Sneakers That Took Design to the Next Level

Climbing out of your comfort zone is the only true way to succeed. When it comes to sneakers, specifically sneaker design, that statement reverberates loud and clear.

Athletic footwear has been around for what feels like ages now. Over time, we've seen countless silhouettes surface, pushing the boundaries of design. As consumers, we're better off for it.

What we set out to accomplish here was to identify 10 sneakers that took design to the next level and break down why. Touching on various signature models, performance kicks and more, we explain each vital component that helped these kicks change the world of design.

Find out which shoes made the list, and as always, comment below and share your thoughts.

Nike Air Foamposite One

Image via Nike

Nike Creative Director Eric Avar has done a lot of amazing work with the company during his tenure but perhaps none more inspiring from a design standpoint than the Nike Air Foamposite One.

These were sneakers that transcended basketball in a design capacity. Created as a one-piece mold, the Foams gained traction when Mike Bibby wore them during the 1997 NCAA tournament. After that, they were pushed into the NBA game, thanks to then-Orlando Magic star Penny Hardaway.

When you're looking into the soul of the Foamposite, you get this nostalgic, trembling Jetsons vibe. The craziest part is, it feels right.

We've seen numerous colorways emerge since its inception. And no matter what, the Nike Air Foamposite still holds a place in everyone's heart. That's a testament to brilliant design first and foremost.

Air Jordan XX8

Image via Nike

The course of the Air Jordan line changed dramatically when Jordan Brand launched the XX8 model in 2013. At the time of its release this shoe boasted more technological advancements than any Air Jordan prior.

It all starts and ends with the Jordan Flight Plate—a revolutionary addition at the time. That particular mechanism was installed to ensure responsiveness and give consumers a better way to enjoy the luxury of having Nike Zoom units installed in the sneaker.

The XX8 set the bar for the noteworthy XX9 and now the all-new Air Jordan XXX. Without the performance-driven, sports-car look and all of the necessary amenities, who knows where Jordan Brand would be today.

Adidas Ultra Boost

Image via Adidas

Adidas' Ultra Boost model arrived in 2015 and immediately was recognized as a groundbreaking shoe. Using a lightweight mesh material to fulfill the upper and wedging Boost technology into the sole, the Ultra Boost shattered consumer expectations, mainly, thanks to a robust comfort level.

Design can be pushed in all sorts of ways. In the case of the Adidas Ultra Boost, the framework was built in a way in which it was successfully able to transition the shoe over from an advanced runner to a streetwear giant.

When both worlds wind up crossing over, you can deem the mission a full-blown success.

Nike Zoom Kobe IV

Image via Nike

You have to love everything about the Nike Zoom Kobe IV. Besides the fact that when athletes played in the sneaker, it felt like a dream, it was also a revolutionary sneaker at the time.

When the shoe initially debuted, pundits seemed to be taken aback. Wayne Drehs of ESPN.com wrote a column outlining this very subject. But in typical Kobe Bryant fashion, he wound up destroying critics and proved if designed right, a low-top hoops sneaker could properly thrive in today's NBA.

Similar to the Nike Air Foamposite, the Zoom Kobe IV was designed by Eric Avar. Taking the lead on the project, Avar understood everything Bryant wanted in a shoe and turned it into a reality. Drehs reported on the outcome: "The end result is a shoe that weighs just 11.6 ounces, some 20 percent lighter than the average Nike basketball shoe."

Even in today's Nike Flyknit, mesh world, the Zoom Kobe IV stands out as a triumph in forward-thinking design.

Air Jordan XI

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Grail is a trigger term for sneakerheads. The word essentially means people have to get their hands on a pair. Speaking on the Air Jordan line, the XI will always be considered a grail.

The Air Jordan XI was officially released to the public 1995 and was worn by Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls' 1995-96 season. Nike designer Tinker Hatfield's profound creation featured a timeless patent leather wrap nestled comfortably around a beautiful, lightweight frame.

When one speaks about designs that never go out of style, the Air Jordan XI is a model that comes to mind. It's that special.

Adidas Yeezy Boost 750

Image via Adidas

Before the hate comes pouring in from every angle, hear us out.

What rapper and designer Kanye West and Adidas did with the launch of the Yeezy Boost 750 was change the conversation. The hype surrounding this shoe was so insurmountable that we all knew anything released would undergo an equal amount of hate and love.

When the Yeezy Boost 750 was finally unveiled, it was like nothing we'd seen prior on a mainstream scale. West's inclusion of the Adidas Tubular sole and Boost technology pushed this casual high-top cut into the performance realm.

Each version that's dropped since has sold out quickly, proving that West is here to stay, and his partnership with Adidas is forcing other brands to step up.

Nike Sock Dart

Nike's always been on the cutting edge when it comes to design. That's one key reason why they dominate the market, as Matt Powell of NPD Group tweeted.

Destroying boundaries has been part of the conversation, and the Nike Sock Dart was no different in that regard. Though it first debuted in 2004, the Sock Dart really found its footing in 2015 when Nike brought the design back.

A reinvigorated framework courtesy of musician and designer Hiroshi Fujiwara turned the Sock Dart into a silhouette that demanded admiration. The one-piece, knitted structure combined with a plastic overlay strap was super inviting despite looking like a runner.

It's a shoe that always finds a way to sell out, no matter what colorway has materialized.

Air Jordan II

Image via Jordan Brand

You'd think of all the Jordan models that are left to talk about, the Air Jordan II would be last in line. Not so fast.

This Bruce Kilgore design was able to take on high fashion in 1987, way before that was an effective route for sneakers. As legend has it, the Air Jordan II was even manufactured in Italy in order to provide maximum levels of luxury, per Steve Jaconetta of Sole Collector.

Years later, it's still stunning how the Air Jordan II isn't nearly as sought after as, say, the Air Jordan I or even the III. Had it not been for streetwear designer Don C reviving the shoe with two unique collaborations, this sneaker would have been lost in translation.

Regardless of the perceived lack of support surrounding these kicks, the Air Jordan II changed the way we look at design and was far ahead of its time in terms of tackling the fashion world.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite

Image via Nike

Nike has thrived in recent times, partly because of the introduction of Flyknit technology. Those lightweight, sturdy fibers bound together have given the Swoosh an upper hand when battling other titans of apparel.

When Nike took that Flyknit approach over to a basketball sneaker, what we got was the Kobe 9 Elite.

Very few basketball shoes today hold up to the Kobe 9 Elite. The inclusion of Flyknit technology as the base material on this sneaker made it not only easier to maneuver in but also shockingly durable.

The Kobe Elite 9 lived up to the hype and managed to successfully alter the sneaker landscape. From a design vantage point, there's not much more you can ask for.

Nike Shox BB4

Eric Avar's fingerprints are all over this list and rightfully so. We started with an Avar shoe, and now we're ending with one. Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for the Nike Shox BB4.

This shoe can be best described as a hyper-radical approach to the traditional basketball sneaker. Adding vibrant Shox plates near the heel of the silhouette in order to elevate the framework is what changed everything.

Bringing this particular design to life was actually a long time in the making. Aaron Hope of Sneakers News commented on that subject:

"

Nike Shox was already a 20-year-old concept at the time of the BB4’s release. The idea was too ahead of the curve, necessitating foam that hadn’t been invented yet. It resurfaced at the tail end of the 1990s, piquing the interest of Eric Avar and the design team as a visually expressive technology with a significant performance value.

"

The high-flying Vince Carter made the Nike Shox BB4 famous. It performed admirably and fit like a glove, despite being deemed a "heavy" sneaker.

When you sum it up, few sneakers before and since have changed the world of design as much as the Nike Shox BB4.

All Nike/Jordan product information via News.Nike.com unless noted otherwise. All Adidas information via News.Adidas.com unless noted otherwise.