Following months of teasing, Nike is preparing to release the “Air Max Scorpion” to usher in a new era of Air. The next footwear silhouette is the first manifestation of a significant evolution in Nike Air technology, achieved through new digital product creation capabilities and driven by athlete insights.
The Nike Air Max Scorpion was created entirely during the pandemic, with Nike designers, engineers, and scientists pioneering new virtual collaboration methods. The sneaker, which was created in 18 months, is an example of how the sportswear company’s digital transformation is boosting its culture of invention.
According to Nike, “The pace of creation was made possible through application of new VR design software and simulation tools allowing for real time, hand-in-hand collaboration between designers, engineers and developers through the pandemic. Embedded in the design are morphology data and pressure maps derived from the Nike Sports Research Lab (NSRL). Testing and prototyping were accelerated through both Finite Element Analysis (FEA), which assesses the system’s performance against real-world demands, and in-house rapid testing of virtual prototypes (or digital twins) that together dramatically reduced the need for, and environmental impact of, physical samples.”
Expert Materials Researcher Nancy Eisenmenger comments that the team’s novel process during the pandemic helped them uncover the edge of material constraints, pushing them to “optimize for performance and manufacturability without any aesthetic compromise.” Unlike prior testing methodologies, which required eight weeks to evaluate a single concept, several concepts could be examined in just five weeks.
Nike pioneered computational design for industrial design applications, which resulted in the best outsole traction pattern for the Air Max Scorpion. Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation produced over 14 tooling sets to provide the greatest Air in terms of pounds per square inch, pressure graded throughout sizes, allowing for exact performance improvements across sizes. Wearers have more awareness of movement as they progress from simple tubes to radical complex designs that offer an unmediated underfoot experience for a dynamic ride and all-day comfort.
Furthermore, the piston-like effect created by the strategically placed point-loaded contact points between the foot and the airbag is aided by a first-of-its-kind Flyknit chenille top. The uppers’ 20% recycled content by weight short fibers are formed perpendicularly by two twisted vertical core yarns for a distinct soft pile texture.
The Air Max Scorpion will be officially launched by Nike come October 5.
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