Nike Air Max One. A shoe so iconic only deserves a history just as distinct. From a watch, to a building, to a shoe, the history is complex. It all starts with one simple idea, turning a design inside out. 

Accutron has designed watches for decades. One of their early designs has continued even today. That being the watch with its guts out, gears turning and all. It’s a simple design, but one that has an undeniable appeal. Its appeal was so great in fact, it was the inspiration for the Centre Pompidou.

A building so distinct and odd it was hated for how much it stuck out. The Centre Pompidou is a building that had its piping, electricity, and plumbing easily visible. It was a design meant to simulate a transparent building. And it was the inspiration for Air Max One’s bubble design.

Nike has made many iconic shoes, it just so turns out this one has a dense history. Designer Tinker Hatfield saw the Centre Pompidou and appreciated its unique design. He decided off of this appreciation to push the air bubbles to the outside of the shoe. A decision that is commonplace in shoes today but was innovative then. It wasn’t a particularly dramatic decision, but it led to one of the most popular modern shoes.