Lead, Product Designer, Apparel +, ENERGY WHITE SPACE

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead, Product Designer, Apparel +, ENERGY WHITE SPACE Company: Nike Location: Beaverton, Oregon, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Apparel & Product Design Operations Date Posted: December 04, 2025 Experience Level: 6+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• This Lead Product Designer role is pivotal in shaping the future of Nike's Apparel and Product Design, focusing on "Energy White Space" initiatives.
• The position demands a high taste level and the ability to co-create and build trust with external partners and internal teams to drive cutting-edge innovation.
• The role requires a deep understanding of cultural relevancy, trend analysis, and visual culture to implement future technological breakthroughs in apparel.
• This is a hands-on design role focused on concept development, product creation, and ensuring aesthetic and performance excellence within a dynamic and collaborative environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title "Lead, Product Designer, Apparel +, ENERGY WHITE SPACE" suggests a creative design focus, the operations context is derived from the need to manage and execute innovative product initiatives, requiring structured processes, cross-functional collaboration, and a strategic approach to bringing new concepts to market. The "White Space" aspect implies exploring new territories, which necessitates robust operational planning for research, development, and integration into Nike's broader product ecosystem.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and design of innovative apparel and product lines within "Energy White Space" initiatives, focusing on future opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with external partners, internal designers, developers, product managers, and engineers to translate visionary ideas into tangible products.
• Implement technological breakthroughs and ensure their cultural relevancy and performance excellence for the next generation of athletes and designers.
• Craft detailed product specifications, including construction, materials, and graphic applications, from concept through to market-ready execution.
• Present design concepts and strategies effectively to diverse stakeholders, utilizing a variety of formats to communicate vision and rationale.
• Actively seek out and integrate emerging trends, visual culture insights, and new ways of working to elevate Nike’s product offerings.
• Foster an inclusive environment that highlights and elevates diverse points of view in the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are inferred to include managing the end-to-end product design lifecycle for innovative concepts, which inherently involves operational planning for research, prototyping, collaboration management, and cross-functional alignment. The emphasis on "trail blazing" and "implementing technological breakthroughs" suggests a need for structured innovation processes and project management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Apparel/Fashion Design or a related field; or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training. Experience: 6+ years of relevant work experience in apparel product creation, industrial design, or graphic application.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in Apparel Design and Product Design principles.
• Demonstrated passion for and understanding of current trends and visual culture.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (CC).
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, adaptable to various formats.
• Ability to seek out and integrate opportunities to elevate apparel through craft and construction.
• Experience in collaborating effectively with both external partners and internal cross-functional teams.
• Strong ability to build trust and co-create with high-caliber partners.
• A curious and observant mindset, eager to solve problems in unexpected ways.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of industrial design principles and graphic application techniques.
• Experience working within new digital spaces and emerging technologies.
• A proactive approach to discovering new talent and identifying cultural influences for a global brand.
• Proven ability to foster an environment of inclusivity and elevate diverse perspectives.
• Conceptual thinking and a fearless approach to innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "6+ years of relevant work experience" and a Bachelor's degree suggests a mid-to-senior level role. The emphasis on "expert communication and presentation skills" and "demonstrated passion for trend and visual culture" points towards a need for not just design execution but also strategic vision and advocacy. Proficiency in Adobe CC is a standard technical requirement, while comfort in "new digital spaces" hints at a forward-looking approach to design tools and platforms, requiring adaptability and continuous learning.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a strong taste level and a diverse range of apparel and product design projects, with a clear emphasis on innovation and conceptual thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas and cultural insights into compelling product designs.
• Examples of projects that highlight a deep understanding of apparel construction, material innovation, and aesthetic execution.
• Evidence of successful collaboration with external partners or cross-functional teams, showcasing the ability to build trust and co-create.
• Documentation or case studies of how design decisions were informed by trend analysis, visual culture, or emerging technologies.

Process Documentation:

• The ability to articulate the design process from initial concept ideation through to product development and refinement.
• Demonstrate how you have sought out and integrated opportunities to elevate apparel through craft and construction in past projects.
• Showcase how you have fostered an inclusive design environment and elevated diverse points of view.
• Provide examples of how you have leveraged Adobe CC and potentially other digital tools to bring designs to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role, especially one focused on "White Space" innovation, a portfolio is critical. It serves as the primary tool to assess taste level, conceptual depth, and execution capability. The emphasis on collaboration and sourcing influence suggests a need for projects that demonstrate these soft skills alongside technical design prowess.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer with 6+ years of experience in a major metropolitan area like Beaverton, Oregon, the estimated salary range is $120,000 - $170,000 per year. This can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final scope of the role within Nike's compensation structure.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching (e.g., 401(k)).
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Employee discounts on Nike products.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuing education.
• Wellness programs and resources.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, flexibility may be offered based on project needs and team collaboration requirements, though core hours will likely be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on similar Lead Product Designer roles in the Beaverton, Oregon area, considering the experience level (6+ years) and the prestige of the company (Nike). Benefits are standard for a large, reputable corporation like Nike and are tailored to attract and retain high-caliber talent in creative and design fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports and Athletic Apparel & Footwear Manufacturing. Nike operates within a highly competitive global market, driving innovation in performance, style, and sustainability. Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This implies a structured organization with established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for global impact. Founded: 1964. Nike has a rich history of innovation and brand building, fostering a culture that values performance, creativity, and pushing boundaries.

Team Structure:

• The "Energy White Space" team is likely a specialized, innovation-focused unit, potentially smaller and more agile than core product lines.
• This role reports to the Energy White Space Director, indicating a clear leadership hierarchy within this specific innovation group.
• Collaboration is expected across various internal departments (design, product development, marketing, engineering) and with external partners, requiring strong stakeholder management.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on a data-informed and culturally relevant approach to design, balancing athlete insights with emerging trends.
• A process that encourages exploration, experimentation, and rapid prototyping to test new concepts.
• A strong focus on collaboration and co-creation to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise.

Company Website: https://www.nike.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Nike's culture is renowned for its emphasis on innovation, athletic performance, and pushing creative limits. The "Energy White Space" initiative suggests a department dedicated to forward-thinking, disruptive ideas, likely operating with a blend of structured innovation processes and creative freedom, characteristic of established companies exploring new frontiers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Product Designer. This signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant design responsibility and influence, often mentoring junior designers and leading specific projects or design streams. The role requires a high degree of autonomy and creative leadership within its domain.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Energy White Space. This indicates a close working relationship with senior leadership within the innovation arm of Nike, providing direct exposure to strategic decision-making.

Operations Impact: This role has the potential for significant operational impact by identifying and developing the next generation of Nike's product offerings. Success in "Energy White Space" can directly influence future in-line product strategies, market positioning, and brand perception, driving future revenue streams and innovation leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of apparel innovation, material science, or emerging technology integration within design.
• Leadership: Progress into a Design Director role, managing larger teams or broader innovation portfolios within Nike.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Transition into related roles such as Senior Product Manager, Innovation Lead, or even strategic brand management, leveraging design insights.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning through industry conferences, workshops, and internal Nike training programs focused on design, technology, and market trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title and reporting structure to a Director suggest a role with substantial responsibility and a clear path for further advancement within Nike's design and innovation leadership framework. The "White Space" focus implies opportunities to shape future product categories and strategies, offering high visibility and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at Nike's World Headquarters (WHQ) in Beaverton, Oregon. This typically means a dynamic, collaborative campus environment designed to foster creativity and innovation. Office Location(s): Beaverton, Oregon, United States. This location is Nike's global hub, offering access to state-of-the-art facilities, design studios, and a concentrated talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a highly collaborative studio environment with access to design labs, material libraries, and prototyping resources.
• The workspace will likely be equipped with advanced digital design tools, rendering software, and potentially VR/AR capabilities for design exploration.
• Opportunities for interaction with diverse teams, including product developers, material scientists, engineers, and marketing specialists, will be abundant.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, requiring presence on-site. While core hours will be expected for team collaboration and meetings, Nike often offers some flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and individual work styles within the on-site framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working on-site at Nike WHQ in Beaverton provides an immersive experience within a world-leading sports apparel and footwear company. The environment is designed to spark creativity and facilitate collaboration, which is crucial for a role focused on innovation and "white space" exploration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications for basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review: A critical step where candidates present their design portfolio, focusing on innovation, taste level, and problem-solving. Be prepared to walk through specific projects, discussing your process, rationale, and impact.
• Design Challenge: Candidates may be given a specific design brief or challenge to solve, testing conceptual thinking, trend awareness, and execution skills under time constraints.
• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Energy White Space Director, design team members, and potentially cross-functional partners to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and strategic thinking.
• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, vision, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your innovation, conceptual thinking, and ability to work in "white space" areas. Highlight projects involving apparel, material innovation, and cultural insights.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your process, your unique contribution, the challenges faced, and the outcome or impact. Focus on how you built trust and collaborated.
• Showcase Process: Include sketches, mood boards, 3D renderings, prototypes, and final product images. Explain your rationale behind design choices, material selection, and construction methods.
• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, include examples of projects where you successfully partnered with external entities or internal teams, detailing your role in co-creation and trust-building.
• Demonstrate Tech Proficiency: Showcase your skills with Adobe CC and any experience with emerging digital design tools relevant to apparel.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate challenges that require you to think conceptually about future apparel needs, cultural trends, or technological integrations for athletes.
• Practice articulating your design process and rationale concisely and persuasively.
• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building relationships with new external partners and fostering trust.
• Research Nike's current product lines, innovation efforts, and brand ethos to inform your responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Energy White Space," "external collaborators," and "building trust" suggests that interviewers will probe deeply into a candidate's ability to navigate ambiguity, foster relationships, and drive innovative concepts from inception to potential market introduction. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Essential proficiency, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating design assets, mockups, and presentations.
• 3D Design Software: Familiarity with tools like CLO 3D, Browzwear, or similar 3D apparel design software is highly beneficial for creating realistic prototypes and visualizations.
• CAD Software: Depending on the specific product focus, knowledge of relevant CAD tools for industrial design or pattern making may be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how to interpret market trend data, consumer insights, and performance metrics related to product adoption will be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but an understanding of how design integrates with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems or project management tools used by development teams is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is Adobe CC. However, given the role's focus on innovation and future product development, experience with 3D design software for apparel (like CLO 3D) is increasingly becoming a standard expectation for advanced product designers, enabling more efficient prototyping and visualization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to challenge the status quo and create groundbreaking products that redefine the industry.
• Athlete Centricity: A commitment to serving athletes* (*if you have a body, you are an athlete) by delivering performance-enhancing and inspiring products.
• Collaboration & Trust: Valuing strong partnerships, both internally and externally, built on mutual respect and shared vision.
• Inclusivity & Diversity: Actively seeking and celebrating diverse perspectives to enrich the creative process and product offerings.
• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to excellence in design execution, material innovation, and product construction.

Collaboration Style:

• Co-creation: A willingness to work collaboratively with external partners and internal teams, sharing ideas and building upon each other's contributions.
• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and the sharing of insights across disciplines.
• Agile Exploration: A flexible approach to problem-solving, allowing for iteration, experimentation, and adaptation as new insights emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Nike's core values are deeply embedded in its culture. For this "White Space" role, expect an emphasis on pushing boundaries, embracing diverse viewpoints, and fostering strong collaborative relationships to bring novel concepts to fruition.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining "White Space": Navigating ambiguity to identify and define genuinely new opportunities for Nike in apparel and product design.
• Securing Buy-in: Effectively communicating and championing innovative, potentially disruptive concepts to gain support from stakeholders and leadership.
• Balancing Innovation with Brand: Ensuring that novel designs align with Nike's core brand identity while also pushing creative boundaries.
• Managing External Partnerships: Building and maintaining strong, productive relationships with diverse external collaborators, ensuring alignment and shared vision.
• Translating Concepts to Scale: Developing designs that are not only innovative but also feasible for production and scalable for a global market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Immersive Trend Forecasting: Access to Nike's internal trend research and global insights teams to stay ahead of cultural and market shifts.
• Advanced Material & Technology Exploration: Opportunities to work with Nike's innovation labs and material science experts to integrate cutting-edge technologies.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining deep understanding of product development, manufacturing processes, and marketing strategies through close collaboration.
• Mentorship: Learning from senior design leaders and directors within Nike's extensive design organization.
• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend key industry events, conferences, and engage with emerging talent and design communities globally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Energy White Space" designation inherently implies operating in uncharted territory. Challenges will revolve around navigating ambiguity, championing novel ideas, and translating groundbreaking concepts into viable products that resonate with Nike's brand and market. Growth opportunities are strong, given Nike's commitment to innovation and talent development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to build trust and co-create with a new external partner. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on relationship-building, communication, and collaborative process.)
• "How do you stay ahead of trends and identify 'white space' opportunities in the apparel industry? Can you give an example of a trend you identified early and how you would translate it into a Nike product concept?" (Demonstrate cultural awareness, trend analysis, and conceptual ideation.)
• "Imagine you're tasked with designing a performance apparel item for an emerging sport or activity. Walk us through your design process, from initial brief to concept presentation." (Showcase your end-to-end design methodology, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate rationale.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Nike's mission and its approach to innovation in the athletic industry?" (Research Nike's values, athlete focus, and recent innovations.)
• "How would you foster an inclusive design environment and ensure diverse points of view are elevated within your projects?" (Connect to Nike's stated values on diversity and inclusion.)
• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams (e.g., developers, product managers). How do you ensure alignment and effective communication?" (Highlight collaboration skills and stakeholder management.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Innovation: Begin by showcasing projects that best exemplify your ability to think conceptually, explore new territories, and drive disruption.
• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your design process (including research, ideation, prototyping), key design decisions, and the final outcome or impact.
• Emphasize Collaboration: If a project involved external partners or significant internal collaboration, highlight how you navigated that dynamic and achieved success together.
• Showcase Craftsmanship: Detail your considerations for materials, construction, fit, and aesthetic execution.
• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, and potentially 3D renderings to bring your designs to life. Ensure your Adobe CC skills are evident in the polish of your presentation materials.
• Be Concise: Respect time limits and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work. Be prepared for in-depth Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, strong collaboration skills, and a deep understanding of apparel design within the context of athletic performance and cultural relevance. The "White Space" aspect requires candidates to show comfort with ambiguity and a proactive, pioneering mindset.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through Nike's careers portal via the provided URL.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your design portfolio prominently features projects that showcase innovation, conceptual thinking, apparel design expertise, and successful collaboration. Prioritize examples relevant to "Energy White Space" initiatives.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific skills in apparel design, Adobe CC proficiency, and any experience with external partnerships or driving new product concepts. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to collaboration and trust-building, and how you identify and develop innovative concepts. Be ready to present your portfolio with confidence.
• Research Nike: Deepen your understanding of Nike's brand, its commitment to athletes, its innovation efforts, and its culture of pushing boundaries. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes professional insights and industry-standard assumptions tailored for operations professionals. Specific details about salary, benefits, and the interview process should be verified directly with Nike during the application and interview stages.