WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
This is an individual contributor role reporting to the North America Express Lane Footwear Design Director. You will work directly with the NAEL Footwear Design Team, including Color, Graphic, and Material Designers, as well as Product Management and Development partners. You will also collaborate with Apparel counterparts to build cohesive head-to-toe expressions across Footwear and Apparel. In addition, you will connect with Express Lane design teams across other geographies and engage with Global Color, Material, and Graphics teams to align on strategy, insights, and execution.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a Footwear Color and Material Designer II to drive seasonal storytelling and product execution for the North America marketplace. This role calls for someone who can balance creativity with discipline, using color and material design to deliver a premium, culturally connected, and trend-relevant point of view.
As part of a cross-functional team, the designer will collaborate closely with design, product management, and development partners to translate seasonal insights into thoughtful palettes, material stories, and consumer-right application choices. They will help craft and communicate a clear creative vision rooted in North America trends, consumer insight, and Nike’s standards of design excellence. Success in this role requires curiosity, clarity, and the ability to stay connected to the consumer while driving creative and commercial impact across multiple product lines.
EXPERIENCE
BA/BFA/MA/MFA preferred (but not required) in graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, material design, textile design or a related field.
3–4 years of experience in a design environment with a focus on color, materials, and/or trend.
**TO BE CONSIDERED, YOU MUST SUBMIT A CREATIVE DESIGN PORTFOLIO. PLEASE PROVIDE WEBSITE LINKS OR ATTACH PDF WHEN YOU APPLY
Key Responsibilities and Skills
Creative + Strategic Design Execution
- 3–4 years of experience in a design environment with a focus on color, materials, and/or trend
- Strong understanding of material types, surface applications, and how finishes, graphics, and textures influence color effects.
- Ability to develop and apply color palettes and seasonal direction in collaboration with Design Directors and category partners.
- Demonstrates potential to integrate design thinking with merchandising and strategic intent.
- Passion for innovation and experimentation across materials, finishes, and digital design tools.
Product Creation Process + Technical Acumen
- Contributes to the seasonal product creation process with accuracy and timeliness.
- Reviews samples for color accuracy and material execution; identifies and troubleshoots achievability issues.
- Familiarity with the end-to-end footwear or apparel product creation process is a plus.
- Experience working with cross-functional partners to align on product vision, timelines, and technical constraints.
Collaboration + Communication
- Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills; able to present ideas clearly and with impact.
- Strong team player who proactively builds relationships across design, development, and merchandising.
- Open to feedback and multiple points of view; supports team culture by uplifting others and contributing to a collaborative environment.
- Courage to speak up and advocate for both creative integrity and functional solutions.
Tools + Technical Proficiency
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and Keynote on Mac.
- Strong digital fluency; curious about and eager to adopt emerging tools like 3D and AI design platforms.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple seasons, timelines, and priorities simultaneously.
Mindset + Behaviors
- Self-starter with a growth mindset; motivated, curious, and eager to learn.
- Brings energy, optimism, and accountability to every phase of the process
- Contributes to a diverse, inclusive, and creatively driven environment.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
As a Designer II in Color and Material Design for Footwear, you will support seasonal product creation through strong creative instincts, trend awareness, and curiosity for material and color innovation. You will translate North America consumer insights and seasonal strategies into compelling product stories by building palettes, CADs, and material narratives that align with category direction and Nike’s brand standards. In partnership with the broader design team, you will plan and execute seasonal color and material details, review samples for accuracy and achievability, and clearly communicate changes to ensure timely delivery. You will maintain seasonal looks and product updates while also contributing to broader team initiatives outside of your assigned product load. Through consistent market research across fashion, art, design, and sport, you will stay connected to culture and ensure your work reflects current trends and evolving consumer needs. Your ability to collaborate and manage multiple timelines will be key to bringing Nike innovation and storytelling to life.
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.