My Attempts to Be a Shoe Designer
As a young boy, I used to dream about being a shoe designer for Nike. Something about tennis shoes always fascinated me. I loved sports and I guess I really believed or wanted to believe that my kicks could help improve my athletic performance. So I drew shoes.
I entertained and acted upon that dream from grade school to my late middle-school years. I would seclude myself in the corner of my shared room and draw shoe mockups with only a pencil. I must have gone through dozens of notebooks. Finally, when I was about 11 or 12 and through my own initiative, I decided to look up Nike’s corporate address and send them my work.
I stuffed a fat, borrowed-from-my mother envelop with at least 50-80 of my best designs. They were even cut out in shoe shapes and included basketball, baseball, football, cross-training, tennis, and running designs. I slapped on what was then much cheaper postage and sent it along with my employment dreams to Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
A few weeks later, I received a rejection letter from Nike, which contained all of the designs that I sent in. They thanked me for the drawings and while informing me that they had “an in-house design team” said I should keep up the good work. The company also applauded my efforts and provided words of encouragement in whatever career I would end up pursuing.
Although I don’t work for Nike, and I’m not in the shoe industry, I am fortunate enough to be living that designer dream. I get to create prototypes of products, systems, and ideas and see them engineered to completion. I am thankful for all those that have helped and supported me along the way, and wish to do the same in return for those I come in contact with. I guess Nike’s motto should also be my own: Just Do It.
October 27th, 2005 at 2:15 am
I remember when you used to design shoes. You would just sit there and draw and draw and draw. I also remember looking at the drawings and thinking, “Wow, those are so detailed. And small.” I never knew you actually sent Nike your designs, though. That’s pretty neat. It’s too bad the company didn’t at least send you a real pair of shoes for free or something. At least they could’ve done that. Or they could’ve arranged for you to visit the place.
October 27th, 2005 at 3:25 am
I remember the letter you got from Nike. I think it is still in your file folder (Blake’s stuff) which I think I gave to you already. I was shocked and awestruck. You did this all on your own. Pretty bold for a 12 year old. I think they should have given you a pair of shoes, also. MOM
October 27th, 2005 at 3:27 am
I love the new narrow ad for Griffio. And the slogan. Runs in our family, doesn’t it? Neat, to the point, slogans. No gimmicks, just design, is great! MOM
October 27th, 2005 at 7:24 am
Wow, wanting to be a shoe designer is one of the best kid dreams I’ve heard of. When I was a small kid I wanted to be a priest then a paleotologist.
October 31st, 2005 at 11:28 am
I also remember! They were some good designs. ITs like the orange “Bo Jackson’s” we had as a kid. We modeled the designs around those.
C Lawson
September 12th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Nike called me about putting you over their design team but I said you were too young and had to finish school! I also indicated that you could move to their corporate headquarters only if you were the CEO. The CEO at the time (I forget his name) wouldn’t give up his job for you! They made a mistake. DAD
September 25th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
You guys should checkout the shoes that came out from Nike with Ipod applications. Nike and Apple coming together is a perfect combination and if this can motivate a healthier lifestyle than more power to them.