Expert Designer, Creative Pattern Making – Apparel Design Excellence
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. We seek hands-on experts who thrive on experimentation through making, infusing the Bowerman spirit into every act of making, driving progress through curiosity and craft. Our culture rewards curiosity, imagination, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. At Nike, it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game. WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH In this role, you will report directly to the Director, Craft Design – Apparel Design Excellence. You will partner closely with Apparel Design Excellence, Materials Design, In-Line Apparel Design, Apparel Innovation, Product Development, and Technical Design teams. You will collaborate with cross-functional partners to align pattern solutions with performance, style, and manufacturing requirements, and contribute to building a shared language and toolkit for design excellence in pattern work. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are looking for an Expert Designer, Creative Pattern Maker who leads creative pattern development across innovation platforms and key Fields of Play. You will translate early design concepts into 2D/3D patterns that reflect elevated form, fit, and aesthetic intent, and explore and prototype new construction methods, silhouettes, and proportion systems. The ideal candidate is a form-led pattern expert with advanced manual and digital pattern making skills, deep knowledge of fit, grading, and body dynamics, and hands-on experience with both digital and physical prototyping tools. You are a problem solver, innovator, and team collaborator who adapts fluidly between blue sky thinking and technical execution.
- 12+ years of experience in creative pattern making across performance apparel, fashion, or both
- Demonstrated ability to translate design intent into form-led patterns
- Experience working in cross-functional product creation teams (Design, Development, Innovation, etc.)
- Proven ability to problem-solve within tight timelines and shifting priorities
- Hands-on experience with both digital and physical prototyping tools
- Advanced pattern making (manual and digital; 2D and 3D)
- Knowledge of fit, grading, and body dynamics across diverse athlete and consumer types
- Familiarity with motion-based and sculptural construction principles
- Expertise in tools such as Clo3D, Gerber, or Lectra
- Ability to iterate quickly through prototyping and testing
- Strong visualization and communication skills
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON In this role, you will shape the future of apparel through form—crafting new standards of fit, silhouette, and construction at the intersection of performance, innovation, and style. You will:
- Lead creative pattern development across innovation platforms and key Fields of Play
- Translate early design concepts into 2D/3D patterns that reflect elevated form, fit, and aesthetic intent
- Explore and prototype new construction methods, silhouettes, and proportion systems
- Support seasonal priorities by delivering refined patterns for athlete-tested and consumer-ready product
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align pattern solutions with performance, style, and manufacturing requirements
- Contribute to building a shared language and toolkit for design excellence in pattern work
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. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job