Nike's Milan Design Week Air Lab explores invisible material through interactive tunnels and future prototypes

Nike has launched Nike Air_Lab at Milan Design Week, occupying five disused railway tunnels in Dropcity to examine air as a design material. Chief Design Officer Martin Lotti emphasizes making the invisible visible, positioning the brand's return to Salone as significant since Milan represents the Oscars for design. The installation features nearly 100 unseen prototypes alongside historical artifacts like Frank Rudy's experiments and a filing cabinet of Air Max grails. Rather than a conventional exhibition, it functions as a lab with daily talks, listening sessions, and hands-on workshops. Cutting-edge machinery remains post-event for community use by students and professionals at Via Sammartini 72. Innovations include the Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket unveiled during January's Winter Olympics and Radical AirFlow activewear tested by athlete Calen Olson, who won the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. These garments adapt to extreme conditions by inflating, deflating, or cooling the body, with research anticipating the hot 2028 Summer Olympics. Lotti describes the project as an honest assessment of design processes, showcasing failures and progress.