Forty years after showcasing the Air bubble through the sole of the first Air Max, Nike is opening its design chain to designers from around the world.
The inaugural Nike Air Works program brings together eight creatives from Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo. From May 11 to 14, 2026, they will gather at the Philip H. Knight campus in Beaverton, Oregon, to develop their own 3D-printed Air Max models in partnership with Zellerfeld, the studio behind the Air Max 1000 and Air Max 95000, which have already been launched in 3D with the brand.
During these four days, participants will have access to Nike's internal facilities: Bowerman Footwear Lab, Nike Sport Research Lab, Department of Nike Archives, and Blue Ribbon Studio. Each pair must reflect the identity of its creator and their community, while fitting into four decades of Air innovation.
"Air Works is an opportunity to dive into the history, innovation, and inspiration of Air Max, uniting outside perspectives with the tools, talents, and capabilities unique to Nike to redefine what Air Max represents for this generation,” explains Andy Caine, VP Creative Director at Nike Sportswear.
At the end of the program, each designer will launch an ultra-limited version of their pair, reserved for their F&F circle, with celebrations planned in each community throughout the year. This is all set to drop ahead of Air Max Day 2027. The eight selected designers will be revealed in the coming months.
The Nike Air Max 1000 designed by Zellerfeld, released for Air Max Day this week, is already available on the calendar.