In 1981, Tinker Hatfield joined Nike as a Corporate Architect before being asked to design footwear. His first project is what we know today as “Air Max.”

On a trip to Paris, at the top of his “must-see” list was The Centre George Pompidou designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. Both men were unemployed when they proposed a radical submission to an open brief. Their design turned a building inside out, exposing the inner workings with an unmissable colorful facade. Much to their surprise, they won. The building was very different from Parisian styling and looked like a machine in the city skyline, which made it highly controversial at its opening in 1977. Tinker left Paris inspired. Although he said he did not design the shoe based on the building, he also said that without seeing it, he may never have thought to make “Air” visible.