DNA Artifacts

Nike Zoom Hyperflight

The Hyperflight’s bold, futuristic look was shaped by Bill Bowerman’s long‑standing belief in stripping designs down to their essentials. As Hyperflight’s lead designer, Eric Avar recalled the start of the project. “Bill Bowerman has just passed away, it was a powerful time. Bill was a spiritual icon: a teacher, coach - and what he means to Nike is indescribable.” On the indoor basketball court on Nike’s campus, Avar happened to stumble into a rehearsal screening of a video celebrating Bill’s life. “It was the day before the memorial and I wasn’t meant to be there watching it,” recalled Avar. “I was one of the only people in there and was totally lost in the moment.” That moment pushed him to consider how Bowerman himself might approach a modern basketball shoe. Remembering Bowerman’s constant push for lighter, simpler solutions, Avar rebuilt the concept from the ground up. The result—a track‑inspired, minimal silhouette for the court—became a meaningful homage to Bowerman’s influence and legacy.