Design studio Accept & Proceed (a previous CR One To Watch) has been working with Nike on a project involving illustrators and trainers. “We were approached by Nike’s Head of European Footwear, Andre Doxey, in January 2007,” explains A&P’s David Johnston, “with a view to starting a discussion on how we might help generate ideas and designs which could tell stories through iconic pieces of Nike footwear. Most of the themes that we came up with celebrated the innovation and technology found within Nike’s footwear products. Some of the themes of these stories were; Seduced by Innovation and Recognise the original. As well as creating designs and illustrations for application to the product ourselves, we also selected and art directed third party creatives to help tell these stories – including Steven Wilson, Jon Burgerman, Oliver Hibert and Andy Forshaw.

Jon Burgerman provided the illustration that adorns this pair of Air Max 90s

Illustration work by Andy Forshaw was laser-etched into some of the fabric on this pair of Air Classic BWs

Oliver Hibert’s illustration has been incorporated on a pair of Nike Air Max Plus (womens)

Animation by Mainframe showing Steve Wilson’s shark-inspired work that will appear on pairs of Air Max TN as well as a hybrid model Nike Air TN Free (made up of the Air Max TN upper and a Nike Free sole – shown below)

Nike Air Max Plus with an x-ray theme - illustration by Accept & Proceed

“The designs we have created are arriving in stores over the coming months, applied to footwear, points of sale and various online marketing items,” adds Johnston. “This is the first of a number of ongoing projects that we’re working on with Nike to hit the streets.”

Aacceptandproceed.com