Nike By You x Kristal Melson 
The Great Race

client NIKE

Commissioned for Nike By You’s Lunar New Year release in the year of the Rat, I created a series of twelve illustrations representing each animal of the Chinese zodiac.

Inspired by the legend of The Great Race, the animals are depicted charging down an oversized Chinese knot that subtly transforms into a shoelace. The knot becomes both cultural symbol and product metaphor, connecting heritage with Nike’s language of movement and performance.

Each animal was illustrated in dynamic motion, surrounded by flowing energy trails that suggest wind and velocity. The artwork was adapted into customisable T-shirt graphics within the Nike By You in-store experience, allowing customers to personalise their zodiac sign. The illustrations were also featured across digital screens in the retail space.

The project bridges folklore and contemporary sports culture, translating traditional symbolism into wearable, high-energy commercial illustration.