Lead, Apparel Graphics Designer, Local Creation GC
Nike · Shanghai
Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team
NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.
Nike Local Creation GC is one of Nike’s fastest product engines, enabling designers to connect with geo-specific consumers quickly and effectively. As part of the Local Creation Design organization, this role focuses on creating inspiring products tailored to specific marketplaces and geographic audiences, capturing fast-moving trends and delivering regionally relevant narratives with flexibility and speed. The Local Creation team’s mission is to amplify and incubate new ideas while advancing consumer favorites and serving local consumers with products that offer greater relevance and immediacy. We seek a candidate who embodies our values of authenticity, accountability, collaboration, and courage—someone eager to grow, challenge themselves, and operate independently as a self-driven contributor.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for a Lead Apparel Graphic Designer to join our dynamic, fast-paced design team in Shanghai, China. This role will work closely with cross-functional partners across Design, Product Management, Development, Merchandising, and Marketing. The ideal candidate is an energetic designer who can build an emotional connection with Greater China consumers through brand-led narratives and storytelling. As part of a team of Apparel Graphic Designers, this person will contribute to graphic expression excellence across a range of Greater China consumer, sport, and lifestyle business opportunities. They will bring the vision of key collaborators to life while maintaining our brand objectives within each design story and curating expressions through a hyper-local lens for target consumers. This designer has a strong eye for detail, a passion for premium craft, and the ability to create highly covetable products that connect with Greater China consumers through authentic local narratives. They can work independently, navigate ambiguity, manage multiple timelines, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to bring ideas from concept through execution.
WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Manager, Apparel Graphic Design, Local Creation GC. You’ll collaborate closely with key functional partners throughout the product creation process, including:
GC Apparel and Footwear Design teammates across categories
GC Product Management and Development teams
GC Merchandising and Marketing partners
Global Design counterparts and Nike Creative stakeholders
You’ll also engage with external vendors and suppliers to bring your designs to life, ensuring alignment with Nike’s brand standards and regional consumer expectations.
WHAT YOU BRING
Education:
A BA, BFA, MA, or MFA in Graphic Design or a related field is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Experience:
5–7 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably in the apparel or sports industry, with strong expertise in graphic execution for apparel products.
Comprehensive understanding of apparel materials and construction, tech packs, and schematic development.
Ability to translate consumer insights into authentic narratives and visual storytelling; develop concepts holistically; and create cohesion across product elements, including color, silhouettes, and key looks within a collection.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and adhere to timelines.
Deep knowledge of Greater China consumers, with a proven track record of designing for this marketplace.
Strong understanding of apparel consumer trends in Greater China.
Excellent visual and verbal presentation skills.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.
Proven ability to collaborate across design and cross-functional teams while fostering a positive, inclusive environment and supporting shared creative goals.
Sound decision-making abilities and strategic thinking skills.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D and AI rendering software, and Miro.
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
As the Lead Apparel Graphic Designer, Local Creation GC, you will:
Apply sophisticated design skills to create product expressions that align with global creative direction, seasonal key concepts, gender strategies, franchise journeys, and geo-specific assortments while connecting with Greater China consumers.
Build an emotional connection with Greater China consumers through graphic design, narrative, and storytelling, bringing close-to-market, trend-relevant seasonal creative direction to life at both the product and collection levels.
Use graphics to deliver an elevated, consumer-relevant brand point of view in the marketplace through strategic vision, design direction, storytelling, and editing.
Communicate design concepts effectively and collaborate in a fast-paced, close-to-market environment. Make informed design and application decisions with efficiency and agility while keeping cost targets in mind.
Monitor prototype and sample development, partner with Development to finalize production details, and create story-appropriate trims.
Bring seasonal product direction to life at speed, ensuring relevance to Greater China consumers. Partner with Product Management and Development to build trend-driven assortments, communicate design intent, review prototypes, and refine execution.
Champion storytelling and clearly communicate the “why” behind the work. Present concepts to internal teams, leadership, and external partners, explaining the rationale behind design decisions.
Manage design deliverables and project timelines, planning and executing product details, reviewing samples, resolving feasibility issues, and ensuring timely project completion.
Demonstrate strong trend mining skills with a deep connection to consumer and city trends, maintaining in-depth knowledge of Nike DNA.
#MYNEXT: Be Empowered to Grow within Nike and Create the Future
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.
NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.