NIKE PERFORMANCE CART
Changing the shape of golf bags
ROLE: Originally designed at Nike Golf as Lead Product Designer
SERVICES: Design Strategy | Concept Development | Color + Material Design | Prototype Testing | Production Support
Most cart bags looked bulky and overbuilt. The Nike Performance Cart took a different approach, using real golfer insights to create a cleaner, faster design that helped shape the next generation of Nike Golf bags.
01 BACKGROUND
The category needed a reset
Most cart bags followed the same formula: oversized pockets stacked on top of each other, bulky shapes, and lots of visual clutter. They offered plenty of storage, but often looked heavy and overbuilt.
Nike saw an opportunity to do something different. Create a cleaner, faster-looking bag without giving up the storage cart bag users expected.
02 THE CHALLENGE
Keep the storage. Lose the bulk.
Cart bag users want plenty of room for valuables, drinks, extra layers, and everything else they carry during a round.
The challenge was making all that storage easier to use while creating a bag that felt lighter, faster, and more like Nike.
03 OUR APPROACH
Design around how golfers use it.
The process focused on how golfers actually interacted with the bag. Early concepts explored simpler shapes, smarter storage, and easier access. Prototypes put those ideas to the test.
One prototype changed everything
04 THE INSIGHT
Testing the first sample revealed something important. The center front pockets quickly became the ones used most, much like reaching into the center console of a car.
The upper pockets also saw far more use than the lower ones. Those two observations unlocked the final layout.
05 OUR SOLUTION
Built around what matters most
The final design organized storage around how golfers actually used the bag. High-use pockets took priority up front, while larger, less-used storage moved lower, creating a simpler layout without giving up capacity.
Color with purpose
That same hierarchy shaped the look of the bag. Lighter colors highlighted the upper, high-use areas, while darker colors grounded the larger storage below, creating a cleaner, faster, more athletic look.
Flip & Grip Pocket
Water-resistant pocket allows for easy strapping of bag onto trolley or power cart.
Superior Storage
13 external pockets and 6 internal pockets provides storage without the bulk
14-Way Top with Handles
Simple club organization and protection
06 THE IMPACT
A new direction for Nike Golf
The Performance Cart introduced a cleaner design language that carried into future Nike Golf bags, helping create a more modern and recognizable product family.