Lead Designer, Core Studio Performance Footwear Color Design

The Lead Colour Designer shapes the future of Nike Performance Footwear through powerful, consumer-driven colour strategy, storytelling, and innovative colour execution. The role leads colour direction across multiple key performance franchises, influencing how athletes connect with product and how the brand comes to life on a global stage. The designer works with the Senior Manager and the Core Studio Footwear Colour Design team to plan and execute designs, strategise the use of palettes across a range of product, and own work at the franchise level.

• Lead and execute franchise-level colour vision across the Core Performance Footwear portfolio in partnership with Design leadership.
• Define and drive colour strategy across key performance footwear franchises, creating impactful seasonal colour stories and cohesive product journeys.
• Develop colour solutions that strengthen consumer connection and fuel business growth.
• Identify new opportunities to build colour narratives that amplify product innovation and strengthen brand expression.
• Partner closely with Design, Product Management, Merchandising, Development, and Graphics to create seamless and compelling product and stories.
• Identify emerging cultural, consumer, and marketplace opportunities and trends to influence future colour direction.
• Mentor, inspire, and model excellence for a team of colour designers, fostering creativity, excellence, and growth.
• Drive strategic thinking around colour application, palette architecture, and storytelling to create meaningful consumer impact and influence brand direction.
• Plan and execute designs with the Senior Manager and Core Studio Footwear Colour Design team, strategising the use of palettes across a range of product.

• Bachelor's degree in Design or a related field; any suitable combination of education, experience, and training will be accepted.
• Minimum 4–6 years of technically challenging colour design experience.
• Understanding of colour trends and technical colour knowledge as related to product creation, colour compatibility, and colour application.
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to manage complexity across multiple product lines, ensuring colour execution is intentional, accurate, and consistent from concept through commercialisation.
• Demonstrated rigour in colour application, storytelling, and product review processes while maintaining a high standard of design excellence.
• Familiarity with product manufacturing processes including materials and fabrics, trims, and dye techniques.
• Strong verbal, written, visual, and high-profile communication skills in the local market language, including meeting facilitation and presentations.
• Ability to understand challenges or underlying concerns, share ideas, and develop effective responses or elevate them to higher management.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and harmoniously in a diverse group.
• Ability to network, influence, and utilise internal and external resources, and to articulate how colour can affect product and sales.
• Deep passion for sport, culture, and innovation, with the ability to translate insights into compelling colour narratives that elevate product and build brand distinction.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to identify opportunities, assess and initiate priorities and new avenues for consumer impact, and drive alignment across a diverse set of cross-functional partners.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Strong colour and apparel industry insights and experience building stories that connect with the consumer and culture.
• Broad understanding of consumer needs, competitor products, consumer retail habits, colour, and market trends, applied as insights into colour solutions.