The North America Brand Design Retail team is the steward of retail innovation in the biggest geography. We are creative problem solvers, combining strategy and innovation, to make big ideas bigger for our consumers. We execute physical experiences that connect athletes* to the future of sport and create memories making athlete* dreams real at Retail. We exist at the intersection of brand and commerce, the art and the science. This team designs holistic Nike store experiences: Store architecture, as well as permanent and seasonal storytelling, in the US and Canada by leveraging Global Brand and Retail standards. We obsess the execution of the brand offense across Retail.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Nike seeks a Design Director for Retail Design: An innovator who will lead and develop seasonal retail campaigns and experiences for Nike’s North America retail ecosystem, with online to offline connection. A strategic, collaborative and creative team leader who will develop impactful / scalable design solutions for immersive retail environments and experiences. Always looking to expand the possibilities of immersive environments to create design solutions that reflect Nike’s brand standards and improve the consumer retail experience.
You have a track record of innovative use of emerging technology to build impactful spaces, consumer engagement and interaction. You can work across several design subject areas such as Environmental Graphic Design, Fixtures, Materials and Digital with ease. You ideate creative concepts, illustrate your ideas, and enjoy being hands-on as you lead projects to completion.
You will work across multiple projects simultaneously, partnering closely with the North America Retail Brand team and agency partners to deliver highly innovative and immersive concepts and experiences. You will deliver comprehensive design concepts, stay tapped into the pulse of future design trends and apply this thinking to your work, growing the possibilities of immersive storytelling and experiences. We are looking for someone who shares our drive and agility to explore the new; who is passionate and determined to create boundary-breaking experiences. Ultimately, you will lead the Seasonal Story Design team into a new era of design thinking, with a vision to elevate our immersive storytelling.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
- Support and partner with the Sr. Creative Director to lead seasonal and long-term vision, strategic and tactical direction, and design continuity.
- Manage functional design professionals. Coach, craft opportunities for individual development and manage performance, recognition and rewards.
- Address staffing needs and challenges to ensure project demands are met and team has appropriate skill mix.
- Lead a design process of clear ideation focusing on strategy and exploration of color, materiality, texture, spacing, proportion, scale and use of the environment.
- Develop presentation materials that effectively communicate creative strategy and design concepts to all levels of leadership and partners.
- Collaborate with producers, design counterparts, internal partners (Brand, Retail Brand, Brand Creative, Digital, etc.) and external partners to ensure project goals and priorities align with Nike retail brand and business strategies.
- Actively gain knowledge and experience regarding Nike’s brand standards, design ethos, products and processes.
- Constantly seek new and innovative ways to tell stories through graphics, styling, lighting, sculpture, photography, video, animation and more.
- Drive education and inspiration, sharing knowledge and exposure to current and future trends influencing the innovation of consumer experiences and technology.
- Foster innovative thinking, collaboration and teamwork.
- Ensure results, timelines and budgets are met.
- Strong ability to work upstream, effectively elevate strategic concerns and assert influence in final outcomes.
- You may travel 15 – 20% of the time.
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
Under the direction of a Sr. Creative Director, and in partnership with Retail Producers and cross-functional peers, you and your team will realize innovative, original retail environments, displays and digital solutions for retail stores. This role provides leadership development and design direction to Designers. Outside of Nike, you will collaborate with a range of creative agency partners and production vendors.
WHAT YOU BRING
- Minimum of 10+ years of progressive, technically sophisticated design experience in architectural, experiential or brand design and a demonstrated ability to apply these skills in ways that elevate brand excellence. Includes at least 3+ years of management experience.
- Bachelors/master’s degree in graphic design, architecture, industrial design, environmental design, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 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.
- Proven ability to work independently as well as drive a clear vision to lead others in the development of concurrent projects.
- Expert in applying and performing design skills including concepting, ideation, drawing/sketching, typography, color theory, spatial design in scale, visual presentation development and space planning layouts.
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to current trends in color, graphic design, art, photography, architecture and experience design — and their application to the sport industry.
- Knowledge of production design, fabrication, materiality, and emerging manufacturing trends.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Expert oral and written communication skills. Ability to present new concepts and designs to small and large groups, including meeting facilitation and presentations to executive leaders.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with a highly developed ability to cultivate relationships in an open, positive and inclusive environment.
- Proven ability to manage ambiguity and motivate teams to create compelling solutions when the way forward is not always clear.
- A sense of humor, positivity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
- A strong portfolio of relevant work.
- Demonstrated expertise using computer design applications including SketchUp, Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray, Figma, Keynote and Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with motion graphics and video-editing is a plus.