// M: August 2010

"I think designers are often undervalued and underappreciated. I guess you could argue that's okay because there's some merit to the idea that the best design is invisible design. At Nike specifically, we try to keep it simple. It's important to avoid any ancillary noise that doesn't add to the design. Basically, get rid of the clutter—nothing gratuitous. I think overdesigning comes from a lack of editing. The strongest, most compelling, and most useful things in life are irreducible—love, truth, faith, honor. Some people want a product with a very overt aesthetic, and I think there's a place for products all along that spectrum. But our company was founded on connecting with the athlete in a really deep way."

-Mark Parker, president and CEO of Nike