Wilson W. Smith III, Nike Design Director and Manager of Design Education, retired February, 2025. During his 41-year tenure at Nike, Smith worked on projects that run the gamut of the design profession – retail, graphics, architecture, footwear, experience, brand, and apparel – and designed and developed product for some of the greatest athletes in Nike’s history, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Derek Jeter.
Wilson Smith Iii.
Adjunct Lecturer University Of Oregon, College Of Design
What truly defines Wilson is his incredible passion around coaching, teaching and giving back. Wilson’s commitment to advancing the next generation, and the power of design to positively impact the world, has created a presence and legacy that expands beyond his product designs.
- In 2019, he was honored with the Jan Ernst Matzeliger Award as the first Black designer in the athletic footwear industry, and with Nike’s inaugural Design Achievement Award. For Fall ’22, Nike Classics created the “Thank You, Wilson” shoe story of his retro ’96 Air More Uptempo.
- Wilson was featured as ‘The Librarian’ in “Devin Booker’s – Book 1” 2024 shoe launch commercial, Nike Brand created for NBA All Star Weekend.
- In July ’24, Pensole Lewis College • Detroit, MI, USA’s only design focused HBCU, dedicated the Wilson W. Smith III Footwear Design Studio.
- For September ’26 release, Wilson design directed the book, In My Shoes - Devin Booker, the stories of Devin Booker’s first Nike Signature Shoe. Wilson is also a worship leader at SouthLake Church, West Linn, Oregon.
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Wilson W. Smith
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