WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for an outstanding Lead Footwear Materials Designer to combine their experience, problem solving abilities, and creativity to help build the future of Nike Footwear Materials. The category you will be working in is the Women’s Energy Runway Team.

The ideal candidate needs to be an independent leader steering the Material Design strategy within the team. They will be a highly creative problem solver, who doesn’t settle for anything less than the best design and material solutions, to meet the needs of the consumer on and off the field of play. This person will be focused on elevating the consumer experience by crafting materials that are performance and trend-relevant for a range of products, while driving an emotional connection to materials for the consumer through the use of narrative and storytelling. A passion for driving Nike’s purpose initiatives around sustainability and people are a must!

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

Your day-to-day job will be working on a wide range of Women’s Energy Runway products. You will be working on a range of technically complex material designs using the latest techniques all the way to curating and elevating existing materials for refresh and collection models.

Your work encompasses concepting and ideating through finalizing tech packs, as well as working with manufacturing partners, and at times communicating directly with athletes; the daily responsibilities of this role are wide ranging, challenging, and rewarding.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

You will be partnering with the Nike FW Industrial Design, Color Design, Graphic Design, Digital Design, marketing and Development teams, in bringing to life the seasonal creative direction through Footwear Materials design and innovation. You will be joining a team with one existing Materials Senior Designer with whom you will collaborate and divide workload. You will be senior to this individual, but not directly manage them.This role report directly to the Women’s Sportswear Materials Designer Director.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in design, art or related field; fashion design, product design, industrial design, accessory and footwear design, or textile design or other relevant design field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ideally 5-7 years of relevant design experience exemplifying ability to push material design, and/or proven experience in Textile Design or Footwear Design. Will also accept a master’s degree and at least 1 year of experience in Textile or Footwear Design.
• Ability to translate consumer knowledge/insights to narratives and product executions.
• Ability to leverage manufacturing process to elevate new ideas, process, and materials.
• Experience building 3D samples and crafting mockup samples by hand.
• Highly organized and self-sufficient, with a desire to lead a team.
• Experience working and communicating directly with manufacturing partners to ensure the accuracy of intent and Materials executions.
• Ability to create and edit files using Adobe programs including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Ability in participating in multiple seasonal projects with challenging resources and deadlines.
• Understanding of the Footwear Product Creation process, a plus.
• Active and proficient participant in the creative process and cross-functional communication
• Confidently communicates and presents design concepts to internal and external audiences.
• Collaboration and cross-functional communication with key partners
• Having a passion for the culture of the sports in which you will be Designing product.

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.