Nike Wind
2021
Nike wanted to reach out to casual and aspiring runners for the launch of the Nike Winflo 8 shoe so we created a fun “How to Run” manual to encourage people to get up and get out to find their inner runner.
Various ways in were discussed but the one we settled on was the one we liked best: a narrative “journey.” That’s in quotes because it wasn’t just about the journey one takes on an individual run but about the meta-journey from a non-runner or novice to a casual runner and beyond.
Because they needed hero product imagery
(in various sizes,) storefront mockups, and a sizzle reel, we had to find a journey that could be ‘read’ in still and moving images.
We entered the design phase with an open mind. We knew we wanted something illustrated and playful but we weren’t sure what that was. Soon we were gravitating towards a West Coast vibe because it seemed to best capture the spirit of the casual runner/running curious type.
Next, the idea to filter this through a comic
book-y/zine style came about as a way to compose and frame the story as well as communicate the narrative in both still and moving images. In the end, we created three different stories — three journeys of people discovering their personal nirvana — one step at a time.
Unconventional characters
(AKA: Schmoos before fitness bros.)
We infused our illustrations with a trippy, retro feel, coupling this with modern character designs and iconography. A lot of love went into small details like RPG tabletop game dice, unique ear piercings, and the best cat since The Long Goodbye — specific, unexpected details that helped make them feel like real and relatable people and not the usual models and athletes that normally populate this space.
As we approach the end of this run, a gentle reminder that it’s not a race. Find your pace and you’ll find yourself. Just flow with it. You never know....you might love it.
BUCK
Group Creative Director
Jenny Ko
Executive Producer
Nick Carmen
Associate Creative Director
Janice Ahn
Producer
Ashlie Iacocca
Kirsten Collabolletta
Art Director
Sol Lee
2D Animation Lead
Nick Petley
Copywriting
Dave Evans
Heloise Chung
Design
Emily Suvanvej
Gunnar Pettersson
Heewon Kim
Kenni Huang
Rémi Sorbet
2D Animation
Zackary Miller
Assistant Editor
TJ Rozsa
