Fashion career profile
Tinker Hatfield
Tinker Hatfield is an American footwear designer whose architecture training helped shape a new language for performance sneakers. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1977 and joined Nike in 1981, initially designing offices, showrooms and retail spaces. Hatfield moved into product design in 1985. His work includes the Air Trainer, Air Huarache and a long-running collaboration with Michael Jordan; Nike identifies the Air Jordan III, released in 1988, as the first Hatfield design in the Jordan line. The visible Air-Sole unit, architectural references and performance requirements became recurring elements in his approach. The profile distinguishes his Nike design career from any single current corporate title, which is not established here from recent primary-source material.
- Role
- Footwear Designer, Nike and Air Jordan
- Nationality
- American
- Career appointments
- 1
- Fashion houses
- 1
- Education: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Oregon (1977)The university records his degree and graduation year. · University of Oregon
- Nike career: Joined Nike in 1981; began product design in 1985The University of Oregon's profile distinguishes his initial architecture work from his later product design career. · University of Oregon
- Air Jordan: First Hatfield design: Air Jordan III (1988)Nike's Jordan archive identifies the Air Jordan III as Hatfield's first design in the Jordan line. · Nike
- Selected design: Air Huarache; received an international design award (1993)The University of Oregon credits Hatfield with the Air Huarache and records its 1993 international design award. · University of Oregon
- 1977 — Graduates in architecture from the University of OregonHatfield completes a Bachelor of Architecture while competing in track and field.
- 1981 — Joins Nike as an architectHis early work includes Nike offices, showrooms and retail environments.
- 1985 — Moves into Nike product designHis product-design career begins after several years as an architect.
- 1988 — Designs the Air Jordan IIINike identifies it as Hatfield's first design in the Jordan line.
- 1993 — Wins an International Design Award for the Air HuaracheThe University of Oregon records the award for Hatfield's Nike design.
- 1987–Present — Air Jordan Designer — Air JordanCurrent appointment · Nike; University of Oregon