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Well there's always talk about Tinker Hatfield and he's basically the uncontested Greates Nike Designer ever....so it's begs the question...who doyou think is the 2nd best designer at Nike ever and why?
2nd best Designer behind Tinker Hatfield? Opinions?
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tate kuerbis is one of my favorites as well
it's hard to say though since I'm not sure who designed a lot of sneakers that i like
it's hard to say though since I'm not sure who designed a lot of sneakers that i like
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Eric Avar
9th Wonder
formerly 9thwonder23kid
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what did he design? i've never heard of him
but i will say it is easily Eric Avar. His designs are very unique and beautiful. Plus he created some of my favorite shoes of all time.
davis
formerly koopa2410
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the only thing i know he did was the Jordan XVIII.
outside of Avar, i would have to put Ken Link in the mix. i like Shox based shoes, and he's done quite a few.
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Ill go Ken Link, Eric Avar, and with his Lebron VII entry JP is def on the list. He is pushing the envelope as much as he can.
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People might hate me for saying this, but from a performance perspective I'd put Avar ahead of Tinker. Don't get me wrong, Tinker is an amazingdesigner, and undoubtedly the most historically significant one, but Avar is just always so on-point with his bball sneakers.
Of course all of Tinkers older sneakers are going to perform worse than Avars due to the limited tech they had to choose from back then, but even his new onesdon't really stack up. The XIV's were Amazing to play in, yes, but I just didn't find them as outstanding a sneaker as everyone else did. TheXX's were also nice, but i still can't really say I loved them for balling purposes. And while I did think the XX3's were one of the most completesneakers ever, I just didn't really like them to play in. They chafed my toes, and their impact protection was just not enough for me (keep in mind thatI'm not that huge).
Of course these are just opinions, and Tinker is certainly no one to scoff at.
Of course all of Tinkers older sneakers are going to perform worse than Avars due to the limited tech they had to choose from back then, but even his new onesdon't really stack up. The XIV's were Amazing to play in, yes, but I just didn't find them as outstanding a sneaker as everyone else did. TheXX's were also nice, but i still can't really say I loved them for balling purposes. And while I did think the XX3's were one of the most completesneakers ever, I just didn't really like them to play in. They chafed my toes, and their impact protection was just not enough for me (keep in mind thatI'm not that huge).
Of course these are just opinions, and Tinker is certainly no one to scoff at.
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IMO, Avar = Tinker
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Eric Avar, Ken Link is also up there and I'm sure by what we've seen so far that JP will also be up there one day
But for now the second best is Avar
But for now the second best is Avar
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who do you think is the 2nd best designer at Nike ever and why?
a few reasons...
and these, the shoes that dont crease
Damn......... I think he may be the best designer of all time.......
take away the III, IV, V, the XI,.... what can Tinker look back at?.... excluding trainers..... I admire Tinker for what he has created but eric isimpressive...
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Eric Avar is the second if not the best. Most of his shoes are performance monsters . Record speak for itself.
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Avar is the GOAT....I haven't like anything out of Tinker in years....
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Eric Avar no doubt!
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just edited my post up there..... i may have to agree....
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Strictly basketball (which is really all I know anyway)? I think Avar does win for the Pennys, Foamposites, Flightposites, Hyperdunk, Kobe's last threeshoes and on and on. He does has a few performance failures (Hyperflight) and ones that were great on the court that still looked ugly (Kobe 3), but he'sprobably the most imaginative shoe designer right now (the cheetah-inspired Flightposite III are still
to me). Two other designers I'm a big fan of are Ken Link (Zoom FlightTurbine, Lebron II & IV, Kobe I & II) and Aaron Cooper (Pippens, Ultraflight, Ultraposite), even though neither are in basketball anymore.
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Avar got the Bball sneakers on lock.
But I have to put Tinker over him for his work on the Jordan line.
But I have to put Tinker over him for his work on the Jordan line.
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those were some very sexy pics. but i think this debate would help alot of us out if we can get some more pics of shoes listed by their designer. nice shotsthough on those shoes!!
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I've long since thought that NT needs some sort of record of who designed what shoes.
Yes, we all know what Tinker designed, who designed the rest of the Jordans, but there are a bunch of others
where the designers aren't so well known.
I've always wondered for instance who designed Barkley's shoes... Esp the Air Max2 CB.
If Nike quit ripping off their own designs and allow him some creative freedom, yes.
Avar VS Tinker... i think Avar doesn't get the widespread recognition he deserves.
I couldn't conclusively say who is 'better' but Avar does seem to have a strong sense not just of aesthetics, but performance too.
Still, even Avar gets shot down the odd time. check the difference between his Penny IV concept drawing and final product.
rockdeep
Banned
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Yeah.. Im glad to see there are real Sneaker Enthusiasts here and not just Sneaker Heads.
Tinker has Jordan as his backdrop. I am not a fan of many Jordans.... but Tinker is cool.. but as mentioned his kicks arent that functional.
Eric Avar is FAR better than Tinker in my opinion. Dont let the Hype of Jordan and Tinker together cloud that Eric brings not only Form but function.
I think along the lines of the better up and comings who's work some will never see due to the shoes never being released.
Tate Kuerbis - This dude does things with kicks. Your new to kicks if you dont know his name
Micheal DiTullo - Formerly with Jordan Brand now with Converse
Jason Petrie - All I can say is the VII is the tip of the Ice Berg from this dude
Tony Hardman - I know he just got there, but you have seen his work here on NT and I wish he were in the Kitchen where his skills would be unleased..
Guys you just dont know who do some major work other than Kenzo.
Jonathan Griffin - Designer of the Super Bad II
Marc Dolce - Designer of the Penny Half Cent
E Scott Morris- Use to be the Design Director for Nike Football before Kenzo took over. Worked in Nike Basketball back in the hey day of CB34 et al
Jason Mayden - Say what you will about some things from Jordan Brand... this guys stuff is functional and performs like a beast on the court.
Google these names and check their patents out. I agree if people knew the Designer behind the Shoe.. you would be much more well informed. Thats why itshard for me to really critique a shoe without saying why. I can't do what they do, and yet I understand what most of you all see is NOT the concept theyfirst started with.
They are hired off of the talent but when that talent is unleashed it's reeled back in due to constraints and costs of making a shoe. If each of the abovedesigners were told. Design what you want and it will not be changed thru out the entire design process that would be some of the greatest stuff you have everseen. I think only the Kitchen gets that REAL leeway. I wish I could be a PLM for the Kitchen designers.
As a matter of fact if the all the above dudes were in the kitchen Nike would be on some BRAND new #%@ working under Eric Avar...
For real.
Tinker has Jordan as his backdrop. I am not a fan of many Jordans.... but Tinker is cool.. but as mentioned his kicks arent that functional.
Eric Avar is FAR better than Tinker in my opinion. Dont let the Hype of Jordan and Tinker together cloud that Eric brings not only Form but function.
I think along the lines of the better up and comings who's work some will never see due to the shoes never being released.
Tate Kuerbis - This dude does things with kicks. Your new to kicks if you dont know his name
Micheal DiTullo - Formerly with Jordan Brand now with Converse
Jason Petrie - All I can say is the VII is the tip of the Ice Berg from this dude
Tony Hardman - I know he just got there, but you have seen his work here on NT and I wish he were in the Kitchen where his skills would be unleased..
Guys you just dont know who do some major work other than Kenzo.
Jonathan Griffin - Designer of the Super Bad II
Marc Dolce - Designer of the Penny Half Cent
E Scott Morris- Use to be the Design Director for Nike Football before Kenzo took over. Worked in Nike Basketball back in the hey day of CB34 et al
Jason Mayden - Say what you will about some things from Jordan Brand... this guys stuff is functional and performs like a beast on the court.
Google these names and check their patents out. I agree if people knew the Designer behind the Shoe.. you would be much more well informed. Thats why itshard for me to really critique a shoe without saying why. I can't do what they do, and yet I understand what most of you all see is NOT the concept theyfirst started with.
They are hired off of the talent but when that talent is unleashed it's reeled back in due to constraints and costs of making a shoe. If each of the abovedesigners were told. Design what you want and it will not be changed thru out the entire design process that would be some of the greatest stuff you have everseen. I think only the Kitchen gets that REAL leeway. I wish I could be a PLM for the Kitchen designers.
As a matter of fact if the all the above dudes were in the kitchen Nike would be on some BRAND new #%@ working under Eric Avar...
For real.