After the first iteration of the ‘Sketch to Shelf’ series, Nike continues its documentation of the Air Max 1’s birth with the next stage in its design process.

Initially working as an architect by Nike, Tinker Hatfield became increasingly inspired by the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which soon famously became the inspiration for the Air Max 1. The Pompidou building was based around the idea of being inside out, showing off its inner workings around the exterior, and its this design feature which inspired Tinker to take one of Nike’s existing air units and make it visible.

The first Air Max 1 ‘Sketch to Shelf’ paid homage to those original 1987 Tinker Hatfield sketches, taking the inspiration he found from the Pompidou Centre and putting it down on paper. Playing on the idea of a sketch, it featured several handwritten notes describing areas that needed to be redesigned, and areas that were good to go. One of the key highlights being the scribbled patches of ‘University Red’ that popped throughout, an iconic feature of the original AM1. 

The Nike Air Max 1 ‘Schematic’ follows up by exploring the next process in this design stage. Finished off in a white and black colourway, Nike has managed to give the impression that this AM1 has been stripped straight from its digital design stage and brought to life.

The silhouette receives a much cleaner profile, documenting product parts and materials in a clean typeface and moves away from the handwritten aesthetic of previous. Mapping out the different panels from the toe to heel, the lettering indicates what panels will be used, what needs slight tweaks before production and again, what is good to go.

Completing the model, the right shoe has been stripped of Nike branding, instead opting for Tinker Hatfield’s signature at the heel.

The Nike Air Max 1 ‘Schematic’ will be launching in-store and online on Friday 16th August.