New sneaker and clothing drops are not the only goodies Nike will be releasing this month.
On Thursday, publisher Phaidon will begin shipping the first copies of “Nike: Better is Temporary.” The 320-page book—available for $89.95—offers “an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes exploration into Nike’s internal design philosophy,” the footwear giant said.
Over the course of hundreds of pages, author Sam Grawe combines exclusive access to Nike’s world headquarters with insights from its creatives and executives. Featuring 500 color illustrations, “Nike: Better is Temporary” places the company’s innovations and products alongside previously unpublished designs and prototypes.
The tome’s title references a conversation with chief design officer John Hoke, who said, “I fundamentally believe that the central thesis of Nike is ‘The best is temporary at best.’”
Following an introductory section on Breaking2, a project Nike designed to smash the two-hour marathon barrier, the book is divided into five chapters. The first, “The Voice of The Athlete,” looks into the company’s close collaborations with elite athletes and how they “continually evolve” its research, innovation and design. The following chapter, “Design That Speaks,” dissects a selection of iconic Nike ad campaigns and brand designs. Chapter 3, “Dream With Us,” explores Nike’s collaborations with athletes and creatives. The book’s penultimate segment, “Opening the Aperture,” highlights the company’s inclusion efforts, while the final entry, “Playground Earth,” dives into Nike’s sustainability endeavors.
“Nike: Better is Temporary” is minimally packaged, reducing unnecessary materials by binding two exposed cardboard covers in a single-layer nonwoven jacket that will soundly protect its contents, Nike said.
The book releases this month at select retailers and on Phaidon’s website, with a wider release scheduled for Jan. 25.