Jordan’s Mobile Inspiration

Michael Jordan is know for using inspiration in his everyday life to help with shoe design.  Jordan also has a thing for cars, motorcycles and jets.  Five pairs of his shoes are modeled after the three vehicles I just mentioned. The Air Jordan XIV(14), XVIII (18) and XXII (22); each one focuses on a single vehicle.  I chose these three with direct inspiration, two focus on car design and the last using a fighter jet as a model. Using things with speed and style are a no brainer in the shoe department, these elements go hand and hand with the basketball game. Let’s take a look at how and what inspirations were used in the designing of these shoes.

Air Jordan XIV

I can’t mention Nike shoe design with out mentioning Tinker Hatfield.  Tinker is the lead shoe designer for Nike and has been for a while.  Tinker is responsible for designing Air Jordan’s 3 thru 15 and has come back to design three more shoes, including the most recent, 2010 model.  The Air XIV was modeled after Michael’s personal Ferrari 550 Maranello. In 1999, this was the top of the line Ferrari, retailing for over $200,000 and it was also the fastest production Ferrari that year.  These are just the attributes you want in a shoe; one that makes you extremely fast and costs you an arm and a leg.  The details are in the shoe; sleek lines, overall aerodynamic look and even the Jordan symbol is in a yellow badge like the Ferrari symbol.  I love the look of this shoe, it shows the transition from a rounder basketball shoe into futuristic more, well, sports car look.

Air Jordan XVIII

This shoe doesn’t speak to me as much as the other two.  The Air Jordan XVIII (18) is designed with the Lamborghini Murcielago as the main inspiration.  The one piece look with the lace cover definitely speaks to the Italian sports car, but that’s really were it ends.  The overall look of the shoe is bland and only the all black color looks good.  Tinker wasn’t involved in the design of this shoe and you can really see because it lacks the detail of his models.  Jordan struck gold with the first car modeled shoe,18, but he came  up short four shoes later.  One good thing about the shoe is it’s not overdone.  It’s simple and elegant just like the car; even though most Lamborghini’s are loud and massively wide cars. If you’re buying all three models buy this one last , because the next one is special.

Air Jordan XXII

This one would hold a special place in my heart, if I owned this shoe.  It’s modeled after the F-22 Raptor or as I knew it the X-22.  I used to work for the U.S. Air Force and my base was the prime testing base for the X-22 Raptor.  It’s America’s premier fighter jet and has the sleek, sexiness of a 21st century fighter jet.  The shoe has the same look and feel. It features a camo pattern on the heel with a clear window like the cockpit of a F-22.  The stitching was designed with the jets radar in mind and there are vents to disperse heat evenly, similar to the jet.  Everything about this shoe is 22. The model is the 22nd Jordan, it was modeled after the F-22 and the shoe using ultra lightweight titanium (the element number is 22, thanks Kicks on Fire)  This shoe even has the classic basketball shoe look of the 80’s and 90’s, that I love shoe much.  This is a must have if you are a Jordan collector or even just a sneakerhead.  The Jordan 22 is the best of the three.

 

Each shoe has found inspiration in moving objects, whether it is speed, style or flight.  These are important elements of the modern game of basketball.  Who doesn’t love watching the high flying, acrobatic of a player as they dunk the ball.  Even the style, the best players have the most style on and off the court.  I think Michael knew that his shoes were being worn as causal shoes and less of an on the court shoe.  You can really see this trend as the shoes move into the 21st century.  I have said it before; if your looking for a shoe to play hoops in, try the Nike Hypermax.