Nike Podium Illustration Library
Defined guidelines and designed a library of 70+ vector illustrations for Nike’s Podium Design System to depict product benefits and features across Nike Web and App.
Role
Team
Commerce
Timeline
Skills
Research, Design Systems
Podium Illustrations
Illustrations are expressive, vector-based graphics that support branding, storytelling, and visual communication across the Nike digital experience. Decorative rather than interactive like icons, they enhance clarity alongside text and are typically used to visualize product benefits and features.
Design Guidelines
I defined guidelines for illustrations to accommodate greater visual complexity than icons while ensuring consistency with existing elements in the Nike Podium Design System
Grid
Illustrations are drawn on a 48px by 48px grid and scaled dynamically to additional sizes. 1px units forms a grid of 48 by 48. 4px padding ensures consistent icon sizing and white space when exported as an SVG.
Scaling
Exceptions
Padding can be exceeded in complex icons and when optical alignments with related icons are required.
Primary Shapes
Line Units
Gaps
Gaps can add unique character and a sense of movement to icons.
Corner Radii
To create a range of corner radii, we’ve used a scale of circles based on the line units.
Angles
Our approach to angles is based on the movement and angularity of the Swoosh. Use 15-degree increments to reduce angle irregularities.
Illustration Design Process
Each illustration goes through a multi-week design and approval process before being added to the library and deployed in the digital experience.
Design Reviews
Illustrations go through multiple cross-functional reviews with Nike Brand and Marketing teams, ensuring concepts are communicated in a brand-aligned way that supports product positioning.
Consumer Research
Multiple directions for icons are brought into user research for validation, conducting 1:1 qualitative interviews to determine which direction most clearly communicates the concept and feels the most Nike.
Impact
I designed 70+ illustrations at 3 sizes, spanning 9 sports categories. This illustration set has become a core part of Nike digital experiences, view them live on Nike PDP's and Nike Shoe Finder.
