Design Inspirations

I’ve met a lot of great people through the sneaker community over the years, not many as great as my friend Lenard who sadly passed away from leukemia in 2017. I designed an Air Max 95 to honor him. Orange is the color representing leukemia and is featured on the shoe. The 3M reflective upper represents Lenard’s bright and positive personality. I chose the volt outsole because the two of us loved the color volt when it was first introduced. The reason I chose the Air Max 95 was that it had special meaning for both of us. On the tongues of the shoes, it says “Team Lenard” which was his hashtag to support him and his family as they battled leukemia. Rest in peace, brother. I miss you every day.

In 2013, I fell in love with the Nike Kobe 8--so many great colorways and tons of great NIKEiD options. As a Seahawks fan, I created a Home, Away, and an Alternate Kobe 8 to go with each of the team’s 3 jerseys (before the Action Green color rush jersey was created).

Sometimes when I’m working on a design, I just choose colors and materials that look like they go well together. Above is a NikeLab Air Max 1 Bespoke made and designed in the Bespoke studio in New York City. This pair was made with purple suede, flipped denim, sail ostrich leather, and a paisley Nike Swoosh that blends well with the purple and solar red, pinkish hits.

This was my first ever NikeLab Air Max 1 Bespoke, inspired by the colors and looks of the Pacific Northwest. The shoe features a brushed suede in wolf grey, a cashmere Nike swoosh, Nike’s “OG Mesh”, a material called ventile which is water-resistant, and leather lining.

One of my favorite designs— my third NikeLab Bespoke inspired by the late nights at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. My mom worked in the market for 18 years and I spent a lot of time there growing up. The navy blue upper shows the dark blue nights at the market, the floral swoosh is for all the people selling flower bouquets, the corduroy and denim is inspired by those who sold and created things using corduroy and denim, the small vamp with the white lines also inspired by the creative things people would craft and sell. Lastly, the hits of orange are for the orange dingy lights that illuminate the market at night.

This Bespoke Air Max 1 was inspired by the pituitary adenoma, the tumor just outside of my brain. The Nike Brain logo was an idea I had going into the design session. The all grey upper represents grey matter, the darker tissue of the brain. The team red (maroon) swoosh has a special laser to look like sulci, the grooves, and ridges of the brain. Its lined by pink to look like the color of a brain which creates a second swoosh. The salmon colored stitching on the heel is supposed to represent the staples I had placed in my head after a few of my surgeries. This was the most meaningful and personal shoe I have ever created. 2019 was filled with darkness but has been overcome by light. I really appreciate everyone for the support through that tough time.

Kobe Bryant was one of my biggest inspirations and still is to this day. I’ve been dealing with depression I’ve felt for a very long time, but I always keep the “Mamba Mentality” in my mind telling myself that I can do this and become happy and a professional color designer. This pair, inspired but the Laker uniforms but more specifically Kobe himself.