Air Jordans, Tinker Hatfield, and Creativity

Lessons and Inspiration from the Legendary Nike Designer

Last time I was in New York City I made a slightly extravagant purchase. Nothing like a boat or a Rolex. Not front row tickets to Hamilton or a dinner at Masa. I bought a pair of Air Jordan IIIs.

Ok, extravagant might be a bit hyperbolic (especially compared to Hamilton tickets), but I don’t make it a habit to spend over $300 on a pair of sneakers. Here’s why I did:

1. I grew up watching Michael Jordan and loving that brand, so the culture surrounding his shoes is embedded in me;
2. in my opinion these in particular are the most aesthetically pleasing Jordans while still being practical for everyday wear;
3. Air Jordan IIIs have a rich history — it was the first Michael Jordan shoe designed by Tinker Hatfield, who revolutionized shoe design and working with athletes (more on that later);
4. I needed some dope shoes for my wedding reception.

Tinker Hatfield and The History of Air Jordan III

I won’t go into Tinker’s entire backstory here, although it is fascinating. If you’d like a great look into his work and his creative process I strongly encourage you to check out the…