NIKE PRO FH23 — Women’s Apparel Color Design
Megan Thee Stallion and Tara Nicolas wear Nike Pro FH23. Photo by Caydie McCumber via @taranicolas.
BRAND: Nike | nike.com | Beaverton, OR
DATE: 2022
INDUSTRY: Apparel — Women’s Performance
ROLE: Color Designer
DELIVERABLES: Apparel Color Design, Moodboards, Image Research, Concept Ideation, Presentation, Cross-Functional Collaboration
COLLABORATORS:
Apparel Design —Emiko McCoy
Graphic Design — Toshiki (Eddie) Nakagawa
Tech Designer — Michiya Stine
Product Management — Erica DeTar, Keyanna Spann
CONSUMER PROFILE — Athlete I
—AGE: 20s-30s
—works hard in the gym
—invests in elevated styles for her workout
—flaunts her strength + curves
Photo via @libbychristensen
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion wears Purple Ink/Rush Fuchsia
Nike Global Trainer Tara Nicolas wears Blue Joy/Blue Tint
Images by Caydie McCumber via Instagram. @taranicolas
WATCH THE VIDEO —
FH23 COLORWAYS
FALL 23 — Purple Ink / Rush Fuchsia
Fall/Holiday 23 — Cargo Khaki / Honeydew
Fall/Holiday 23 — Black / Iron Grey
Holiday 23 — Black / Lt Lemon Twist
Holiday 23 — Bliue Joy / Blue Tint
Holiday 23 — Fireberry / Ice Peach
CONSUMER PROFILE — Athlete II
Photo via @uclagymnastics.
—AGE: high school-college
—team sports enthusiast, especially cheerleading + volleyball
—full of school spirit
—loves bold color, graphics + print
In FH23, the word ‘performance’ goes beyond athletic function.
Each novelty pack for Athlete II is centered on a different sport, in which facets of theatricality — style, color, music, poise, expression — are not considered frivolous, but play an integral role.
Cheerleading, rhythmic gymnastics and artistic gymnastics — though not exclusively for women, they're often regarded as "women's sports" and perhaps taken less seriously. I was excited to bring them into the spotlight.
GRAPHIC PACK FH23 — CHEERLEADING
Purple Cosmos / Rush Fuchsia — Honeydew / Cargo Khaki — Industrial Blue / University Blue — Fireberry / Laser Fuchsia — Rugged Orange / Safety Orange
Bold graphics, in a palette of classic team colors, capture the extroverted energy of cheerleading. I watched the Netflix doc Cheer while designing color for this pack. I was impressed by the cast's grit and ambition.
Gabi Butler of the Netflix series Cheer. Image via Instagram @gabibutler1617
PRINT PACK FA23 — RHYTHmIC GYMNASTICS
Noble Red / Picante Red — Black / Iron Grey
An allover print, emulating a ribbon in motion. The ribbon is one of five apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. Lift Up, a stunning short film by Agostina Gálvez, exemplifies the beauty of this sport and served as great inspiration.
WATCH THE SHORT FILM —
SHINE PACK HOLIDAY 23 — artistic gymnastics
Blue Joy / Silver — Deep Jungle / Silver — Black / Silver
Focusing on sparkle, a key element of artistic gymnastics. Styles feature shine blocking and metallic silver branding. While working on this glitzy pack, I watched UCLA gymnast Sekai Wright’s viral floor routine on repeat. Seeing her do backflips to DMX is exhilarating.
Sekai Wright, February 2022. Image via Sports Illustrated.
All product images via nike.com, finishline.com, jdsports.co.uk, zalando.co.uk and asos.com.