Greatness By Design: 10 More of Tinker Hatfield's Classic Nike Designs

Image via Complex Original

"Tinker's design work at Nike sparked a passion in me that still resonates and you really have to look at him as the father of the game in many respects. The sheer number of classics he's created is mind blowing, and I just strive to honor the legacy he started and continues to build on at Nike." — Jason Petrie, Nike Basketball Designer

"He is the Godfather of the industry, in my eyes. He is a very approachable person, but I think many designers put him up on an unreachable pedestal, when in reality, you just need to reach out and ask for time. He will give it to you. As for what he has meant to Nike, I really think he is one of the few who created the brand. I put him right up there with Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. There are obviously a ton of people who have helped to create the brand, but someone has to create the vision first. To me, that is Tinker. Nike’s true visionary." — Aaron Cooper, Nike Innovation Design Lead

"Forget about all the Air Jordans for a second, and maybe the one thing that I did that was unique was brought sort of that architectural sensibility about designing personal and cultural significance into the products." —Tinker Hatfield

Trying to fit all of Tinker Hatfield's greatest creations into one post is a lot like trying to get all of Michael Jordan's greatest plays onto one DVD. It can't be done. So as we continue to celebrate Tinker's 30th anniversary with Nike, we give you a look at 10 more of his, well, revolutionary designs.

Air Safari

Released: 1987

Complex says: For a company defined by their performance footwear, 1987's Air Safari was quite the departure. Sure, it was technically a running shoe not unlike the Windrunner, but the soft deerskin upper and the all-new "Safari" pattern Hatfield came up with made it something else entirely. Adopted by the likes of Biz Markie, the Air Safari was the ancestor of Nike Sportswear to come.

Air Revolution

Released: 1988

Complex says: You say you want a revolution? Nike's 1987-'88 line redefined sneakers as the ever-growing Air bubbles burst from the midsoles on the Air Max, the Air Revolution and, a little later, the Air Jordan 3 (initially dubbed on Hatfield's sketches as "Air Jordan Revolution"). That little bubble may not look like much to kids raised on 360 Air, but at the time it was, dare we say, revolutionary.

Air Stab

Released: 1988

Complex says: The "Stab" stood for "Stability," but there's no doubt that some of the Air Stab's mystique and rep stems from the shoe's cool-sounding name, which was also emblazoned proudly over the Air bags. But the Hatfield-penned design was brilliant on its own merits, especially the way the midsole split up the Visible Air.

Air Trainer 3 "Medicine Ball"

Released: 1988

Complex says: The shoe of choice for Spike Lee's Mookie in "Do The Right Thing," the "Medicine Ball" Air Trainer 3 is cited as a Tinker design favorite by LeBron designer Jason Petrie. A tech-ier upgrade of the original Air Trainer, the 3 added Visible Air as well as some more advanced materials on the upper. The "Medicine Ball" colorway really popped, especially on the big screen.

Air Tech Challenge II

Released: 1990

Complex says: Tennis shoes were mostly stodgy affairs in the early days, obeying the arcane rules established by the Grand Slam aristocracy. Well, Andre Agassi wasn't going to obey all that — and he had a tremendous rebel ally in Tinker Hatfield. The Tech Challenge II was bright, it was brazen, and underneath it all was an advanced design built to win. Just like Andre.

Air Trainer SC

Released: 1990

Complex says: Long before LeBron James, there was Bo Jackson, a bulldog of an athlete built to destroy everything from baseball bats to defensive linemen to any footwear anyone could design. Hatfied reinforced the Trainer SC upper with woven nylon straps and did as good a job as anyone ever did at constraining Bo. The "Auburn" colorway, created to honor Bo's alma mater, is an all-timer.

Air Huarache

Released: 1991

Complex says: The start of something big. The Huarache revolutionized fit on a performance runner, inspired by neoprene waterskiing gear and (unsurprisingly) Huarache sandals. The aggressive upper design — sans Swoosh — looks every bit as modern even 20 years later.

Air Trainer Max

Released: 1991

Complex says: The name was a bit confusing, calling a Nike shoe "Max" when it didn't even have Visible Air, but the design of the final Bo Jackson trainer was every bit as distinctive and functional as the ones that came before. The criss-crossing narrow strap provided extra support, while the neoprene bootie and unpadded ankle straps provided Huarache-like fit and comfort.

Zoom JST

Released: 1998

Complex says: How do you design shoes for the fastest man in the world? Tinker utilized a minimalist black mesh and leather upper offset by gold straps that held the whole thing together — not unlike the Air Jordan 11. Michael Johnson's signature was embroidered on the heels in gold, just in case you forgot who they were for. There was also an even more stripped-down JSC, meant for on-track use only.

Air Mag

Released: 2015

Complex says: In 1989, thanks to a little movie called "Back to the Future 2," Tinker got the chance to design a shoe where expense (and even reality) was of no concern. Every designer's dream, no? Well, it was a good start anyway. "I was asked to design that shoe," Hatfield says, "but I couldnt just design the shoe — I had to design a scene for it." He still has the original storyboards. And reality has just started catching up, as the Air Mag lives on in current designs including the Hyperdunk and the Hyperize.