In 2018, The Nike: On Air contest brought thousands of participants to workshops in New York City, London, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo, where locals dreamed up shoe designs inspired by their communities. In May, 18 finalists were narrowed down to six winners (one from each city) who were invited to work alongside Nike designers and developers to bring their designs to life. The winners’ final shoes were revealed today.
"There are attributes in the shoes this year that I would have never even considered, like introducing tools to encourage consumer modularity or pushing the boundaries of material usage," says Dylan Raasch, Senior Creative Director of Nike Air Max. "These concepts prove that there are always new ways to approach design.”
Release of the Nike: On Air winning designs begins in April.
The Final Designs
Nike Air Max 98 La Mezcla, by Gabrielle Serrano
Serrano’s Nike Air Max 98 La Mezcla represents the diverse complexions of NYC that combine race, ethnicity and cultural background, highlighting what makes the city special; its people.
Nike Air Max 97 Neon Seoul, by Gwang Shin
Shin’s Nike Air Max 97 Neon Seoul is inspired by his city’s neon signs, complete with a matte black body, vibrant colors and contours inspired by the Taaeguk symbol on Seoul’s flag.
Nike Air Max 97 London Summer of Love, by Jasmine Lasode
Lasode’s Nike Air Max 97 London Summer of Love celebrates summer in the city and love, with a personal memory - a first date spent on Primrose Hill - as her inspiration.
Nike Air Max 1 Tokyo Maze, by Yuta Takuman
Takuman’s Nike Air Max 1 Tokyo Maze Honors the dizzying urban labyrinth of colorful tube lines that shoot beneath Tokyo. Embossed leather represents the city’s concrete surface, while the red bubble pays homage to the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Nike Air VaporMax Plus Paris Works in Progress, by Lou Matheron
Photographs of an under-construction Parisian courthouse inspired Matheron’s concept for her Nike Air VaporMax Plus Paris Works In Progress, reimagining the colors and materials from the job site.
Nike Air Max 97 SH Kaleidoscope, by Cash Ru
The Nike Air Max 97 SH Kaleidoscope reflects Ru’s impression of the clouds floating along Shanghai’s skies as they shift and dissipate to create new forms and shapes.
Source: Nike
