INNOVATION THROUGH THE EYES OF CHARLIE DARK

As a poet inspired by the language of sport and a DJ who thrives on technological innovation, the invitation to visit Nike WHQ was an opportunity to soak in the notion of inventing better and take away ideas for my own work. And no better way to start my journey than with Launch 2020 where 150 of the worlds most brilliant minds, The US State Department, USAID, NASA and Nike came together to seek innovations to revolutionize sustainable materials. As the world races into the future, the sustainability of manufacturing demands solutions. Through more efficient innovations such as the Flyknit, some of the answers are being found.

To truly understand a company such as Nike and its commitment to innovation, you must first digest the principals of its founder Bill Bowerman. Spend time in the company of those who built the foundations on which the legacy stands upon. For a die-hard Nike fan like myself, the hour spent amongst such a wealth of history was a dream come true. I can only hope that at some point, the contents of the archive are made available for people to see. Waffle irons, cobbler tools and the desk of Prefontaine are in the DNA of every shoe.

A visit to the Innovation Kitchen provides an opportunity to grab time with designers Aaron Cooper, Jay Meschter and Tobie Hatfield, some of the legendary minds behind the most classic kicks in the Nike arsenal. A wise man once said: "An hour of someone’s time is more valuable than any amount of money they can slip into your pocket". It was inspiring to share an afternoon with the people who have sound tracked the footwear of my most creative musical years. From the waffle sole to the air bubble to the Flyknit and beyond, the enthusiasm for the unknown is strong within the wind on campus. The hurricane of change is forever blowing down the track.

Nike is a company built on the sport of running. You can't go to Portland without putting on your running shoes and exploring the city. What better way than in the company of local running crew, the Stump Runners. Later, I’d trade strides with Joan Benoit Samuelson and Shalane Flanagan on the Geoff Hollister Trail. Three days after running the London marathon, I’m running with Olympic champions. It's a testament to the spirit of Nike that such opportunities can exist. Innovation thrives on collaboration through conversation and the encouragement of exploration through a nurturing environment and a week away on campus was like a holiday for the mind.

Challenging, thought provoking, inspirational. Nike

Invent Better

Spend time in conversation with an astronaut, explore the solitude of space.
Run stride for stride with a champion in a celebration, not a race.
Peak into the sketchbooks of innovators and learn what makes them tick.
Walk the hallways of the Innovation Kitchen and witness the magic.
Take a guided tour through the archive and inhale the DNA.
Touch the spirit of Bill Bowerman and sit at the desk of Prefontaine.
Observe the mysterious ones, the people rarely seen.
And embrace the ethos 'be the best that you can be'
For a better world, invent better.


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