Nike Designer Sean McDowell Says The Air Max Plus Was Inspired By Beaches And Whales

Nike Designer Sean McDowell recently sat down with Nike News to discuss the process of creating the Nike Air Max Plus, which gets its inspiration from some not-so-likely sources. McDowell says the design behind the shoe’s wavy upper and gradient color schemes comes from watching palm trees blow in the breeze at sunset on a beach in Florida; he wanted to bring the beauty of that majestic scene to life. The nautical themes don’t end there as the shank found on the midfoot of the shoe was inspired by a whale’s tail breaching water.

McDowell also reveals that the silhouette went through many phases (over 15 sketches) before finally being approved, and the original name of the shoe was to be Sky Air. He goes on to mention that he wanted wearers of his shoe to admire what they saw when they glanced down at their feet and he, therefore, worked to make sure that the top-down view was as aesthetically pleasing as any.

Those curious to hear the whole story behind the iconic Nike model can check it out on Nike News.