If you’ve seen sneaker store shelves in the past year, you’ve seen Bill McInnis. As Reebok Head of Advanced Innovation, McInnis spearheaded the development of EasyTone and ZigTech, two new technologies responsible for the brand’s recent resurgence. CounterKicks chatted with the industry veteran about the development of EasyTone and ZigTech, how ZigTech performs differently for running and basketball, and what Reebok plans for the technologies in the coming years. Continue reading for Running Now: Interview With Bill McInnis, Reebok Head of Advanced Innovations…
CounterKicks: Please tell us about your duties at Reebok.
Bill McInnis: I am Head of Advanced Innovations. You met Paul Litchfield – he and I work very closely together so we’re kind of co-heads of that group. The simplest way to describe it is that we’re in charge of what’s new. So everything from the Pump way back in the day to EasyTone and ZigTech today.
CK: What is Reebok’s current design philosophy?
McInnis: What I’ve seen as an observer in-house is one of the first things that Michael [Schaeffer, Reebok Head of In-Line Design] and his team did was really clean up the Reebok branding. There’s been a lot of Reebok logos all over the world. They’ve cleaned that up. There’s one distinct Reebok logo that you see everywhere now whether it’s in print or on product or in advertising. Then the consistency of our Vector logo has now been very firmly established as well. So there’s more rigid but more fluid design guidelines so that Reebok shoes become a lot more identifiable from 10 feet away as opposed to right up close.
GREAT INTERVIEW!
Loved the question on barefoot shoes and McInnis’ response. He’s right that the industry still hasn’t found a way to make it mass appeal yet. Companies that figure it out will strike it rich. Vibram does nice sales but still very niche item.
one of the greatest interviews yet, so much information! this interview really explains the design purpose of the new reebok lines, and where they see themselves in the market.
however, there’s still the new reebok shoe style that consistently gets overlooked; the jumptones.
fusing retro and zigtech… im trying to imagine a zigtech pump, haha. doing something like that could be awful though, a la jordan fusions
MR. CLEAN!!!!!!
great interview with lot of details!
Great interview, been loving the look of the Zig’s, and now I finally found out the Zig Slash is on YourReebok, I can’t wait to make one myself 8)
Awesome series start! Hope we get to see all the running companies be as open and connected as Reebok was in this. It sounds like Bill McGinnis knows his stuff!
I don’t think fusing zig tech with iconic reebok shoes would be such a bad idea. If they put zig cushioning on the Shaqnosis or Kamakazee I would most def cop.
Terrific interview! Love the running series concept. More brands should do this more often! Gives us running consumers a better look at the companies and people behind the products we buy!
Thanks, everyone.
Stay tuned for more interviews!
Terrific Running series! Lots of great questions asked. Will be checking for the next ones!
I gotta try out some Zigs. Been meaning to. Good read all around.
Very dope.
interview just got me really really really interested on the running shoes, and wall’s shoe too.
Excellent start to the new series!
Great answers by McInnis. That Reebok designer who did the Kamikaze…..PLEASE BRING THAT SHOE BACK OUT PLEASE. 1 AND 2! THANKS!
New Zigs with the stronger upper that Mcginnis is holding look tempting. Makes me want to order a pair.
This is great and well done. I’m ready to read the Next Running interviews!