Nike Sportswear is launching its Air Works research, development and design program, bringing eight designers to Beaverton to shape the future of Air Max through a global, community-first lens.
Designers from Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo will work with Nike mentors to build 3D-printed Air Max styles in partnership with Zellerfeld, with each concept designed to reflect local identity and celebrate the designer’s home community.
“Air Works is about celebrating the cultural impact of Air Max and inviting a core group of global creatives to imagine what its future could look like,” says Andy Caine, VP, Creative Director, Nike Sportswear.
The May workshop includes hands-on sessions with Nike designers and engineers, plus visits to Nike’s Air Manufacturing Innovation facility, the Department of Nike Archives, the Nike Sport Research Lab, Blue Ribbon Studio and the Bowerman Footwear Lab. After the inaugural session, each designer will release a limited friends-and-family run in their local market throughout the coming year, leading into Air Max Day 2027.
When is Nike Air Works launching?
Nike Air Works is launching in May 2026 at Nike’s Philip H. Knight Campus in Beaverton, Oregon, as part of Nike Sportswear’s global Air Max innovation pipeline. The inaugural session is scheduled for May 11th, 2026 through May 14th, 2026. That kickoff sets the timeline for localized friends-and-family launches across the following year. The mid-May window positions the first workshop as the starting point of a year-long path toward Air Max Day 2027. Check out images of Nike Air Works below while we wait for more details about the launch.
In other news, check out the Nike Air Max 90 Golf "White & Linen", which is releasing soon.
Product Images
Vlad Ciutacu is a writer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He has been working in the footwear industry for more than a decade, with hundreds of pairs in his collection. His favourite models are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
