About the role
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
This internship is part of Nike Explore Team, (NXT) Apparel Innovation team. You'll work closely with Nike Innovation leaders and apparel designers. You'll receive mentorship from design leaders while building your understanding of Nike's design philosophy, products, and processes.
You'll also collaborate with multidisciplinary partners across pattern making, materials, apparel development, the apparel lab, field testing, the sample room, merchandising, and manufacturing to help bring innovative product concepts to life.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
As an Apparel Innovation Design Intern, you'll help explore the future of functional, performance-based apparel and how it intersects with sport and modern culture. With guidance from design leaders, you'll use research, hands-on making, and design problem-solving to create original concepts that serve athletes*.
The internship will be project-based, with opportunities to contribute across the innovation process. You will lead or collaborate on work such as:
Researching athlete needs, cultural shifts, emerging technologies, color, materials, and performance apparel trends
Building inspiration, concept presentations, mood boards, sketches, and head-to-toe product stories
Exploring silhouette, proportion, fabrication, draping, pattern making, construction, and form through digital and physical making
Creating and communicating concepts using tools such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, CLO, Vizcom, Newarc, and/or Gravity Sketch
Developing physical mockups and prototypes, then responding to feedback from Design and cross-functional partners
Supporting prototype reviews and collaborating with product creation partners to improve feasibility, function, and execution
Presenting your project and design process to stakeholders at the end of the internship
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We're looking for an emerging apparel designer who is curious about innovation, energized by performance product, and excited to learn through making. You bring a strong point of view, but you're also open to feedback, collaboration, and exploring more than one answer to a design problem. Our ideal candidate is a thoughtful storyteller and hands-on builder who can connect athlete and consumer insights to product ideas. You are comfortable working through ambiguity, experimenting with new tools and materials, and sharing work in progress with a multidisciplinary team.
Currently pursuing a master's degree in Apparel Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a related field, with a graduation date between December 2027 and June 2028.
A portfolio that demonstrates apparel design process, creative thinking, and an interest in performance, innovation, or sport
Experience translating research, consumer insights, or athlete needs into design narratives and product concepts
Working knowledge of apparel construction, pattern making, draping, fabrication, and physical prototyping
Experience with one or more design tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CLO, Vizcom, Newarc, or Gravity Sketch
Ability to build clear concept presentations, mood boards, and visual stories
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with a willingness to ask questions, share ideas, and respond to feedback
Curiosity for innovation, materials, technology, research, and design problem-solving
This is a 10-week paid internship opportunity with relocation assistance. Curious to know what it's like to be part of a world-class Internship Program? Check out our recap video from last summer: Nike Internship Program Recap Video
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.