Sneakers Unboxed: Studio To Street
Since reopening, the Design Museum's first exhibition focuses on what it calls "one of the most universal design objects". Sneakers Unboxed: From Studio to Street takes visitors on a journey from the 1970s New York basketball scene to London's grime scene and Tokyo's streetwear world through the lens of the ever-popular sports shoe.
Visually addressing the three sections as independent spaces, we sought to experiment with how different display supports could reinforce the significance of each shoe.
We worked closely with our long-time collaborators, Studio LP, who designed all the graphics, typography, and infographics throughout the exhibition.
At the start, in the introductory section “Sneaker as a Cult Object,” we created a cathedral-like white canvas space made from actual sneaker fabric (generously donated by PUMA). This acts as a backdrop to a series of graphics and installations exploring sneakers as a cultural phenomenon. Here, Studio LP’s infographics highlight which countries buy the most sneakers, alongside a chart explaining key technical terms within the sector.
The following section, “Style", explores how sneakers have been adopted in cities worldwide since the 1970s, including Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Cape Town, and London. We designed walls and billboard-like displays that reference both the streets and the brands that linked sneakers to personalities across sport and music. One notable example is Nike’s Air Max (known as 110s), immortalised on the cover of Dizzee Rascal’s debut album Boy in Da Corner (2003). Dark grey tones and cement-like surfaces evoke the atmosphere of an urban landscape. A sub-section, Tipping Point, focuses on fashion and highly coveted, high-value sneakers.
The final section, “Performance" examines how designers have pushed technical performance forward, from Chuck Taylor’s basketball clinics for Converse to Puma’s self-lacing models. Materials associated with factories and laboratories are used to evoke a production-line environment, highlighting technological innovation. Designed as a partially touring exhibition, these sub-section “islands” were made easily transportable and reassemblable.
The final room addresses the growing environmental movement. Its centrepiece is a 3D-knitting robot from Adidas, developed to reduce waste and enable the repair of sneaker models. With green lighting and minimal display cases made from recycled rubber aggregate, this space offers a clean, forward-looking perspective on sustainability in the sneaker industry.
Read more about the exhibition here.
Project details
Exhibition Design: InterestingProjects
Curation: Ligaya Salazar
Graphic Design: Studio LP
Build: Central
Lighting: Beam
Graphics Print: Puck Studio
Photography: Theo Christelis and Felix Speller
