Nike Dissects Their Design Ethos With “Nike: Better is Temporary,” An Unprecedented Publication

Often, Nike is on the receiving end of writings, with many pining to provide their two cents on the renowned titan of industry. But as we enter the 2021 year, we’re to see a point of view more intimate than ever before through the brand’s latest publication: “Nike: Better is Temporary.”

Written by Sam Grawe and published by Phaidon, the work uncovers much of the Swoosh’s overall design ethos, peeling back the layers one-by-one with each chapter. Accompanied by various imagery and examples, the contents highlight insider stories, prototypes, and the like, while incorporating the experience Grawe had thanks to his exclusive access to the Nike World Headquarters.

Introduced with a brief section on Breaking2, the piece kicks off its first chapter with focus on performance and then quickly delves deeper into brand expression, collaboration, inclusive design, and then sustainability — all clear pillars of Nike’s success.

Packaged minimally and without unnecessary material, “Nike: Better is Temporary” will release this month at select retailers and phaidon.com. A wider launch will shortly after on January 25th, 2021.