Nike: Better is Temporary

The book features detailed descriptions of the design processes, from the 1971 graphics brief for the famous Nike Swoosh logo, right through to today’s latest sneakers, sports equipment and apparel. Nike: Better is Temporary also describes the stories behind many of the brand’s most fruitful relationships with athletes past and present.

Beginning with “Breaking2,” an introduction detailing Nike’s 2017 attempt to facilitate a sub-two-hour marathon, the book lays out in five thematic chapters Nike’s focus on performance, brand expression, collaboration, inclusive design, and sustainability.

It showcases world-famous products, such as the Air Force 1, the Pegasus, the Air Max and the Cortez, alongside less familiar ones, including the revolutionary, ecologically focused Space Hippie collection; the Air Zoom UNVRS FlyEase, which features fold-down magnetized heel, to aid disabled wearers; and the CruzrOne shoe, for runners who like to go a little slower.

The way in which sporting achievement is transferred into innovative design is a key focus, of course, yet the book also details Nike’s all-embracing approach, with passages detailing its dedication to recycling and ecology, as well as its commitment to creating products for athletes of all abilities, cultures and creeds.