What Makes A Great Logo

 Joe Posner, and Michael Bierut explain how a simple mark ends up meaning something big.

For more from Michael Bierut on graphic design, check out his book "How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, cry, and (every once in a while) change the world: How To

Japanese Sneaker Culture

Not much into sneakers these days, but I do remember stopping by Skit in Osaka back in 2010 and having my mind blown.

A Brief History Of High Fashion Sneakers

Has any garment enjoyed a more impressive rise than the once-humble sneaker? From fitness shoe to high-fashion staple, the sneaker's ascent reflects some of the most significant pop-culture developments of the last few decades -- from the impact of advertising and mass production, to the influence of hip-hop and the NBA.

From July 10, visitors will be able to trace this history at The Rise of Sneaker Culture, a traveling exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum exploring its history and cultural significance.

But Elizabeth Semmelhack, senior curator of the originating exhibition at Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum and author of the accompanying book from Rizzoli, says that its history is more complex than we might think. "When the first sneakers debuted [in the 1800's], they were themselves luxury items," she says, citing the high price of rubber and the working class's lack of leisure time. "We're kind of coming full circle in a weird way."

So, how exactly have we ended up in an age of die-hard Nike addicts and Parisian designer kicks?

30 For 30 Sole Man

Sonny Vaccaro is one of the sports world's most charismatic, polarizing and influential figures. Now 75, he is still a fast-talking maverick whose zeal for basketball, advocacy for underprivileged kids, and instinct for sales forged an era of unprecedented growth for two pillars of pop culture: basketball and sneakers.

It was Vaccaro who advised agents during the ABA-NBA wars of the 1970s, who launched Nike's "Air Jordan" empire in the 1980s, and who ushered in the professionalization of youth basketball in the 1990s, when players such as Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, both of whom signed shoe deals brokered by Vaccaro, turned high school games into auditions for the NBA.

"Sole Man" is a definitive, first-hand and unflinching account of how Vaccaro rose from humble Pennsylvania steel town roots to become the most valuable marketing asset in the $13 billion athletic shoe industry. Vaccaro's personal arc mirrors the narrative of basketball's ascent over the last 40 years. It is an era in which James Naismith's creation morphed from a regional game tainted by segregation and gambling into a global enterprise that stretches from Brooklyn to Beijing. And to a staggering degree, the basketball community is really just Six Degrees of Sonny.

Stepping On Jordans In The Hood

It's either scripted, or these guys should be dead.

Asian Ball Handler

Word to Jim Jones

Blake Griffin Jumpman Ad Is Dope!

FYI, I had this idea some time ago. Damn you Jumpman advertising execs.

Every Baller Can Relate To These Nike Basketball Ads

Above is the clip to 'The Trash-Talker' - more after the jump.

Kicking It

Short sneaker doco about kids buying and selling kicks.

Christmas Gift Ideas

Ohhh shot, its the second annual Christmas Gift Idea list.

More of a nice wall feature than an actual time keeping device.

GET IT FOR XMAS: Turntable Clock

Did That Guy Just Cartwheel Into A Dunk?

PREVIOUS: 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Competition

Shoe Museum

Apologies to the starving kids in Africa.

For Your Nikes

 
I'm throwing Jason Markk the peace sign as soon as I get my hands on this.

PREVIOUS: The Hoverboard Is Coming

More On Back To The Future Nikes

And the McFly Jacket

PREVIOUS: Great Scott! Nike Makes Back To The Future Kicks

Great Scott! Nike Makes Back To The Future Kicks

The shoes Marty McFly rocked in 2015 Back To The Future II are (finally) being made...complete with lights...but not power laces.

These ugly-ass shoes are limited to a run of 1,500 pairs, and the only way you can get your hands on them is by bidding for them on ebay. All proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease research.

No word on the Hoverboard release date.

LINK: Nike Goes Back For The Future Article | Bid At NikeMag.eBay.com

50 Greatest Sneakerhead Moments in Pop Culture

LINK: 50 Greatest Sneakerhead Moments in Popular Culture

A History of Celebrities Wearing the Air Jordan V

LINK: A History of Celebrities Wearing the Air Jordan V

MJ Advising LeBron

YouTube user Tom Hinueber creates “Maybe You Should Rise,” a smartly done mashup of Nike’s 'Maybe' and 'Rise' ads.

What Should LeBron Do?

Stay in Cleveland. Like Dave & Charles said.

Illuminati Kicks