How To Be A Sneaker Designer For Nike and Jordan Brand | Jobs Unlisted

Speedy Morman takes viewers on an in-depth look into some of the most aspirational and unexpectedly cool professions that you won’t just find in a job search. On the premiere episode of Jobs Unlisted, find out if Speedy can or even wants to make it as a Sneaker Designer in the world of Nike and Jordan Brand.
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

[@fede248]

nike designers: travis scott: *flips nike logo* everyone: :o

[@Lo4aron]

It's called a Swoosh not nike logo

[@cardodalitay9184]

@@Lo4aron **"swoosh"* not just swoosh.

[@Lo4aron]

@@cardodalitay9184 who even does that Lmao that's only specific for jordan 1s

[@cardodalitay9184]

@@Lo4aron jeezus dont take everything to seriously

[@paradox7578]

@@cardodalitay9184 No it's *r/wooosh*

[@louismiller7733]

Consumer: hmmm what's the unique selling point of this shoe? Speedy: my favourite food is pasta so that's red Consumer: take my money

[@charleshughes9940]

lmao

[@thesupremeultraboost5219]

Louis miller sw

[@amey777]

Super sweet joke 🤣

[@tez8700]

Louis miller Lolololololololololololo

[@cooperaveryrussett5815]

LMFAO

[@terinapakuria5592]

You mad disrespectful to the hands that prepared those shoes.

[@TheYouTubesters12]

i feel like he went too harsh on the guy making the sneaker. i always feel bad for people who look innocent like that guy who get hated on. idk 🤷‍♀️

[@reign8191]

fr

[@jfox1083]

Those look like some 2k generics💀😂

[@cooperaveryrussett5815]

J Fox OMG THEY DO LOL

[@victor-fg6ie]

U just made my day😂😂

[@staceyios4498]

Bruhhh , u right tho

[@dogeater2439]

That's disrespect to Generics

[@vladmaci2553]

FACTS

[@aarond9563]

Complex over here paying Speedy to find another job!

Low-key tho LoL

[@dudesah7422]

This man just told a LEGENDARY COBBLER to hurry up 🙄🤦🏿‍♂️

[@ISTHIStheKRUSTYKRABx]

And retail price is too high it would probably go on sale for 39.99 at Ross

[@campkira]

well now we know why a lot of shoe are shit/... take forever to break in and rotting away...

[@Thor-Orion]

This shit is below Ross Quality. This shit is canal street knockoff bullshit.

[@prod.viliano]

Literally... for 155 you can buy some brand new OG Jordan Retro 1s...

[@gft1250]

because my favorite Food is *Pasta*

[@ItsDetti]

can't help but have that MuchDank video come into my head

[@iTzKlipa]

*WHERE DAFUCK DID YOU FIND A STAPLEGUN?*

[@drefrmdmv3546]

🅱asta

[@drfunk1986]

The Pasta 1's

[@LaSombraa]

Now let me offer this as a rebuttal

[@ImDougDimmadome]

Speedy looks like an early 90s Puerto Rican salsa singer

[@juanfajardo6336]

Bryan Ofwgkta factz

[@joosememes7247]

He look like *trouble*

[@Hulkachan]

your profile photo worries me...

[@yunghive4771]

Bryan Ofwgkta uhhhh no nigga u blind

[@annamartinezpacheco6695]

The Peoples Elbow he so cute

[@star88311]

Couldn't they get a more humble kid to host this show? I don't understand the free passes some people get. The wrong people get pushed into the spotlight! disappointing. Don't EVER disrespect an OG.

[@blankmandastankman]

Gabyrow I thought the same thing. For content purposes they sacrificed authenticity and further pushed the narrative that all u have to do for ur shot in America is be able to sell; actual talent is a back burner quality.

[@campkira]

@@blankmandastankman they not type of humble people..... interneet video people....ego higher that reality

[@AhmadAhmad-wr8us]

Speedy acting like an uninterested 1st grader and has overall ruined every clip hes been in. You can already tell he has a short shelf life if he doesn't mature quickly.

[@juliaincredibile8012]

This guy is so rude telling an OG SHOE MAKER to hurry up this damn shoe

[@PHlophe]

I would have whupped his bony ass into the shape of that doggone shoe sole.

[@aljosaandrejevic]

Yeah

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

Or maybe that's how he relates the unexpected amounts of effort it takes to what we non-shoe-designer can relate to. I'm coming from electronics and physics, but yeah, making a first prototype always takes longer than people not in the profession usually guess it would take.

[@jaysinart]

He did it for the camera

[@rorox95]

scripted bro, most of it

[@andeeriot]

Speedy looking like a 14yr old Puerto Rican on his first day of school

[@bowens5075]

splvshgxrdon why would a 14 year old not have gone to school already lol.

[@isiahbermudez2518]

Brendon O very good question explain sir...

[@fernandoreyes1856]

😂😂😂

[@Dariusissocool]

Brendon O you have a first day every year

[@tdsambitious6075]

That is so true🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@officialkingvicevurze]

True designers can sit and do this for hours and not get tired; definitely a dream gig! Nice episode!

[@gerher9416]

yep, when I was a teen I would draw dozens nonstop, direct to ink, had hundreds of designs, brand names and logos plus imagined some technologies, but knew that I would never realize that dream cause I lived in a shit-hole country

[@carfashionista3353]

@@gerher9416 man you can still make it

[@trey531]

@@gerher9416 It’s never too late

[@SPyne-qs5ov]

This guy is so disrespectful to the guys and his ego is too big. They put effort into helping him and he was angry at them for not being able to finish.

[@stigsdanishcousin3075]

Especially to the guy who made the sample like bruh dont be a Lil bitch

[@crimsonlight1385]

Facts wth he was rude

[@plinytheyoungman9352]

I kinda feel like they portray him to be like that. I could be wrong , but I think like off camera he was being cool with all them. I’d at least hope so.

[@prod.shinypave5915]

@@plinytheyoungman9352 why the fuck would they do that?

[@eddieah6213]

Lenon Lim ignorant fuck.

[@snoopdogg2912]

His presentation sounded like some shit you'd put together in middle school

[@caydenmichaud8254]

I'm in middle school and I make better presentations than him.

[@tggallsmoke4192]

Honestly it's not hard to design for adidas put some boost on it and the hypebeast will show

[@daetsmlolliw]

you take a right triangle, make the base the hypotenuse, add some color, boost, and a heel tab youre good

[@lowkii712]

Just put a supreme logo on it aswell and you’ll be set for life

[@BlujayGFX]

daetsmlolliw the only people in the world that need to know the Pythagorean Theorem are Adidas designers

[@siyarg.4900]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 as a person who doesnt hate Adidas but isnt into it i find this comment hilarious

[@MultiCrawler1]

Same with nikes just do whatevs like jordans random shit that you can later make different color combination and boom the logo

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

This is fantastic! Finding out about shoe design (I myself know nothing) by interviewing the experts, at a school on the subject, and doing it yourself! If you fall a bit short of winning any international design awards, it's okay, since it's the tour of what's involved, a peek at the process, that matters to us outsiders. You did a magnificent job inviting us in and taking us along for the ride.

[@sn0boardwax]

cool vid concept complex but this dude is a CHUMP

[@chrisnuggets]

Pretty hands off, would have liked to see him actually taking a stab at learning the craft skills. Even the rendering process he brushed aside as "boring" which must have been insulting to the poor girl who had to "finish it for him." Then the strolling in the morning attitude expecting a finished sample product overnight was kind of insulting too. The design looks decent but I wonder how much he even contributed to that initial sketch. The pitch was probably the only thing genuine... and that was a little whack

[@troublemaker1228]

chrisnuggets agreed, youngster comes in with a bland design in all honesty and mocks the highly skilled craft people. I would put this kid in his place! Was that the presentation he spent all night on? Yikes that should be his strong suit.

[@Ryanmuniverse]

chrisnuggets this vid was great just wish they had a different person do it. This guy was kind of an ass

[@jasonyeary2655]

chrisnuggets I have designed several shoes! I love to draw and I’d love the girls job on the screen actually making a picture come to life!! That’s were I’d like to be and have my shoe made

[@phersonjones]

Agreed super ungrateful guy I would have fucked his shoe up rushing me

[@ivansk1es302]

He was rude

[@anthonyp820]

The two ladies did not believe the hype on Speedy being a sneaker designer. LMAO

[@drfunk1986]

cause they know the real ones.

[@tartar3198]

Anthony P pasta... really nigga?

[@itsdavidsa2886]

Haha ha

[@barnabychicken2202]

He’s so much like a kid when it comes to his behavior and attitude and how he designed and explained his design of his sneakers in this video

[@lyric_S.15]

them sm1 of his🤮🤢

[@sarahda845]

THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO WHEN I WAS A KID/EARLY TEEN, now I'm doing architecture, but I wanna get into this

[@TheOriginalGamerdud]

J. Spiivey you are very wise

[@youtubeuser6762]

U can use your skills in architecture on designing sneakers and streetwear

[@aidenharker5139]

Sarah Da I am 13 and I am looking at architecture as a possible career path. Any design-related jobs like car, clothing, or housing design get me exited. I am very artsy and I plan to take a CAD class in high school.

[@aarond9563]

The shoe itself was alright but the inspiration and the presentation was absolutely terrible!

[@sayfulislam42]

SkiiLz dafuq he didn't put this video together, he was merely a host of the video. It's a complex video.

[@helloman9570]

Aaron D you peice of crap. This is a fun video he doesn't expect douchebags in his comments

[@cadenpadua]

Sidêways Raînbôw Beanîe Bôi He was only giving criticism you idiot.

[@helloman9570]

The Gaming Caden no, no, no. You don't get it. This is a fun video, he/she is simply being a party pooper.

[@cadenpadua]

Sidêways Raînbôw Beanîe Bôi Fun video or not, everyone is entitled to voice their opinion.

[@Phat.Dav24]

I’m so glad this video came out because this is the job I’ve been wanting to do since 6th grade!

[@dgodm7541]

His shoes look like 2k generics

[@jemalmcclary3851]

I’m about to apply! I can draw anything and have a large design background so I got the skills to do this

[@aruchristian6540]

Go for it bro, chase that goal God bless you.

[@georgejimievans1911]

I just found my dream school

[@SERIEA95]

Cramped Jag I think me too lets apply together ? I'm actually living in Italy !

[@iemojigfx-nextblend5585]

SAUVAGE RIE im living close to you, croatia xD

[@peternguyen9429]

Same

[@scottsge]

Deutschland

[@SERIEA95]

Ok we are 3 let's create ;)

[@Pastensed]

Stick a supreme label on it and u will have a good retirement

[@frozenrats]

Pastensed supreme isnt really that expensive. The shirts retail for about $35 so they arent making much profit after that. Resale kills it because thats expensive

[@Pastensed]

mhmm

[@joedoeboe3342]

Enigma Scientist a fucking supreme hoodie costs 5k a jacket 10k Jordan 5 supreme 900bucks stickers 5 bucks t shirt 200 where did u get 35 from

[@chicagochallenges4178]

Pastensed yep

[@RobinsM]

You are quoting resale not direct from Supreme. They don't get any of that money

[@lanessneakers1051]

Forget fire shoes, *PASTA* shoes are the new thing!

[@christymagro4848]

I wish the curse words were bleeped out or removed! I’d love to show this to my elementary art students as an intro to a sneaker design project, but can’t because of the few curse words 😢

[@Omar-rb9xc]

Touched by your comment, I wanted to suggest editing the video to add in the bleeps. I’ve been able to do basic edits to clips I’ve found online using apps on my phone and just a bit of free time. Maybe it’s doable for you? Best to you and your students!

[@npc1377]

They got their own sweatshop sweet

[@drfunk1986]

lol

[@ArmaniRomeo]

lmfao

[@liizzset]

😂. Lol. Come on though we all learnt something.

[@prestonholsey2110]

ThatFlyGuy a

[@supremetreston4826]

Correction: "They got their own sweatshop, sweet!" Said ThatFlyGuy

[@user-gx3td9zj3q]

Nigga made FUBUs

[@jabaricrawford3077]

sebass ooh

[@user-ql4sn9rc2j]

lmao im dead

[@gregpitts5157]

😂😂😂😂

[@InternationalSpaceForce]

They look like those busted up And1s you find at Target

[@hakshustletv]

😂😂😂😂

[@cigarpadrino]

I look forward to more episodes in this series! Definitely a winner for me.

[@Pegisus2501]

I really liked this episode! :-) Thanks for sharing!

[@ialu5005]

I live in st johns, by that bridge in the beginning of the video, and this helped me get an internship

[@marcogallo2811]

sick vid and series idea. Shining the light on the creative side of the industries that embody our culture

[@PHlophe]

I'm fixin' to do the same thing.

[@Pernection]

Marco Gallo I'm getting sick of this culture more than I like it.

[@JBando_203]

@@Pernection 🤨

[@brianthomas3249]

This video is amazing! You are educating young people all over this world about this sneaker industry. I the point that was made on the lack of people that look like the two of you will encourage little black and brown/mix kids to pursue a career in this industry. Great job

[@miles2127]

Eustace is my shoe making teacher. He is so knowledgeable

[@xxalex613]

Shits look like and 1's

[@kev9599]

I think you should sit down with your barber and design a hairline that isn’t pushed all the way back

[@redsmile3404]

Kev F coming from someone that looks like he? is wearing makeup in his? Profile pic

[@bigchungus8468]

Bouncy Burrito lmao you made him change it that’s tuff

[@redsmile3404]

S山工S卄丹メ oopss😂

[@bigchungus8468]

Bouncy Burrito lel, I should be sleeping right now what am I doing, oh wait I forgot porn.

[@christopherhiggins4249]

Kev F hahaha

[@mountainman6172]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING PEOPLE. Do'ers, not talkers! All the best to Dwayne Edwards & Pensole Academy!

[@hg4lyfe]

This show is so good, love it

[@rons_world5215]

This is super dope good job speedy and complex

[@lukesdeadtrimman7924]

Speedy one funny ass nigga Bruh 😂😂😂😂

[@joshuag451]

That was so cool. I actually wanted to make a shoe but after watching this video I realised that this is harder than I thought it would be.

[@seyniole1898]

Sliding into them dm's starter pack 4:04 YUURRRRR

[@Kharma710]

It looks like if a jordan and eqt 93/17 had a baby

[@Daniel-xp1jy]

Kendal Harman right?

[@TheAwesomeKillerHD]

Kendal Harman I

[@gloomygato]

Damn right

[@G17x]

FreakyHeat lol true

[@G17x]

FreakyHeat but the eqt sole has like a cut on the back,like an extra sole,if u get what i mean

[@JahVero]

Speedy look like that high school basketball player Julian Newman

[@tylerliebersohn2315]

JahVero that’s so true 😂

[@brandonreyes7382]

Was about to say that 😂

[@vgbombay5435]

JahVero Nah Julian Newman look like this dude. Julian younger so this dude can't look like him , its the other way around.

[@alana9478]

I was looking for this 😂😂

[@LangFitness]

Except a foot taller. Newman like 5’2 haha

[@salg3375]

Proud to be from Inglewood and love the arts. Great vid and inspiration to the city.

[@Happyandlaughing888]

Thanks for the interesting video. I love sneakers and a passion for design. Although this one from 2017 but it still attracted me.

[@zachlloydd]

This video was sick 👍

[@Don_Mo_22]

Omg now i want to be a shoe designer

[@paulrichardson5741]

Kavin faridafshar do it bro!

[@adamp3654]

Truesneakers23 lmao

[@telikaufman5972]

Kavin faridafshar m

[@_Anthony___]

First you have to survive the C4 that's strapped to your torso

[@MohammedAmina-fr2rj]

This is fantastic!!! should do more of this videos

[@mutweri]

Very cool video! Keep it up!

[@heyim-jay]

Most people don't know how difficult it is to present art and design. If you don't got the sauce while you're talking to your peers they'll notice that. When they notice that your chances of them taking that design seriously are slim to none. Props to speedy for having the confidence to approach the project, most wouldn't be able to come up with a sentence.

[@kasikusumanchi8786]

Jamie Brown bb

[@ClintLundie]

One of the best vids I've seen on this channel. 🤘🤘

[@martinorozco3005]

Dude this was awesome 👏 thank you 🙏

[@ksvmovement9194]

m also doing shoe designing its my last semester i was very stuck about my project but you are such a inspiration for me and you make my way easy thanks alot sir Khurram Shahzad Variya

[@zxidy]

I been known about pensole for time now, just wish they were located in other places like London

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

They seem to have something going on in Denmark, if that's close enough.

[@_Anthony___]

Well london has no shoe game compared to portland, atlanta, los angeles etc.

[@javierhirata8810]

one of the best videos ive seen. good content

[@bangitoutivl3416]

I have so many dream jobs and this is one of em

[@jvb3246]

does anybody know what program they used to sketch the sneaker into the computer?

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

This video is, of course, more about a look at the path into a certain profession, than about product design itself. But it does show a common flaw in the creative process of those starting to gain experience with it. A favorite food is a fine notion to start with for a design idea. A precious stone or mineral or natural object is a fine starting point. But, the design concept has to be laser-focused on one idea only, and maybe only certain aspects of it, and celebrate it to the max with material, shape, color and everything else. Combining things is really tricky. Reminds me of when I tried writing anything back in high school. I wanted to mention this, and that, and work in something about planets and music and maybe a short rant about whatever and what I liked about springtime and math... no laser focus! It was only after I wrote many articles, answers to questions, technical reports etc that I "got" it and could write straight to the point. Usually. A local writers' group is helping me see how I fall short of laser focus. The song "My Favorite Things" by Rodgers & Hammerstein (1959) is sort of weird in that it mentions all kinds of different things, a hodge podge of variety we imagine someone wanted to work into a song. But step back, it's actually a coherent laser-focused song - it's just one level of abstraction higher. It's totally about having a bunch of favorite things and how that benefits one's life. So, could a shoe convey something about the designer's favorite food, and also birthstone, and more favorite things? Sure, but only with a coherent vision of combining them, presenting them, in a "list" or "biography" in some sense, at a higher level of abstraction. Like how an atlas presents many wildly different countries in a single coherent work. Then again, I just might be rambling on and on, and overthinking, due to the fine glass of wine I just had with dinner.

[@natewatson6962]

thoroughly enjoyed this comment, focus is CRUCIAL

[@Therealbrucedeal]

Lol 8:56 he has the Pythagorean theorem

[@davidearle7209]

Lmao dude a fool

[@youngdontai5389]

Bruce Deal 😂 oh yaaaaaaaaa

[@solace2632]

Pythagoras’ * and my teacher says I’m not sure why but c^(2) = a^(2) + b^(2) (just different way to set it out I think but I don’t have the squared number do I have the brackets and that).

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

Shoe Design: not for idiots!

[@wheninrome8823]

I Hate SaBr LiGHT Pythagorean theorem Pythagorus is his name

[@koalalgablogs]

This exactly what i really want to do to design basketball shoe .🙏

[@ishaaqahmed4206]

This was really good . Should do more of this and fashion designing as well

[@has3219]

actually not bad i love episodes like this

[@jaydengtm3463]

The way he was like “yurrrrrrr” 😭😭😭😭😭😭4:04

[@DirectorJavanCornelius]

Amazing episode.

[@Jacoby_T08]

We need more of this 👏🏿

[@egw111_9]

bro I love this. I make designs of sneakers, but obviously can’t sell them lol

[@unknownrisktaker]

elise g why not?

[@mlinecomposites1]

I don’t really think you should worry about the design so much, you should learn to make them. Everyone is the “designer” be the guy who made them, that’s the hardest part

[@elijahbrown9086]

Cool series

[@kevinho1922]

I personally don't love sneaker design enough to do it as a profession but it's cool that a place like this exists outside of a college setting

[@ghaffarellis]

These are dope!

[@danielb3293]

Whoever designed the Jordan 14-31 must’ve been high I’m kidding

[@campkira]

no wonder why it brick.....

[@jesusisreal2604]

Pray this prayer from the bottom of your heart out loud to be saved Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I repent of my sins. I will worship you all the days of my life.I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.I receive it and Believe it in Jesus Powerful Name, AMEN.

[@NachoChip62]

Damn that was a fire video! I would actually rock the SM1

[@queenkgr4413]

I love this segment

[@jasonsebastian9342]

Love your work and the video -- I'd love to show this to my middle school math students during class as a real-life example of how large projects take multiple steps, collaboration, effort, and presentation skills (multiple aspects/skills learned in a math class). Could you please repost a video sans the profanity so I can share it with my class?

[@kakisteal3501]

I used to draw when I was younger. This video made me think of that talent that I used to have. If only I could be there. Even if I have to start as a janitor just to work for them and eventually give me my time to design for a sneaker. What a great feeling this is I'm feeling right now while watching this. My heart is literally pounding.

[@binmanbinman]

Ok..

[@Thor-Orion]

This ain’t Nintendo. Nobody is letting their janitor design.

[@ginopillon]

@@Thor-Orion I doesn't matter because just looking at pros working and then trying to replicate is a very good attitude to learn.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@ginopillon I know, it’s just a joke.

[@hypnagogue]

there's a skechers box on that wall display, this space has been cursed

[@bigaluk1980]

I've got a new respect for Speedy.

[@Floglo]

That's amazing what they do, awesome Pensole!

[@HypedBeast]

I wonder how much it would cost to go there and make your own shoe

[@kubispice3026]

Hyped Beast It costs anywhere from 9,000 - 15,000 for tuition.

[@agathecampbell7307]

wow, he was so disrespectful with the OG tho, like they're takin tim'a help him and he's angry because the shoe isn't finished. Like the OG spent his night at it to help him he should be really thankfull for that

[@xo6811]

Good day..I really like and appreciate ur vid, it is really helpful for young designers like myself..I have a question about how can I find a way to present my design/idea to companies like VANS and converse if you can make a video on that

[@aidancalvacca1265]

Those were low key fire 🔥 I would rock those

[@Ivan72499]

Yurrr. No Yurrr should go unanswered

[@Lookingwithout200]

Yo what a great video

[@goob1539]

Dang, I’m hating all these new design recently. So I stuck with my good ole vans, but his design is great. 10/10 would definitely wear those.

[@demarcokelly5754]

those sneakers at 6:41 were in this online contest way back! I wanted those kicks to win but i didnt expect them to show up on here.

[@BenBen-xx3kk]

Judges:What's the read n behind the leather? Morman:Well if you look at the pearl... 😂😂

[@naomixfreeman7756]

I really don’t like him, he’s so rude. If they had someone else I’d love this so much. Still a cool vid, just needs better casting on his part

[@34DEMONFX]

i dont care about the inspiration he made.! but he got times to created his own shoes at the "heaven" on sneakers.! Great video.. i love it

[@ItlsWhatltls]

1:21 when you see Clark’s in the third row on the right😂😂

[@ItlsWhatltls]

I’m sorry😂😂

[@Severa_Official]

6:29 in her head: This is trash😂

[@mango863]

bro that’s some “graphic design is my passion” presentation right there LOL

[@Kid_1DeR]

Very educational though. THANK YOU!

[@lilmilky6501]

bro those are lowkey bangers