Jesse Leyva
“Collaboration is one of the pillars of creativity, it’s why I love what I do. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best designers, photographers, filmmakers, and game changing influencers in the game. The world is racing so fast with new innovations in every creative medium, that it will force the best brands to be amazing at only a few things. When that happens, it’s only a natural progression for like-minded brands and creatives to collaborate on what each is excellent on. The tools we use to make the collaborations exciting will evolve, it’s that evolution and progression of youth culture that excites me.”
Jesse Leyva is the Creative Director of mijo-studio, a multi-disciplinary creative collective committed to breathing life into brand-defining ideas. With its global network of graphic & industrial designers, filmmakers, DJs, photographers, and stylists, mijo-studio works collaboratively to build, execute, and amplify unforgettable brand and cultural storytelling opportunities.
As former college athlete, his creative perspective is informed by an authentic, lived relationship to sport and a passion for forward-thinking currents in contemporary design and youth culture. Leyva was a principal architect of Nike Sportswear, growing this division into the giant it has become today by building a rigorous visual framework for Nike design at its most premium. With his gift for collaboration, Leyva also set the vision for Nike's own collaborative process with external creative partners, crafting the Hybrid Design ethos that is still used today at Nike NSW.
During his time as Creative Director for Nike Skateboarding, Leyva set the holistic vision for the most progressive skateboarding brand in the industry. In SB, Jesse led creative on Inline Business, Quickstrike collections, and special projects that focused on innovations driven by athletes and designers, such as the first ever Female Skate Shoe and the launch of augmented reality in the consumer purchasing experience with the Momofuku Dunk by David Chang. Most recently, Jesse re-launched the ACG category at Nike, in partnership and collaboration with Tinker Hatfield. This re-launch of ACG blends the “unreasonable” design aesthetic of the late 90’s with a new cultural commentary on the outdoors driven by today’s urban consumer.