Nike offers designers a chance to challenge its shoes
De Montfort University (DMU) fashion design lecturer Jo Cope has been selected as one of 78 creative individuals to take part in a project called Nike78.
Nike was founded in 1978, changing its name from Blue Ribbon Sports, and claims, in the intervening years, to have “redefined what sports shoes are”. In light of this, it sent a single running shoe to each of the 78 designers taking part in the new initiative and invited them to “challenge the function” of a Nike shoe.
Jo Cope said her approach was to focus on both the aesthetic and functional aspects of an athletic shoe. She commented: “The trainer that arrived at my door was not the most aesthetically pleasing. It definitely wasn’t the coolest or the most fashionable, but on closer inspection I became interested in its subtle but powerful design details.”
All the designs will feature in a special showcase at this year’s London Design Festival in September.
