WILSON SMITH III - First Black shoe designer in the athletic footwear industry

In 2025, Wilson W. Smith III retired as the Manager of Design Education with Nike's Blue-Ribbon Studio. 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 & developed product for some of the greatest athletes in Nike's history, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Derek Jeter.

In addition, Wilson is a professor in Product Design at the University of Oregon, where his studio focus is Adaptive Design Enabling Athletes with Disabilities. He also co-taught intro to Product Design in the UO Sports Product Management graduate program. Wilson is the recipient of the 2018 Ellis F. Lawrence Medal from the College of Design for distinguished alumnus.

Graduating in 1980 with an architectural degree from U of O, Wilson initially worked for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill out of Portland. He began his Nike career in 1983, assisting Tinker Hatfield in Corporate Architecture. Transitioning into footwear design, his focus became athlete inspired products in Tennis, Basketball, Cross Training, and Brand Jordan, where designed Air Jordan XVI & XVII. Black Enterprises Magazine named Wilson one of America's Top Black Designers.

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.