Comments on: Nike kit designer interview – exclusive

By: Viresh Panchal

Viresh Panchal — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:49:32 +0000

Can u please tell me how I can apply for a job like this within Nike? Reason being is that the recent design for kits is really really poor. Adidas are overtaking. I believe that I have design that will make Nike kits best sellers and awesome design. If you could Private Message me to my email.

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:03:20 +0000

Chris O – I’ve just read your comment again and noticed your last sentence!! Funnily enough, ‘Can I have a job?’ was going to be the last question in my interview but I thought I’d better take it out!!

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:46:26 +0000

Thanks for all your replys everyone – good to hear from some Gooners, I have to say I do think the club should always have the white sleeves, its too unique and too good in the football world to be ditched – it makes Arsenal’s kit distinctive.

What strikes me the most about the interview is the integrity Nike employ when designing a kit. They have a concept – a plan. That of simplicity and elegance and I think thats really noticeable in their designs. People that criticise them as being plain and boring are really comparing them to strips produced by other kit manufacturers and not appreciating them for what they are. Adidas and Umbro kits are known for their flamboyant and intricate designs (which is fine!) and Nike should be recognised and acknowledged for the distinctive minimalist, simple look they give to their kits.

For years people have complained that kits were getting too gaudy and complicated (we only have to look back to the early 90s for evidence of this). What Nike do in my opinion is bring a clean aesthetic back to designs that appeal to the everyday football fan. They also put thought and care into the story behind each kit and apply unique characteristics to each one, rather than just employ the same template in a number of different colourways.

By: Denis Hurley

Denis Hurley — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:51:07 +0000

I know what you’re saying, but all those Newcastle kits have had stripes, they haven’t all of a sudden gone with halves or black shirts with white sleeves.

The white sleeves should be an integral part of the Arsenal kit, and there is still room to play with that, as well as having different tertiary colours (Nike have used navy, yellow, gold and redcurrant)

By: Andrew Rockall

Andrew Rockall — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:14:13 +0000

But manufacturers have to keep coming up with variations on a theme. Look at Newcastle, Adidas since Aug 1995 with 7 different styles, they have tinkered with different stripe widths, collars and sleeves.

Nike only have the sleeve to play with on the Arseanal strip.

By: Denis Hurley

Denis Hurley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:32:47 +0000

Andrew, you’re right about it being the ninth home kit, but it’s only the eighth red and white one

By: john

john — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:01:05 +0000

The Arsenal kit is a classic and unique to them design,but so is Ajax’s and they keep to tradition and still change.

By: Andrew Rockall

Andrew Rockall — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:36:50 +0000

I think the issue with the sleeves on the Arsenal kit is, they have changed them this year to create a reson to change them back. Nike have provided Arsenal’s kit since 1994 and this years was the 9th different home strip, it’s hard to keep coming up with variations on red shirts with white sleeves.

By: Chris O

Chris O — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:49:41 +0000

Great interview John!

Quite often, the people that work for kit companies can come across as a bit boring and unenthused by their job, but they gave an interesting insight into how their designs eventually become reality.

Kudos to you that they appreciate your True Colours designs… they’ll be offering you a job next!!

By: chris

chris — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:41:01 +0000

arsenal are red shirt white sleeves. end of story.