How did Nike develop the Lunar One Shot skate shoe. What innovative features does it include. Why is it considered a groundbreaking design for skateboarding footwear. How does it compare to other popular Nike SB models.
The Birth of a Data-Informed Skate Shoe
In late 2013, Nike SB unveiled their latest technological marvel in skateboarding footwear – the Lunar One Shot. This sleek and innovative skate shoe was the culmination of extensive research, data analysis, and input from professional skateboarders. But what exactly went into creating this groundbreaking design?
The development of the Lunar One Shot began with Nike’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of skate shoe performance. Their goal was to create a lightweight, responsive shoe that would maximize board feel while minimizing the dreaded “break-in” period that plagues many skate shoes. To achieve this, Nike employed a data-driven approach, utilizing advanced metrics and wear-testing to inform every aspect of the design.
Professional skateboarders Sean Malto and Shane O’Neill played a crucial role in the shoe’s development, providing valuable feedback throughout the process. Their insights helped Nike fine-tune everything from the overall fit to how the shoe performed during specific skateboarding tricks. This collaboration between athletes and designers was key to creating a shoe that met the demanding needs of professional-level skateboarding.
Innovative Features of the Lunar One Shot
The Lunar One Shot incorporates several cutting-edge features that set it apart from traditional skate shoes. Let’s explore some of its most notable innovations:
Synthetic Upper with Hyperscreen Traction Layer
The shoe’s upper is constructed entirely from synthetic materials, providing durability and consistent performance. A standout feature is the Hyperscreen traction layer, which is strategically applied to areas that experience the most wear and tear during skateboarding. This innovative solution enhances the shoe’s longevity without compromising its lightweight design.
Mesh Heel Pocket for Improved Flexibility
One of the most visually striking elements of the Lunar One Shot is its external mesh heel pocket. This design choice serves a crucial function – improving flexibility in an area of the shoe prone to slippage. Nike SB Senior Footwear Designer Shawn Carboy explains:
“The anatomical shape of the counter derives from soccer boots, and the cut-out is for articulation. This allows the shoe to move with the heel without losing the lockdown needed in the area.”
Lunarlon Cushioning Technology
The Lunar One Shot incorporates Nike’s proprietary Lunarlon cushioning in both the heel and midsole. This lightweight foam provides excellent impact protection while maintaining board feel – a crucial balance for skateboarders. The Lunarlon technology also contributes to the shoe’s overall comfort, giving wearers that coveted “walking on air” sensation.
Design Influences and Aesthetic Choices
While the Lunar One Shot introduces many new technologies, its design also draws inspiration from some of Nike SB’s most successful and visually appealing models. Observant skaters may notice similarities to other popular Nike SB shoes:
- The ankle support resembles that of the beloved Janoski model
- The broad, single-piece toe box takes cues from the Koston 2
These design choices create a sense of familiarity for Nike SB fans while still pushing the envelope in terms of performance and technology. The result is a shoe that looks as good as it performs, appealing to style-conscious skaters and tech enthusiasts alike.
The Controversy Surrounding Nike in Skateboarding
Despite the Lunar One Shot’s impressive features, it’s worth acknowledging the ongoing debate surrounding Nike’s presence in the skateboarding industry. Why do some skaters still view Nike with skepticism?
The controversy stems from skateboarding’s counterculture roots and the perception of Nike as a corporate giant entering a niche market. Some purists argue that Nike’s involvement commercializes skateboarding and takes market share away from core skate brands. However, it’s undeniable that Nike has made significant contributions to skate shoe design and technology since entering the market.
Proponents of Nike SB point to the company’s ability to invest in research and development, leading to innovations like the Lunar One Shot. They argue that this pushes the entire industry forward, benefiting skaters with higher-performing products. Additionally, Nike’s sponsorship of professional skateboarders and support of skateboarding events has helped grow the sport’s visibility.
Ultimately, the debate around Nike’s role in skateboarding is likely to continue. However, products like the Lunar One Shot demonstrate the company’s commitment to creating high-quality, performance-driven skate shoes that resonate with many riders.
The Impact of Professional Skater Input
The involvement of Sean Malto and Shane O’Neill in the Lunar One Shot’s development highlights the importance of professional athlete feedback in creating top-tier skateboarding products. How exactly did their input shape the final design?
According to Shawn Carboy, the professional skaters’ feedback influenced various aspects of the shoe:
- Perfecting the overall fit
- Adjusting performance for specific tricks
- Fine-tuning the sole width for optimal board control
One specific example Carboy mentions is how they adjusted the width of the sole based on Shane O’Neill’s feedback to create a better platform for nollie heelflips. This level of detail and customization demonstrates Nike’s commitment to creating a shoe that truly meets the needs of high-level skateboarders.
The collaboration between athletes and designers also helps bridge the gap between Nike’s corporate structure and the core skateboarding community. By actively involving respected pros in the development process, Nike SB gains credibility and ensures their products resonate with dedicated skaters.
Comparing the Lunar One Shot to Other Nike SB Models
To fully appreciate the Lunar One Shot’s place in the Nike SB lineup, it’s helpful to compare it to some of the brand’s other popular models. How does it stack up against shoes like the Janoski, Koston, or Bruin?
The Stefan Janoski, first released in 2009, revolutionized skate shoe design with its minimalist approach and vulcanized sole. In contrast, the Lunar One Shot takes a more technical approach, incorporating advanced materials and cushioning technology. While the Janoski prioritizes board feel and simplicity, the Lunar One Shot aims to balance performance with impact protection and durability.
The Eric Koston line, particularly the Koston 2, shares some design DNA with the Lunar One Shot, especially in the toe box area. However, the Lunar One Shot pushes further into the realm of data-driven design and incorporates more visible technology, like the mesh heel pocket.
The Nike SB Bruin, a classic model with roots in basketball, offers a more traditional skate shoe feel. The Lunar One Shot, in comparison, represents a forward-thinking approach that embraces modern materials and construction techniques.
While each of these models has its strengths and loyal fans, the Lunar One Shot stands out for its emphasis on data-informed design and incorporation of Nike’s latest shoe technologies. It represents a new direction for Nike SB, one that could influence future skate shoe designs across the industry.
The Marketing and Launch of the Lunar One Shot
Nike’s launch strategy for the Lunar One Shot demonstrates the company’s marketing prowess and commitment to creating buzz around their skateboarding products. How did they introduce this innovative shoe to the world?
The initial announcement of the Lunar One Shot came on November 26, 2013, generating excitement among skateboarders and sneaker enthusiasts alike. Nike strategically positioned the shoe as “the most data-informed, wear-tested, technology-packed competitive skate shoe on the market,” setting high expectations for its performance.
To showcase the Lunar One Shot in action, Nike SB organized a major production shoot in Buffalo, New York, in September 2013. This ambitious project involved:
- A production crew of over 50 people
- Filming at iconic Buffalo locations like the Central Terminal and Silo City
- Featuring skateboarding stars Shane O’Neill, Sean Malto, and Luan Oliveira
The resulting media campaign included television commercials, web content, and print advertising, all shot in Buffalo. This multi-channel approach ensured maximum visibility for the Lunar One Shot launch.
Interestingly, Buffalo was chosen as the backdrop for this campaign over other considered locations like Berlin. This decision was influenced by Buffalo expat Ben Wall, who served as the Nike SB Producer/Project Manager and suggested the city’s unique architectural features as an ideal setting for showcasing the shoe.
The Lunar One Shot officially hit the market on December 26, 2013, allowing Nike to capitalize on the post-holiday shopping period. By building anticipation through their marketing campaign and timing the release strategically, Nike set the stage for a successful launch of their latest skateboarding innovation.
The Future of Skate Shoe Design
The release of the Nike SB Lunar One Shot raises intriguing questions about the future of skate shoe design. How might this data-driven approach influence other brands and future models?
One potential trend is an increased focus on quantifiable performance metrics in skate shoe development. As technology advances, we may see more brands investing in sophisticated wear-testing and data collection methods to inform their designs. This could lead to highly specialized shoes tailored for specific skating styles or trick types.
Another possible direction is the further integration of materials and technologies from other sports. The Lunar One Shot’s incorporation of Lunarlon cushioning (originally developed for running shoes) and design elements inspired by soccer boots suggests that cross-pollination between sports can yield innovative results for skateboarding.
We may also see a greater emphasis on rapid prototyping and customization in skate shoe production. As 3D printing technology improves, it’s conceivable that skaters could one day have shoes tailored to their exact foot shape and skating style.
Sustainability is likely to play an increasingly important role in skate shoe design as well. Brands may explore eco-friendly materials and production methods to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers while maintaining performance standards.
Regardless of the specific directions skate shoe design takes, the Lunar One Shot serves as a benchmark for data-informed, technology-driven approaches to skateboarding footwear. Its influence will likely be felt in the industry for years to come, inspiring both Nike and its competitors to push the boundaries of what’s possible in skate shoe performance and design.
Nike SB Lunar One Shot
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A lightweight, data-driven skate shoe designed to maximize board feel and minimize break in time
Graham Hiemstra
While some purists still dispute Nike‘s presence in skateboarding, there’s no denying their contribution to skate shoe design and development. The latest tech to reach the market lies within the Lunar One Shot, a new shoe announced today, 26 November. The Swoosh claims the sleek, slim shoe to be “the most data-informed, wear-tested, technology-packed competitive skate shoe on the market.” Uneasy feelings of a “competitive skate shoe” label aside, the design was reportedly looked over by tech wizards and SB teammates Sean Malto and Shane O’Neill, lending a heavy mark of legitimacy to the flashy sneaker. “Their feedback helped in a range of areas, from perfecting the fit to how the shoe performs while doing certain tricks,” explained senior footwear designer for Nike SB Shawn Carboy.
“In Shane’s case we adjusted the width of the sole to have a better platform for nollie heel flips.”
Design-wise, the Lunar One Shot looks to have taken hints from some of the SB brand’s most successful and best looking shoes—ankle support that resembles that of the much-loved Janoski and a broad single piece toe-box that takes after the most recent Koston 2. Of course the Lunar One Shot upgrades all materials involved, including an entirely synthetic upper with innovative Hyperscreen traction layer applied directly to where metrics showed tester’s experienced the most to wear and tear.
Another, perhaps more notable, design detail is the mesh heel pocket; the external cut-out aims to improve flexibility in a portion of the the shoe prone to slippage. Or as Carboy puts it, “the anatomical shape of the counter derives from the boots in soccer and the cut out is for articulation, in which the shoe is allowed to move with the heel without losing the lockdown needed in the area.
” Plus Lunarlon heel cushioning and midsole add that lightweight walking-on-air feeling that—thanks to Flyknit and Free—we’re all craving. While we have yet to test the Lunar One Shot, we’re confident Carboy knows what he’s doing. Expect to see the Lunar One Shot online directly from Nike SB 26 December.
Photos by Graham Hiemstra
Nike SB Lunar One Shot
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NIKE SB’s LUNAR ONE SHOT CAMPAIGN SHOT IN BUFFALO
(January, 6th, 2014) For Nike SB’s latest line the “Lunar One Shot” released just this week, a production crew of over 50 descended on Buffalo’s Central Terminal, Colonel Ward Pumping Station, Silo City and other parts of Buffalo this past September to capture the this new line in action.
An international multiple media roll out of the“Lunar One Shot” will be covered through TV, web, and print advertising, all of it shot in Buffalo focusing mainly on three of skateboarding’s biggest stars Shane O’Neill, Sean Malto, and Luan Oliveira with some special guests.
After previous Nike SB campaign shoots all over the world, for the Lunar One Shot Campaign, Buffalo beat out Berlin, Nike SB Producer/Project Manager and Buffalo Expat Ben Wall suggested the Central Terminal to the Nike SB Creative Director’s Damion Triplett, Michael Hernandez and Lead Designer Eric Lovejoy. A quick August scouting trip from Portland, the assistance of Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Executive Director Marilyn Rogers, and an extensive scout throughout the City of Buffalo with the Buffalo Niagara Film Office and Sunday Skates JP Gillespie, production was set for and completed on what turned out to be a beautiful late week in September.
(L-R: Nike SB Featured Professional Skate Boarder Sean Malto, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Nike SB Global Marketing Manager Kasper Van Lierop, and Buffalo Native – Nike SB Producer/Project Manager Ben Wall on the Central Terminal Set)
Mayor Byron Brown continued his support for production in Buffalo with City owned location requests which included parts of the terminal and also the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.
Rick Smith allowed filming at the always creatively buzzing Silo City. JP Gillespie gathered a hardworking crew to helped clean and prep the various sets around the city.
(L-R – 1st AC Jeremiah Pitman, 2nd AC Shannon Madden, and BB Grip Nick Earley set up a dolly shot with the Sony Phantom.)
Trish Phelan handled local Production Manager Duties, and Christi Allen served as Assistant Director for the extensive local crew that supported Portland’s AfterAll Productions Ike Martin and Jon Humphries as well as the entire Nike SB Creative Team. The “One Shot” Campaign was shot with two Arri Alexa’s and a Sony Phantom. Director of Photography was Greg Schmitt, with Buffalo’s Shannon Madden serving as a 2nd AC among others.
A hardy group of Nike SB Team Members made their way up to Niagara Falls State Park and the Cave of the Winds. Brazil’s Luan Oliveira leads the way.
Over 27 out of town crew members spent a week hitting Buffalo’s great cuisine at restaurants such as Mother’s, The Anchor Bar, The Black Rock Kitchen, Gabriel’s Gate, The Lodge, Allen Street Hardware, and others.
Along with the current segment featuring Australia’s Shane O’Neill, segments featuring Luan Oliveira starts in 3 weeks, and Sean Malto starting in March.
Nike SB Lunar One Shot – http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/skateboarding/lunar-one-shot
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VLC 4 will bring a more modern user interface; planning a literally moonshot
VLC is one of the most popular video apps because it plays just about any format you give it. Fans will be happy to hear that VLC 4 will bring a more modern look to the app in the coming months.
The team behind it is also considering adopting a Plex-style business model to secure the app’s future, and is planning to launch into space – literally…
There is a piece in the log about the past and future of VLC, which starts with the history of the application.
The student staff managing the École Centrale Paris campus network has a problem.
The university’s token ring network has become too slow for students living on campus. For years, technology has done its job, offering access to email and newsgroups. But by the mid-90s, students wanted more. They wanted to download files, surf the web, and most of all play Duke Nukem 3D, which was not possible on the legacy network architecture.
However, the university was unable to provide a network update. Desperate for an outside sponsor, the students struck a deal with a major French broadcaster that wanted to use the campus as a testing ground for an early version of IPTV delivery. Idea: Instead of equipping each dorm room with its own satellite dish and set-top box, students will find a way to broadcast TV signals through their local network.
“The goal of the project was to show that you can resend a satellite feed and decode [it] on conventional machines that will cost a lot less,” said Jean-Baptiste Kempf, President of the VideoLAN Foundation. To do this, the students developed a video server and playback application, which at the time was called VideoLAN Client.
The university’s token ring network has become too slow for students living on campus. For years, technology has done its job, offering access to email and newsgroups. But by the mid-90s, students wanted more. They wanted to download files, surf the web, and most of all play Duke Nukem 3D, which was not possible on the legacy network architecture.
The project was handed over when the students graduated and eventually the team behind it decided to make it open source.It was the Mac that led to the first significant increase in usage.
A few weeks after VLC was released as open source in 2001, a Dutch developer ported it to macOS, causing its first real upsurge in usage. Apple’s initial versions of OS X did not have a built-in DVD player app, and early adopters of the new system turned to VLC as a replacement.
Although VLC remains popular, it does not feature a beautiful or modern user interface. But VideoLAN Foundation President Jean-Baptiste Kempf says that’s about to change.
Twenty years after its first open source release, the app is as popular as ever, with between 800,000 and 1 million downloads every day. In addition to the desktop versions, there are now also official VLC apps for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, and Chrome OS, among others.
In the coming months, VideoLAN will release VLC 4.0 with an updated user interface. “We’ve redesigned the interface to make it a bit more modern,” Kempf said.The team has always rejected proposals to commercialize the application, but is now considering one possible way to secure VLC in the future.
Kempf pointed to Plex and its ad-supported video services as a model to learn from. “This is something that might work for VLC,” he said.
Oh yes, that moon shot…
Videolan also plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year by starting literally with a lunar footage: the team wants to install a video time capsule aboard the first commercial lunar spaceflight later this year, and is currently asking VLC users to submit their own videos. “There are a lot of people in the VideoLAN community who really love space,” said Kempf. “We have SpaceX fans, dedicated fans” […] “The moon is absolutely idiotic, but it’s so much fun.
”No word yet on a release date for VLC 4, but stay tuned.
Redrecords photo from Pexels
Peter Drucker’s Essential Management Practices
Peter Drucker was one of the most influential business thinkers of the 20th century. He taught management at Bennington College and New York University.
Published 39 books and 900 scientific articles. Developed one of the country’s first MBA programs for working professionals. He was consulted by the heads of General Motors, Sears, General Electric, IBM, Intel, and even George W. Bush.
Peter Drucker saw the future so deeply that all his management advice is still relevant today. We collected the rules that the scientist believed in.
Do not lead, but lead
Drucker argued that management makes work difficult for those who do it. Sometimes a manager gets so caught up in improvements and optimization that it distracts employees.
Give them freedom of action and free them from unnecessary management decisions.
And if the leader does not trust his subordinates, then, most likely, the wrong people are at the helm.
Every leader must be a leader first, and only then a boss. The manager is needed to give tools for work and provide comfortable conditions.
But a manager should never impose his methods of work, especially on workers in the intellectual sphere.
The mission of a leader in a company is to infect people with an idea.
The charisma of a leader is good, but his ideas are much more important. Periodically review your management methods, analyze which ones are not working and why.
To retain good employees, give them a “moonshot”
The term “moonshot” was coined by Peter Diamandis, an American aviation engineer and entrepreneur. He explained the phenomenon when a great goal creates attraction and keeps employees in its orbit.
Peter Drucker also considered this method of retaining personnel to be the best. Monetary motivation or career growth does not compare with the desire to do great things. The ability to reach the top is the best engine of progress.
And if you give employees an understanding of how big their work can be, they won’t think about quitting. Well, if tests scare employees, the company does not need such people.
Before starting a task, ask why it is needed at all
Managers start their day with planning. Every day they spend time thinking about what tasks to solve first and how to do it. But Drucker advises first asking yourself why the task even came about and whether it is important.
Now the quantity is not important, the main thing is how well you do your work and how much benefit it brings. After a critical assessment of cases, a third of them will disappear as unnecessary.
Boredom is only your area of responsibility
Peter Drucker devoted himself completely to his work. He called interest the main driving force.
“It is difficult to work for those who are indifferent and have no purpose,” he said.
And assured that if you are bored, it is only your fault. It means that you do not understand your goal or do not love your job.
The same idea is conveyed by Mark Manson in his book “The Subtle Art of Giving a Fuck”.
An American entrepreneur advises you to start taking responsibility for your life: only in this way will you think differently and make meaningful decisions.
Volunteer Employees
After his retirement, Drucker gave business advice to volunteer organizations and instilled business acumen in them. Volunteers are people inspired by a common idea, a goal.
It is their commitment that makes it possible to achieve results.
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Drucker’s experience with non-profit organizations suggested that the same commitment should be instilled in employees.
Make ideological volunteers out of your employees and then they will grab the job themselves.
A sense of social responsibility at work is inherent in Generation Y and Z workers, as Drucker predicted. Relinquish the past While the manager relishes past successes, achievements, getting the company into the prestigious top, the work is worth it, and the company remains at the same level.
Development is a continuous process that requires daily effort. Only when the leader strives for more, is dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, does the company have a future.
Follow the sports principle: once you’re off the podium, you’re nobody and you need to work hard again.
Bellman’s principle of optimality can also be applied here. The mathematical method is perfectly applicable in real life situations. It is to make the best decision in the conditions in which you are.
Forget about all missed opportunities and act as efficiently as possible in the current conditions in life and business.
The key is marketing and technology
Business innovation brings products and solutions. Marketing sells them. All other stages and processes are just costs that lead to the main goal.
They do not give a great return, so you need to spend time and investment on them to a minimum. Focus on the core tasks and it will pay more dividends.
Make the product sell itself
Most people use marketing techniques to sell their product.
To advertise qualitatively, to form the correct perception of the brand. But Peter Drucker argued that the goal of marketing is for a product to sell itself.
To do this, marketers conduct research, study the audience and customer needs. Marketing is needed to give the buyer what he needs, and not to impose a product.
Build and apply knowledge
Continually add and use knowledge. After all, if you do not apply skills in your field, they will simply evaporate. Also, be a picky consumer in education.
Choose courses, lectures and seminars on current topics from the best teachers. Otherwise, you will waste your time, money and effort.
Drucker paid special attention to reading useful literature. Business books, analytical papers, and author cases are the best teaching aids.
Create a positive environment for employees to acquire new knowledge.
