NIKE ISPA LIVE: A Digital Experience
Images: Nike
WHAT IS ISPA?
Launched in 2018, Nike ISPA set out to engineer groundbreaking products capable of tackling the unique and shifting challenges of the human made environment with the philosophy of: Improvise. Scavenge. Protect. Adapt. These actions form a set of design principles that has manifested in the experimental Nike design across all categories, including innovations like the React cushioning system.
With this focus on experimentation, ISPA highlights a broader design initiative at Nike. Nike Design Exploration (NDe) pushes the brand into spaces that would not otherwise be discovered. They do this to see what is possible, exploring new frontiers in design and innovation.
THE EXPERIENCE…
On Monday, Nike invited us to a live digital experience to learn more about the upcoming Fall/Holiday 2020 ISPA Lineup. The experience featured presentations from Nike ISPA footwear designers, Darryl Matthews and Shamees Aden and ISPA apparel designer, Nur Abbas. The live portal let us explore more about each upcoming silhouette and apparel piece. There was also a pretty tricky puzzle game and a digital zine that gave us an in depth look at the collection. The footwear lineup consists of 5 silhouettes that highlight Nike innovations like React and Nike Air Zoom and the apparel highlights innovations like Dri-FIT. In addition to chatting with the designers and others in the sneaker community, we got hipped to the #ISPAChallenge. This challenge focuses on taking the same design philosophy of ISPA and creating something useful in your surroundings. Think Nike Craft x Tom Sachs ISRU.
THE FOOTWEAR…
The first model in the lineup is the Nike ISPA Zoom Road Warrior. This silhouette scavenges purposeful innovations from running, basketball, training and outdoor footwear. The open heel takes cues from the Nike Shox but trades the pillars for double zoom pods and double under foot plates. I’m also a big fan of Tabi toes, so this is one of my favorites.
Releasing July 10, 2020
Next up, the Nike ISPA Overreact FK and Nike ISPA Overreact FK Sandal. These silhouettes answer the most consistent question asked to designers: how to make shoes more comfortable. The Nike ISPA Overreact takes the Nike React foam to the extreme by doubling down on the geometries that maximize the technology. To further the comfort level, both the sock-liner and strobel were removed, meaning each step is taken on unadulterated Nike React foam. While the main model utilizes a flyknit upper with leather paneling, the sandal iteration opts for layers of breathable mesh for a light and airy alternative.
Releasing globally July 9, 2020 & July 31, 2020
Built for the summer heat, the Nike ISPA Flow is getting all of my Texas native coins. This silhouette is probably the purest example of the ISPA process. Inspired by the DIY approach of extreme sport athletes, the Flow trims everything to the bare necessities. The designers utilized common heat maps of the foot to locate where hotspots are most likely to occur. They then used this information to build a lightweight, nano mesh upper that feels like walking on a cool breeze.
Releasing globally August 13, 2020
Again, they had me at the Tabi toe. The Nike ISPA Drifter is a hybrid of Japanese traditional work boots and Nike innovation that transforms the split-toe Tabi shoe into a lightweight, all-day performance vehicle for the built environment. The shoe utilizes regrind Nike ZoomX foam for the midsole and an external webbing for a comfortable and stable fit.
Releasing globally September 1, 2020
THE APPAREL…
The Nike ISPA Fall 2020 apparel collection features an array of distinct garments inspired by classic Nike designs that utilize improvised and adapted Nike innovations for a new generation of city athletes. Key pieces include the Nike ISPA Inflate Jacket that features an internal blue bladder that adapts to varying degrees of temperature, the Nike ISPA Bodysuit that utilized heat mapping studies to provide precise a balance of ventilation where most required and the Nike ISPA L/S Dri-FIT Top which utilizes salvaged mesh and Dri-FIT panels to provide a balance of ventilation and airflow.
Releasing globally July 9, 2020
IN CONCLUSION…
Nike ISPA Fall/Holiday 2020 is full of bold new innovations that are functional and ready for us city-dwellers. I was a big fan of the React Element 87 and it’s focus on making lifestyle sneakers ultra comfortable. This is smart street style and I’m excited to get my hands on a few of these pieces. Beginning July 6, the same interactive digital community learning space we were able to view will be accessible to all at http://ispa.live with the password ISPA*2020!.