Nike : Form Follows Motion

Exhibition at the Vitra Museum, Weil am Rhein, 21 September 2024 - 4 May 2025

Nike is not just a brand. It's an entire design culture. In its six-decade history, the brand has become one of the world's biggest brands and plays a central role in popular culture.

Based on the Nike archive, a unique collection of drawings, prototypes and other documents, this catalogue of the first exhibition devoted to the brand examines Nike's footwear and clothing archives. It includes rarities and one-off pieces dating back to the company's beginnings in the 1960s, original drawings and prototypes of iconic trainer models, historical documents and films, as well as the results of collaborations with designers such as Virgil Abloh and Marc Newson. 

The book focuses on Nike's design practices, from the company's beginnings in the 1960s and the design of its famous ‘swoosh’ logo, through to iconic products such as the Air Max, Air Jordan and Vapor Fly, and current research into future materials and sustainability. Interviews with key players and a wealth of never-before-seen footage provide a behind-the-scenes look at Nike's creative research and development facilities.