Design and Sports: the very first exhibition dedicated to Nike at the Vitra Design Museum

Hosted by the Vitra Design Museum, "Nike: Form Follows Motion" meticulously retraces the first fifty years of the brand, with a particular focus on its design. The exhibition is not just a narrative about the world’s largest sports brand but also a detailed case study on the connection between design and sports, and the role of sports as a powerful driver for social change and innovation in the field of design.

“For a long time, we have wanted to organize an exhibition on design and sports. When we approached Nike, we learned more about their incredible design archive — a huge treasure that had never been presented in an exhibition. That was how the idea of this exhibition was born. The show offers a unique opportunity to focus on design through the lens of a single brand, and to display fascinating objects that illustrate the process of design development — some of which have never been shown before,” explains Mateo Kries, Director of the Vitra Design Museum.

"Nike: Form Follows Motion" gives visitors a chance to peek behind the scenes of an exceptional design lab made possible by the synergy of hundreds of minds, including designers, athletes, engineers, biologists, and specialists from various fields. The exhibition largely stems from the Department of Nike Archives, the company's own archive that holds more than 200,000 items, aiming not only to showcase Nike’s success but also to highlight its commitment to research, technological innovation, and reducing environmental impact.

Rare items, iconic pieces, and prototypes are displayed at the Vitra Design Museum in four chronological sections. 

 Photo credits Bernhard Strauss

TRACK
The first section, “Track”, reveals the oldest relics and equipment carefully preserved in Nike’s archive. Here, visitors can learn about the early days of the brand, founded by Phil Knight, a college runner, and Bill Bowerman, his former coach. There is also a glimpse into their first customers: amateur athletes and college students passionate about running.


 Photo credits Bernhard Strauss

AIR
This section delves into the 1980s, retracing partnerships with sports stars that helped the brand soar to success. With athletes like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and LeBron James, Nike established itself as a leader in popular culture. The exhibition also showcases the evolution of the Air sole, from early prototypes to testing devices patented by engineer Frank Rudy, who discovered and proposed the Air technology to Nike.

 Photo credits Bernhard Strauss

SENSATION
In the third room, “Sensation”, visitors step into the heart of the Nike Sport Research Lab, one of the most cutting-edge facilities studying the human body in motion. This section also highlights Nike’s dedication to researching and developing new, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable materials.

“In addition to our interest in the evolution of iconic pieces, we will look at the larger social and historical context surrounding Nike. Over the past 50 years, sport has had a tremendous impact on our perception of the human body, beyond the track and the court — for example, on conceptions of gender roles. Our exhibition will show how the company has both instigated and responded to these changing dynamics, from its initial emphasis on performance and optimization to greater diversity and inclusion. By looking at Nike’s design strategies, we gain insights into that bigger cultural picture” — Glenn Adamson, exhibition curator.


 Photo credits Bernhard Strauss

RELATION
The fourth and final room is the highlight of the exhibition, a treasure for any Nike addict. Fifty footwear designs are displayed in cases, accompanied by labels narrating their stories, including collaborations with top designers and athletes, as well as projects developed alongside Nike’s vast community.

Accompanying the "Nike: Form Follows Motion" exhibition will be a packed schedule of events and workshops dedicated to sports and design.

The exhibition ‘Nike: Form Follows Motion’ also gave rise to the book of the same name, which takes a closer look at Nike's deep archive of footwear and clothing. For the first time, the book explains the history of design icons such as the Air-Sole and the Jordan brand, and explores the company's research into the human body, its efforts towards sustainability and its central role in pop culture. In addition, interviews with key figures and never-before-seen images offer a behind-the-scenes view of Nike's creative research and development spaces.


Courtesy of Vitra