Tony Hardman: Footwear Design
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Air Jordan XXIV Development
Inspiration
The Air Jordan XXIV had several sources of inspiration stemming from what made Michael Jordan the most exciting and special basketball player of all time.
Timeless Artist Inspiration
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Michael's artistry and creative intuition on the court set him apart and made him unforgettable. His game was multi-dimensional and ahead of it's time, much like the creations of Leonardo DaVinci. Leonardo was the first man to study human flight, or "volo strumentale", and many of his works involved angels: personifications of human flight. The outsole of the XXIV was inspired by the angel's wings, and would be the last thing you see as Mike flies over you for the dunk!
Another great Renaissance leader, Filippo Brunelleschi engineered the dome that still stands in Flourence, Italy today. He was a man of great determination and vision. The cutaway image of his dome directly inspired the breathable heel structure of the XXIV.
Michael Jordan was the very definition of a Renaissance Man, who in fact led a new renaissance (which means "rebirth") in the NBA and footwear alike. After MJ, footwear would never be sold, designed or marketed the same again!
Comanche Inspiration
Michael's athleticism and ability to change direction while hanging in mid-air while attacking the basket eventually earned him the nickname "AIR". This trait was carried into the design by the Comanche helicopter inspiration. The Comanche was the fiercest military chopper ever constructed, and incidentally the most expensive. Though it was eventually scrapped by the Government, the Comanche was the first helicopter with stealth and was capable of flying sideways at speeds upwards of 70 mph! It's employment of advanced resin transfer molded panels instead of carbon fiber to make it lighter was also used in the final shoe to create a versatile molded chassis for the ultimate combination of support and flexibility. As another tribute to it's technical precision, the shoe features an embossed topographical body mapping of the foot on it's midsole or upper (XXIV/23 concepts respectively) to reflect the Jordan Brand's dedication to high performance, biomechanically correct product.
Michael's athleticism and ability to change direction while hanging in mid-air while attacking the basket eventually earned him the nickname "AIR". This trait was carried into the design by the Comanche helicopter inspiration. The Comanche was the fiercest military chopper ever constructed, and incidentally the most expensive. Though it was eventually scrapped by the Government, the Comanche was the first helicopter with stealth and was capable of flying sideways at speeds upwards of 70 mph! It's employment of advanced resin transfer molded panels instead of carbon fiber to make it lighter was also used in the final shoe to create a versatile molded chassis for the ultimate combination of support and flexibility. As another tribute to it's technical precision, the shoe features an embossed topographical body mapping of the foot on it's midsole or upper (XXIV/23 concepts respectively) to reflect the Jordan Brand's dedication to high performance, biomechanically correct product.
