Nike is one of the the most recognized shoe brands in the world and working as a Nike shoe designer symbolizes a significant level of achievement within your career. Reaching this level requires creativity, with an extensive knowledge of fashion and the footwear industry. Prepare for a career at Nike with a combination of education and industry experience.

Shoe Designing Skills

Shoe designers must stay on top of footwear and fashion trends. You must know what styles are currently in demand by consumers. Footwear design also requires drawing skills to translate your ideas into tangible concepts. Computer skills are also useful because drawing is often done on computer programs instead of by hand. According to the employment website O*Net Online, designers also need good decision-making skills. Designing shoes is about more than drawing. You also must consider material and manufacturing costs. There also may be problems discovered with your shoe, so you must be able to identify potential issues and make necessary corrections.

The Daily Responsibilities

As a shoe designer, you create and develop footwear designs from idea to manufacturing. The first stage is the development of concepts and style ideas. This may be done individually or within a collaborative group. You then turn these ideas into drawings and sketches. Aside from aesthetic decisions about color and patterns, this part of the process also includes fabric and material choices. According to the design career website, The Art Career Project, you take your drawings and create a pattern that will be turned into a prototype. If the prototype is accepted by your employer or client, it will be sent for manufacturing.

Education And Expereince

There are various paths to becoming a Nike shoe designer. You may choose to pursue a four-year college degree in fashion design or merchandising. Two-year associate degrees are viable options offering a variety of fashion-related concentrations. The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York offers an associate degree in fashion design. During your time in school or directly after graduation, you should pursue internships within the footwear industry. This is a way to obtain work experience while learning the trade. Nike offers numerous internships each year in locations all over the world. Visit their website for information and an application.

Applying At Nike

When you're ready for employment with Nike, research the company to familiarize yourself with the different design careers and geographical locations. Visit the careers section of the company website to learn what employment is available at each location. You can submit your application and resume to the company online. Ensure that your resume is an accurate reflection of your shoe design education and experience. Correct any misspellings and grammatical errors. If you do not find an opportunity immediately, return to the site often to check for the latest postings.