This is the first of many interviews I will be doing over the next few weeks. It is a bit of a dream come true for me. It has always been a goal of mine to do a series of interviews with designers. I hope you enjoy this series of Design Insight as much as I am.

The first person to answer my questions is Jason Mayden. I have known Jason for nearly five years and he never ceases to inspire me with his design talents and his outlook on life. Continue reading Design Insight: Sessions Vol. 1 With Jason Mayden…

Jason is an alumnus of Detroit’s College For Creative Studies (CCS) and has worked at Nike/Jordan Brand for eight years. He is currently getting ready to embark on his next stage in life, graduate school at Stanford. Take some time to read his answers. I hope they affect young designers as much as they have affected me.

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How many years have you been designing? What is your career history?
I have been a professional designer since June 4th, 2002. I began my Industrial Design career with an internship at Nike, in Jordan Brand, in June of 2001. During my career, God has allowed me to work on graphics/footwear for Nike Football, Michael Vick, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Derek Jeter, Derek Anderson, Michael Jordan, Eminem, 9th Wonder, several wonderful footwear collaborations with Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and a host of accessories, equipment, apparel, team products and women’s products. Additionally, I have worked on “price point” models such as the Air Monarch and the T-Lite.

I try to work on whatever will help me expand my knowledge base. I NEVER want to assume I know enough. I believe that there is always room to grow. My favorite quote right now is from Blake Griffin, “Just when you think you are working hard, WORK HARDER.”

So many people want to design the projects with big innovation and marketing budgets but those are not the projects that define your career. They are amazing opportunities but the projects that test your capacity to handle fiscal responsibilities and to anniversary a “top selling” shoe are the ones that allow you to earn your stripes in this industry. Having a lifetime batting average of .366 is more important to me than hitting a few home runs in my career. (Side note: .366 is in reference to Ty Cobb a former Detroit Tiger, but I am a White Sox fan so it’s hard for me to admit that a Tiger did something right. Lol)

What motivates you?
I am motivated by the idea that somewhere, someone is sitting and dreaming about the day when God will allow them to live their dream. I have been fortunate to see the world and meet amazing people at a very early stage in my life, so I feel that it is my duty to represent on behalf of all of those people who are waiting on their chance to shine. Moreover, I feel it is my responsibility to help those same individuals reach their full potential. I know that “helping” has become the fashionable thing to do, but how many people truly help when no one is looking? That is what I want to be. A person who does not bind himself to the praise of the public for doing what God wants us all to do, which is love one another and to be a LIVING example of His word.

I know that someone reading this right now may be thinking, “wow this guy is a religious nut” but that is not the case. I am simply a Man that has been humbled and redeemed. I am no different than anyone of you reading this right now, I have simply been given an amazing opportunity in life, but more importantly, I was prepared for it.

What inspires you?
Life. Simply the gift of life.

Where has design taken you?
Design has taken me to countless places physically, mentally and spiritually but the most important place it has taken me has been a place of inner peace. Design has allowed me to work on being a better me. I have a positive outlet to dream, grow, imagine, fail, succeed, fall, get back up and try again. Design has taken me to a place where generations from now my great, great, great grandchildren can look up my name in the U.S Patent Registry and see that someone in their family pursued and lived their dream.

What is “good design” in your opinion?
I believe that there is no such thing as “good design.” There are only designs that solve a problem or fulfill a need and, on the contrary, there are designs that cause problems and invent a need.

Design is a very subjective entity. It is an organism not an organization. So it moves and transforms with the state of the world. Therefore, it can neither be good nor bad, only relevant or irrelevant.

What is your creative process?
To be honest I never could truly articulate my creative process until I spoke at a conference in Arizona called “The Medici Summit.” It is a phenomenal conference that was founded by an amazingly talented Man by the name of Frans Johansson. He wrote a book by the name of “The Medici Effect” that thoroughly describes my process. He gave a name to what we all do, which is identifying intersections and expound upon how they correlate through our creative output. I implore that anyone reading this right now go and purchase this book. It is a great read for future and current Creative’s.

How would you describe your design style?
Me 2.0

I just simply do what feels right to me. I do not want to confine myself to a style or a label. I do not subscribe to labeling one’s self. Creative’s should simply do what feels right to them.

“To thine own self be true”

What aspects of your own experiences are reflected in your design (if at all)?
I always think about growing up on the Southside of Chicago and what it means to be part of Jordan Brand. Every stitch and every line I have ever drawn can all be traced to moments in my life. I do not let those experiences shape the aesthetics of the design, I simply use them as a means to provide 1000% of my effort to every project, conversation, relationship and product that I may encounter along the way to completing a shoe.

What is the difference between you and your designs during the beginning of your career as a designer and you as a designer now?
As you grow you begin to feel more confident in finding a solution quicker. That’s the biggest difference. That, in turn, affects the quality and experience you have while you are working on a new design.

How does your environment affect your design?
The same way your environment affects your mood.

What has design taught you?
That life is a series of problems that all have creative solutions.

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Brett Golliff is a Designer 1 at New Balance

Check out previous “Design Insight With Brett Golliff” posts:

- Allow Me To Introduce Myself…
- Design Insight: Inspected (Inspired) by #23
- Design Insight: Art or Theft?
- Design Insight: Examining The Forces…
- Design Insight: The Sketchbook
- Design Insight: Forever Young
- Design Insight: Here Goes My List…
- Design Insight: mod·u·lar
- Design Insight: Why?
- Design Insight: The Second Season
- Design Insight: The Sketchbook (Inspiration)
- Design Insight: Creating Emotion With Motion
- Design Insight: Sketchbook Revisited
- Design Insight: Process
- Design Insight: Design School Confidential
- Design Insight: Step By Step
- Design Insight: Render
- Design Insight: The Warm Up

House of Hoops Harlem is putting on a special event this Saturday, June 12th featuring the Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony. Festivities begin at 12PM. Check the flyer above for full details.

CounterKicks exclusively invited Nike Future Sole winner Austin Jermacans to share with us his complete story of the Future Sole experience spanning the last year. What follows is a detailed first-person account behind the inspiration and design of Austin’s Melo M6 Future Sole shoe, and what it was like meeting Carmelo Anthony and finding out his design would go into retail production. Included are previously unreleased sketches and renderings direct from the 17-year-old designer himself. Continue reading for the inside scoop behind Austin Jermacans’ Jordan Future Sole Melo M6 Experience…

PART 1 – Future Sole Design Presentation

Being in the league for six years, Carmelo Anthony has not only grown physically, but mentally as well. His overall transformation can be seen on and off the court, which certainly makes him one of the NBA’s most unique players.

On the court, he is a versatile athlete. His combination of strength and quickness allows for him to control the paint as well as run the floor. Physically, he has put in the hard work over the years in becoming an elite NBA player. Off the court, Melo has evolved as well. He introduced a more mature yet stylish wardrobe to signify his transformation.

Carmelo’s on and off court personalities can be best represented by the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Similar to Carmelo, the Gallardo underwent a transformation heading into 09-10. Shaving of 40 pounds off its total weight, the Gallardo remains a powerful vehicle holding a V10 engine allowing it to reach 62 mph in 4 seconds. Although not as fast, Melo’s combination of strength and ability to run the court is comparable. You can also make connections of his playing style to the Lambo’s E Gear Single clutch transmission. When driving the Lambo, shifts are made quickly and with ease. Different modes are able to be selected depending on the style of driving, such as Corsa mode for straight paths at high speeds. This is almost identical to Carmelo’s playing style in the 2008-2009 season with the complimentary players added to the Denver Nuggets roster. The Nuggets no longer need to rely on Carmelo dropping 30+ a night in order to receive a win. With the help of role players such as Chauncey Billups or Chris Anderson, Melo is able to have games where he will be in a scoring mode dropping 30+, but then he is also able to slow it down and contribute through boards, assists, and defense. His athleticism and new playing style now allows him to makes plays he wasn’t able to make before due to the fact he is able to last longer and endure games since all the pressure isn’t always on him.

Besides having an elite performance on the track, the Lambo has a luxurious interior. With over $50,000 in upgrades available, it leaves the Gallardo as one of the most unique vehicles in existence, perfectly representing Carmelo’s on and off court personalities.

When designing the Melo VI, I definitely wanted to keep his off court style in mind. I began taking cues from old school classics such as the Converse Chuck Taylor or wingtip dress sneakers and mixed them with elements from newer casual sneakers such as those owned by Ato Matsumoto, Clae, and Creative Recreation. What they all have in common are clean simple designs with great attention put towards materials and stitching. Therefore, I wanted the MVI to be versatile in the fact it would welcome a variety of materials/patterns/colors to be used, given the elements supplied. Featuring a lateral mesh vamp and a medial leather upper, each can easily be replaced with suede, leather, croc skin, etc to bring a variety of different looks. Carmelo’s stylist borrows many pieces from the designer Tom Ford, who uses a collection of patterns such as plaid and pinstripes. If wished, those could easily be worked into those elements of the sneaker. Keeping performance in mind, I chose a ballistic mesh vamp with the combination of a leather upper for a light and ventilated sneaker. The overall idea to include a large mesh vamp on the upper was inspired by the Gallardo’s vents located throughout the exterior of the vehicle.

On my finished design, you can notice the large rectangular overlasted piece on the the lateral view. When designing this element, I used Carmelo’s common use of pocket squares usually included to compliment his suits. I feel the overlasted piece compliments the rest of the design as it streamlines every other aspect of the sneaker creating that clean simple casual look. This again would welcome a material change.

Knowing Melo wanted a narrow sneaker with a lock down fit around the ankle, I included an ankle strap with 3 eyelets on each wing to allow the wearer to be precise on exactly how tight of a fit they wish to play with. The diamond stitched pattern was inspired by the luxury styled seats found in the interior of the Gallardo with upgraded features.

The tongue design is unique as it features the embossed ovals in the suede, each having a small carolina blue emblem reading “M” “V” “I” (M6). This design was inspired by the E-Gear gears located on the panel. The tongue also features a carolina blue stitched patch featuring the “M” logo, which was inspired by the common use of pull tabs on the tongues/heels of casual sneakers. “V” and “I” can also be found stitched on the heel tabs.

Now one of my favorite parts of the MVI, is the insoles. Melo recently signed a deal with TAG Body Spray, and now owns his own scent. The insoles are sprayed down with Melo’s scent, so when first picking up a pair of MVI, you are able to smell Melo’s trademarked scent. As far as the insole design goes, they feature mirrored diagonal lines, very similar to the vents located on the roof of the exterior of the Gallardo spyder.

The Melo VI is a very unique sneaker as it captures Carmelo’s on and off court personality. Combining elements from classy casual sneakers to the powerful yet luxurious Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, there’s no reason why the Melo VI wouldn’t catch your eye.

PART 2 – Future Sole Design Execution

The process of the Jordan Future Sole M6 coming together was kept a secret… even from me. After flying home from our weekend stay at Oregon, Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD) was kind enough to have the finalists join a call-in session. There we discussed our experiences as well as our future plans. Within the chat, D’Wayne Edwards (Jordan Brand Design Director) joined in and congratulated us once more and told us there was one more surprise coming. I was shocked since Nike had already given us the opportunity of a lifetime by having us on their campus. Anything else was just too much. So from then on I patiently waited to see what Nike had in store.

Fast forward a couple months to the last week of February, I received a call from D’Wayne. He asked me if I would be interested in taking a flight to Denver the next week to sightsee and hit up a Nuggets game. HELL YEAH. The details were limited, so I was pretty pumped to see what was in store.

Nike had me staying in the Monaco Hotel, which was very classy and beautiful. There I met up with Justin Taylor and D’Wayne Edwards to have lunch and begin exploring. Denver is a beautiful city. The same can be said for Portland. Definitely laid back. The west coast is certainly refreshing due to the fact I’ve been living on the east coast my whole life. So any opportunity I have to travel west, I make the most of it. The first place they wanted me to see was Carmelo’s barbershop that he opened up in late 2008 named Studio 15. Little did I know I was going to the meet the man himself!

As I walk in, I was immediately greeted by numerous flashing cameras taking pictures and recording my experience. Then at the back of the room was Melo getting a fresh cut! Being able to see the athlete you studied, researched, and ultimately looked up to was unreal. I can see why JT enjoys working with him on his signature line as he is mellow (no pun intended) and easy to get along with. While Melo and I were discussing the design I designed for him, he handed me a specially made Jordan Brand lasered box. After urging me to see what’s in the box, I slid off the lid to reveal my Jordan Melo M6 FS! The feeling you have while holding your own design is something I surely won’t forget for years to come.

I know many have noticed the released M6 FS is slightly different than my rendered design. Melo was shown my presentation board of my sketches/renders from October’s visit, and he selected some cues from my earlier designs prior to the finished version. The forefoot strap was something that caught his eye, and he wasinterested trying it on his signature line, since it was never featured on any of his sneakers. Given Melo’s input, the revisions were made for the production model to be made. After the pictures and interviews were taken, I was given the news Melo, as well as the Syracuse Orange, would wear the M6 the next night!

This meant a lot to me because that’s what really attracted me into shoes as a whole. Growing up, I tried to get ahold of anything associated with my favorite players: jerseys, shoes, you name it. I wanted to be able to design the shoes of the players that I, as well as millions of other kids, looked up to growing up. Being able to sit sidelines to watch him drop 30 in a blowout was more than I could ever ask for. Receiving the game worn pair autographed was the icing on the cake, as well as the Syracuse edition in my size 11 to wear. Besides seeing your design on the athlete you admire, wearing it yourself is something words can’t explain. I’m extremely thankful for Nike giving me this opportunity, especially at this age.

The next few days were pretty crazy. I had just about everyone I knew calling and emailing me how they saw me on the TV and Internet. I remember JT making fun saying how I was receiving more attention than he was for his M6, which shouldn’t be the case. Can’t say I’m a big fan of seeing myself on TV, but it definitely was a fun experience.

Currently, I’ve been working on my renders as well as the technical side of design to add another piece or two to my portfolio for the Mesh01 + University of Oregon Summer Footwear Design Program. For schooling, I’m heading to Penn State next year majoring in graphic design, and hopefully landing some internships.

-Austin Jermacans

Austin Jermacans’ Jordan Future Sole Melo M6 officially hits retail nationwide on Saturday, May 29th, limited to 2,000 pairs. View our previous 5 Questions With Austin Jermacans and 6 Questions With D’Wayne Edwards posts.
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Follow CounterKicks on Twitter @CounterKicks for breaking sneaker news and exclusive info

17-year-old Austin Jermacans was picked as one of the 2009 Future Sole design competition winners and ultimately became one of the youngest designers to ever to see his footwear sketches brought to life – by Jordan Brand no less. We sat down with him for five questions on what life has been like since winning Future Sole, seeing his Jordan Melo M6 Future Sole creation on the feet of Carmelo Anthony, and his best advice to this year’s Future Sole entrants. Continue reading for the full interview with 2009 Future Sole winner Austin Jermacans.

Counter Kicks: What’s it been like for you personally since being named a 2009 Future Sole winner? Have friends and people at school treated you differently?

Austin Jermacans: Being named the winner of Future Sole 2009 was great because it was a great feeling to see all the hard work I put into the Jordan Melo M6 Future Sole project pay off. In this case, in ridiculous amounts. As far as people treating me differently goes, my friends and family have always been supportive of my goals, so that hasn’t changed necessarily. They know I don’t like to draw too much attention to myself, so they acknowledge it, but respect my privacy at the same time. In addition, I sure have been getting a lot more friends requests on Facebook [laughs].

CK: You’re currently finishing up your senior year in high school. What’s next in your plans and design career?

Jermacans: I’m heading to Penn State University to major in Graphic Design next year. There I hope to expand my knowledge on design as a well as work on my portfolio. This summer I hope to attend the Mesh01.com + University of Oregon Summer Footwear Design Program in Oregon which sounds like a great opportunity to improve my skills as well as meet others with the same passion.

CK: How does it feel seeing your Future Sole sketches come to life with Jordan Brand actually manufacturing your design, putting it on the feet of Carmelo Anthony in both the regular and post season, and having the creation soon to be sold at retail?

Jermacans: Honestly, it’s unbelievable. The one goal every aspiring sneaker designer has is to one day have the opportunity to hold your own design in your hands. I figured it would be several years, even after graduating from college, to be able to experience that, and to be given the opportunity at the age of 17 is mind-blowing.

Growing up, what really got me into footwear design was my admiration for athletes. I would buy their jerseys, shoes, etc., to feel closer to the athlete. However, their signature sneakers really stuck out to me because they were unique to the athlete they were associated with. I feel signature sneakers are great to connect the fan with the athlete as they allow you to support your favorite stars as well as learning more about the player themself. Design cues inspired by their background, interests, and lifestyle help that connection. Combining my interest in art with my fascination for sneakers led me to begin drawing them.

I always wanted to have the opportunity to one day be able to design the shoes of the athletes I, as well as many others, admired, knowing it’d help connect the players to the fans.

As already mentioned, being able to say I designed the shoes Carmelo Anthony has been wearing is too much. I’ve been counting down the days since I heard the news of the Melo M6 FS releasing, so knowing it’s only a few weeks away is exciting. The only worry is making sure every friend is able to get their hands on a pair. [Laughs.]

I already received the Melo M6 Syracuse pair as well as Melo’s game worn pair of the initial Black/Carolina. I’m trying to pull some strings to get those Playoff/Jordan Brand Classic PEs! I can’t be too greedy though, wearing the Syracuse pair certainly catches a lot of attention.

CK: What has been the best part of the experience for you thus far?

Jermacans: It’s hard to pick out one precise part of the experience as the whole thing has meant so much to me as well as my career. I will say being able to meet the Nike and Jordan Brand staff was memorable after receiving great support and advice to further my future into Footwear Design. I guess sitting courtside watching Melo wear my shoe was pretty cool too.

CK: What’s the best advice you could give to this year’s Future Sole designers?

Jermacans: Anyone who is able to enter this contest should put as much time and effort into their entries, as you can see all of the hard work may pay off in the end. Including a back story as well as your process through the design (sketches/ideas/inspiration) will only make your design stick out more, which is helpful when the judges are sorting through hundreds of entries.

Lastly, have fun. The more fun you have with your designs, the less tedious the task of designing a shoe, if at all, will be.

Austin Jermacans’ Jordan Melo M6 “Future Sole” officially hits retail May 29th, limited to 3,000 pairs. Check out our 6 Questions on Future Sole with D’Wayne Edwards, Jordan Brand Design Director for the full scoop.

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Follow Counter Kicks on Twitter @CounterKicks for breaking sneaker news and exclusive info

Today we have new images of the Jordan Melo M6 “Future Sole” Playoff PE’s that Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has been wearing this post-season. The six colorways are White/Obsidian-University Blue, White/University Blue-Varsity Maize, White/Varsity Maize-University Blue, Black/University Blue-Varsity Maize, Black/Varsity Maize, and Obsidian/University Blue-Varsity Maize. The white-based colorways feature an elephant print rand/eyestay overlay while the black-based colorways feature patent leather midfoot straps. Click here to see our coverage of “Future Sole” Melo M6 designer and contest winner Austin Jermacans. Continue reading for more detailed images of the Jordan Melo M6 “Future Sole” Playoff PE’s.

Images via Jordan Brand

Last night, Carmelo Anthony led the Denver Nuggets with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 119-90 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He carried the performance in a special make-up pair of Future Sole Melo M6’s designed by 17-year-old Austin Jermacans which we originally previewed here. The shoes officially go on sale June 1st. Continue reading for more images of Carmelo Anthony wearing the Future Sole Melo M6 in last night’s game.

Images via Yahoo Sports and Jumpman23

Future Sole design winner and Project Bluefoot design finalist Austin Jermacans met up with Carmelo Anthony yesterday to present the Denver Nuggets All-Star with a special make-up production version of the Jordan Melo M6 design which Jermacans originally submitted in his 2009 Future Sole competition win. Carmelo wore the shoe in tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Future Sole edition Melo M6 will release in a limited 3,000 pair run this June. Continue reading for more images of Austin Jermacans and his rendition of the Jordan Melo M6.

Images via Jumpman23

Carmelo Anthony made an unannounced visit to House of Hoops at Town East Mall this past All Star Saturday. On Melo’s feet were a pair of special make-up Air Jordan 2010’s in White/Red colorblocking to match the Western Conference team colors. No word on any official release. Continue reading to see more images of Carmelo Anthony from his House of Hoops appearance.

Images via Foot Locker Unlocked

When Carmelo Anthony takes to the court tonight in the NBA All-Star Game, he’ll be wearing this special make-up “All-Star” Edition of his signature Melo M6 game shoe. No word yet from Jordan Brand on any official release. Continue reading for more detailed images of the Jordan Melo M6 “All-Star” shoe.

Images via Jumpman23

Just a short one month ago, Counter Kicks wondered simply what NBA Player Edition colorways would look like in the then just-unveiled Air Jordan 2010. We enlisted the help of photoshop colorist extraordinaire Cody Harris a.k.a. “BP” (see: NikeTalk Showcase) to give us and our readers glimpses into potential special make-up style AJ 2010’s which we exhibited here and here. Less than 30-days later, counterfeit producers had already ripped, manufactured, and distributed for sale all of the original Air Jordan 2010 photoshopped colorways we commissioned BP to do. “It’s flattering, yet disappointing at the same time,” says Harris. “I wish I could have just one pair of everything that has been ripped. They would be good show pieces in a portfolio, or even nice just to have.” We’ll keep you posted if any other forged BP styles crop up. Continue reading for the complete photo set of manufactured BP Custom Colorway Air Jordan 2010’s.

[Click images for full-size]

Mike Bibby (BP Custom Player Edition):

Dwyane Wade (BP Custom Player Editions):

Carmelo Anthony (BP Custom Player Edition):

Joe Johnson (BP Custom Player Edition):

Ray Allen (BP Custom Player Edition):

Chris Paul (BP Custom Player Edition):

Follow Counter Kicks on Twitter @counterkicks for the latest sneaker news.

Available exclusively at Foot Locker’s House of Hoops right now is a White/University Blue/Yellow Denver Nuggets home-colorway in the Jordan Melo M6. The shoe’s upper construction is based on a single shell unibody technique known as “monocoque“, where all the parts are constructed around a single internal framework – something common in modern day automobiles. The M6’s cushioning system features a dual-density injection phylon hit at the heel, and a Zoom Air unit at the forefoot. On the outsole, the repeating “M” traction pattern is seen as in previous Melo models along with a mini graphic representing the Baltimore skyline and the inscription “AU79/08″ to represent the atomic number for gold and Carmelo’s 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal win. The Jordan Melo M6 was designed by Justin Taylor, who has taken the reins of the line over from D’Wayne Edwards (Footwear Design Director at Jordan Brand) who helmed the previous five shoes. Continue reading for more photos in this House of Hoops-exclusive colorway in the Melo M6.

Images via Foot Locker Unlocked

Counter Kicks wondered what NBA Player Edition colorways in the upcoming Air Jordan 2010 might look like. To find out we asked photoshop colorist extraordinaire and budding designer “BP” (see: NikeTalk Showcase) to create some exclusive Counter Kicks special make-up concepts for our readers and BP definitely came through. Get a glimpse above. Continue reading for up-close looks at BP’s 8 custom colorway Air Jordan 2010 P.E.’s

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Dwyane Wade (BP Custom Player Editions):

Carmelo Anthony (BP Custom Player Edition):

Chris Paul (BP Custom Player Edition):

Ray Allen (BP Custom Player Edition):

Mike Bibby (BP Custom Player Edition):

Joe Johnson (BP Custom Player Edition):

Lightening (BP Custom Colorway):

Follow Counter Kicks on Twitter @counterkicks for the latest sneaker news.

Project Bluefoot has exclusively invited all four Nike Future Sole 2009 Finalists to share their first-hand experience on the annual Nike-sponsored design competition and trip up to Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, OR. The experience series launches today with 2009 Future Sole Finalist: Daniel Gold. Continue reading for his complete Future Sole recap as originally posted on Project Bluefoot, including exclusive rendering images of Gold’s Melo M6 re-design.

My Future Sole journey started with a banner I saw on Sole Collector advertising the contest. I went to futuresole.com and nervously read the contest premise and rules, anticipating there would be a catch because it seemed too good to be true. I have been obsessed with Jordans ever since I was six and saw a pair of Playoff XIII’s, and art has always been a passion of mine. For years I have dreamed of designing shoes professionally for a living, but had never gone as far to design my own pair from scratch. However, I taught myself Adobe Photoshop in middle school to add my own colors and patterns to different sneakers, so I knew I had the technical skill to handle the contest. When I saw the Future Sole contest I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to get my feet wet (no pun intended) and work my way through the process of designing a shoe.

It was very humbling to find out that my design was in the final six of the Jordan category because it meant NIKE had taken notice of what I had done, but my goal was really getting to NIKE to see where the magic happens. When D’Wayne Edwards announced on Obsessive Sneaker Disorder that I was a finalist headed to Beaverton, I felt like Charlie finding a Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Factory.

I was convinced the final challenge in the Jordan category would be to design a signature shoe for Dwyane Wade. The final challenge kicked off right on the heels of the announcement Wade was the latest member of Team Jordan, so I figured Austin Jermacans and I would be responsible for developing a look and feel for Wade’s inaugural Jordan. However, we were assigned to redesign the Melo M6 by utilizing the original tooling and redesigning the upper. I was paired up with Mark Miner, who mentored me through the process of designing the shoe. He was a great resource to bounce ideas off of, and was very effective at helping me maximize the performance of my sneaker.

My approach to designing my final shoe was to create a lockdown fit for the foot and work my way out, highlighting the aesthetics only after I could ensure the foot would enjoy the shoe as much as the eyes. Just to briefly sum up what I described to the judges… I drew on wings as my main inspiration which manifested itself in three different ways. Hummingbirds piqued my interest because of their agility and lightweight bodies, Nike Winged Victory because of the flowing nature of the statue’s wings, and tuxedo wing-tipped shoes because of their classy nature. Having to create an over-last piece on the lateral side of the shoe was the biggest challenge in the brief for me because I was afraid of having a random element on the side that might give the redone M6 a static look. By calling on the wings theme I tried to avoid that trap, and give my over-last panel a sense of integration with the whole shoe. I took the iridescent look of hummingbirds feathers by constructing this panel from “faux-posite” so that at any angle the light caught would reflect a different shade from the Nugget’s jersey. My favorite design element of my sneaker is the perforations on the toe I rearranged from wing-tipped shoes to be Melo’s “M” logo, instead of little swirls you’d expect to find on high end footwear.

The experience of actually going to Beaverton certainly lived up to all the hype I built up in my head. NIKE put us up in a very nice hotel in downtown Portland, and they were extremely accommodating when I requested to bring along both my parents and brother to share in the experience with me. The first night the four finalists and our families got to meet and go to dinner with D’Wayne Edwards. That was truly a pleasure because D’Wayne is like the Tony Dungy of footwear design, in the sense that everything he says is thoughtful, and he takes great pride in mentoring others (whether they can sketch a great shoe design or not) now that he has reached such personal success.

The next day we met back up with D’Wayne, and met Dee Wells and Sean Williams (both from Obsessive Sneaker Disorder) at NIKE’s World Headquarters for a tour. The campus was, simply put, spectacular. I thought NIKE spent the majority of its earnings on outfitting the University of Oregon’s football team, but they may actually drop more on their landscaping bill. We proceeded to tour the campus pretty thoroughly. It’d be easy for me to gloat and say my favorite part was all the stuff I can’t tell you about, but I really enjoyed the exhibit of NIKE’s (or should I say Blue Ribbon Sports’s) earliest history in the Steve Prefontaine building. The lobby of the recently rededicated Michael Jordan Building was definitely a highlight for me as well because of how stocked it is with classic shoes, pictures, and memorabilia honoring the greatest athlete of all time, and his footwear. Later that day we went to the NIKE Employee Store to spend the gift cards we received. After that we all went to dinner and met our mentors in person for the first time.

The next morning we arrived back at NIKE and were greeted by a camera crew there to document our experience. We all had breakfast and wandered around a bit before heading up to the Jerry Rice building for the unveiling of our Z-Corp models and design boards. I felt like a dad examining my newborn son after speculating how his sonogram would come alive in three dimensions. From there we broke off with our mentors to smooth out our presentations for the judges. Mark took me to the area where he works and I had a nice opportunity to see what his day to day responsibilities entail as he develops and tests new designs and technologies.

From there we headed down to make our final presentations. It felt good to pitch my shoe to the judges and take them through the path I took to arrive at my redone M6. Even though I wasn’t chosen as the winner, getting to NIKE and meeting all the people that I’d love to call coworkers one day, was really an amazing experience. I feel extremely fortunate that this contest was made available to me, and could not be more appreciative of the kindness everyone who worked at NIKE exuded towards my family and me. I especially want to thank Mark for volunteering to mentor me, and D’wayne for making the entire experience possible. Finally, to anyone who is considering entering the upcoming Future Sole contests, I would highly recommend it. Just make sure you give it your all and take no shortcuts, because this is not the kind of opportunity you want to take for granted. None of your competition will.

-Daniel Gold, 2009 Nike Future Sole Finalist

Visit Project Bluefoot for the only global footwear design competitions pairing up world-class companies with the next generation of designers.

With Dwyane Wade making the switch within the Nike, Inc. portfolio this past July from Converse to Jordan Brand, it left behind a sudden vacuum in WADE-branded Converse product, including the WADE 5 Signature Shoe and WADE Team Lines. The strategy shift seems to have come from above, and as we noted in our Nike Q1 Earnings Conf Call post a few weeks back, Nike CEO Mark Parker emphasized a “complete offense” in relation to its basketball business with a 3-tiered tactic involving Converse, Nike, and Jordan Brand – each allowing the consumer an access point into the overall Nike umbrella. The goal obviously would be to keep Converse at the entry level $80-and-under category, Nike hitting all ranges, and Jordan Brand blowing out the upper end, with what we can assume to be a high price point “Jordan Flash” shoe in the near future and Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul products filling out a similar space underneath. With all that said, will the Converse WADE 5 eventually release in a stripped down and de-badged form? Converse has said they are still weighing their options with the shoe. For now, you can check out images of what the WADE 5 could have been. Continue reading for more photos.

Images via HoopChina

Jordan Brand has launched their newest “Become Legendary” campaign featuring Team Jordan athletes Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, and Derek Jeter. The new ad, entitled “SLAP“, takes the viewer on a fast-paced, team-based collage following each athlete in full-tilt practice mode in their respective sports. “Success isn’t something that just comes naturally,” says Andy Whiteside, Jordan Brand Associate Brand Manager. “You have to work hard and you have to earn it.” The concept for the new spots is an alternate take on the team-mentality – that everyone fills an individual role within a group and that practice is the first step to ultimate success. Look for more segments soon in the third season of the “Become Legendary” campaign.

Carmelo Anthony’s latest signature shoe has arrived. The Jordan Melo M6 takes inspiration from sleek sports cars and of course, mixes it with many details from Melo’s life. The M6 upper construction is based on a single shell unibody technique known as “monocoque“, where all the parts are constructed around a single internal framework – something common in modern day automobiles. The shoe’s cushioning system features a dual-density injection phylon hit at the heel, and a Zoom Air unit at the forefoot. On the outsole, the repeating “M” traction pattern is seen as in previous Melo models, along with a mini graphic representing the Baltimore skyline, the inscription “AU79/08″ to represent the atomic number for gold and Carmelo’s 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal win, and the lettering “FIFTEEN” as a reference to his Denver Nugget’s jersey number. Melo M6 was designed by Justin Taylor, who has taken the reins of the line over from D’Wayne Edwards (Footwear Design Director at Jordan Brand) who helmed the previous five shoes. Continue reading for more photos of the new Melo M6.