Tinker Hatfield

Tinker Hatfield, Nike's Vice President for Design and Special Projects, is recognized for his impactful contributions to the world of shoe design. His portfolio includes the design of the Air Jordans III through XV, XX, and XX3, along with co-designing Air Jordans 2010 and XXX. He also designed the Nike Air Max 1 Running Shoe and the Air Max 90, which have made significant impressions in the sports industry. Hatfield's innovative approach to shoe design was also highlighted when he designed the bat-boots for Michael Keaton in "Batman" and "Batman Returns".

Aside from his work at Nike, Hatfield's influence in design extends to other areas such as the creation of the graphic design on the basketball court at the Matthew Knight Arena at the University of Oregon. He also contributed to the Nike and Jordan brand concept car designs for "Gran Turismo 6". His design prowess was recognized when he was named one of the most influential people on the business side of sports by Sportstyle Magazine in 1993 and 1996, and one of Fortune magazine's "100 Most Influential Designers" of the 20th century in 1998.

Hatfield was profiled in the first season of the Netflix documentary series "Abstract: The Art of Design", providing a deeper insight into his creative process and influence in shoe design. He debuted a new Nike REACT model at the SXSW event in 2019, further cementing his status as a leading innovator in the industry. Hatfield's commitment to his craft and his ability to critique his own work, as seen in his evaluation of the Jordan 15s and Jordan 11s, demonstrate a continuous pursuit for improvement and innovation. This commitment was acknowledged when he received the Ellis F. Lawrence Medal from the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts in 2008, and when he was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for Special Contribution to Sport the same year.