priorities align with Nike retail brand and business strategies.
• Constantly seek new and innovative approaches to storytelling through 2D and 3D spatial design solution including graphics, fixtures, styling, lighting, sculpture, photography, motion, video, animation, emerging technologies, and more.
• Develop standards for consistent execution throughout projects.
• Develop presentation materials that effectively communicate design concepts to all levels of leadership and partners.
• Collaborate with Store Designers, Retail Producers, internal partners (Brand, Retail Brand, Visual Merchandising, Brand Creative, Real Estate, Store Concepts, Construction) and external partners to ensure feasibility of designs and functional needs are met.
• Actively gain knowledge and contribute to the development of Nike’s brand standards, design ethos, products and processes.
• Contribute to education and inspiration, sharing knowledge and exposure to current and future trends influencing the innovation of consumer experiences and technology.
• Champion a collaborative culture across project teams and the Retail Design organization, fostering alignment, creativity, knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving. Foster innovative thinking, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Lead projects through the complete design lifecycle, from strategic concept development and ideation through design development, technical detailing, production, fabrication, installation, and execution, ensuring design intent, quality, timelines, and budgets are achieved.
• Develop and review specification drawings, material packages, production documentation, and fabrication details to ensure design intent is effectively translated into buildable solutions.

You may travel 10-20% of the time

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.