This is a concept training shoe I created recently for a Nike Campaign that should see the light of day, early Summer 2023. They're promoting a new 'liquid' range of training shoe, the difference being from current shoe manufacturing process is that this range is actually made by pouring reconstituted plastic bags into moulds created also by reconstituted plastic bags. If successful, Nike will by 2028, have a 0% carbon footprint.
This will be unparalleled.
Now, I'm not a trainer designer. Never have been. Different skill set altogether that one but I do have a certain way with imagery that encouraged Nike to employ me and my arsenal of razored (some might say 'blunted'..) 3d and illustrative skills to come up with the above.
So this is how I did it:
I started by sketching. For two days. Three huge A3 pads later (in different balled up states around my lounge) left me with one single scrawl I was happy with.
I scanned it and brought it into cinema 3D where I starting laying down the skin, lighting, shading, texture and colours
After I spent another 6-8 hour dancing delightfully with an 'absolutely no idea what this will effect will be but i'm going to try it anyway...' shape revealed itself upon shape, until eventually, I achieved something that resembled a pay check and a potentially very happy customer.
After I rendered this particular shoe (all night), I was presented with a forerunner to what you see above.
I quickly adjusted, tapering, refining before adding the glows, the blues, the golds, the matter and effects that surround the shoe. I then tilted the trainer to give it movement.
After a total of four days and lots of worry, sweat, tears, multiple emptied A3 pads, biscuits, pacing up and down and tea consumption, I had what they, but more importantly me, wanted.
Except, I didn't.
It's all a lie.
I'm not an illustrator. Never have been. I don't know 3D programmes. I don't know how to 'render'. I don't know 'skin', 'lighting', 'shading' or 'texture' composition.
What you see above I created with an AI programme called midjourney.com
In one minute.
I simply prompted it with what i wanted to see:
Explosive beautiful nike trainers in the style of artstation, ui, ux, ui/ux, liquid electric blues, black, dark greys, golden ratio proportions, soft shadows 4k —ar 2:3
Lets break the command down to what it actually means:
Explosive beautiful nike trainers - no guesses as to what this will create although you can be way more descriptive. I've had success with replacing 'explosive' with something like 'liquid energy' or 'thunderous energy.' I even tried 'planetary explosion energy'...
Artstation - is a website where real artists and illustrators parade their work and skills. The overall look and feel of the art here is very similar, so AI would reference this and harvest what it thought i was looking for.
ui, ux, ui/ux - i threw this in because thats what I am so I wanted space around the image just incase i want to design something for a desktop or tablet landscape moment.
liquid electric blues, black, dark greys - another description to add to the tapestry of what I'm trying to create/imagine although quite frankly, Ive no idea at all where these prompts should go in the description line. Time and practice will tell where they are best placed.
golden ratio proportions - I wanted the golden ratio proportions to give me the harmony and balance that this ratio brings not only in the structure of the shoe but also in the choice of colours. Everything looks great!
soft shadows 4k —ar 2:3 - 'shadows' are self explanatory with a 4k detailed image. Finally, --ar3:2 is the aspect ratio.
And thats what it gave me. 60 seconds later. Simply amazing.
So i tried again. This time I added the words 'back to the future' to the description to see what it thought of that.
This is what it thought of that. Just staggering.
You need to have a play with this to see what it can do but just out of the gate, if a two day nobody like me can do this with no formal training on what prompts work and why, imagine what everyday exposed to this thing for a month could do for your portfolio. Actually, imagine what a real illustrator could do with this monster. In one minute. It simply beggars belief.
What does it mean for our careers as designers?
I think everything must change. Everything evolves whether we like it or we're present or not. But if we're smart enough, then maybe, just maybe, we can evolve too.
And we'll take our knowledge and experience and strap it to the AI rocket because whatever happens, what you knew or you thought you knew about design is all about to change.
Get over to midjourney and blow your mind - www.midjourney.com
And discover the secrets of proportion and harmony with our Golden Ratio Design System and plug ins (for photoshop and figma)
www.thegoldenratio.co.uk
