Real-world design in action
Published 26th February 2026
The Nike Air Zoom Mercurial shows how design thinking, materials and user-focused research come together in real-world design. For design and technology teachers, it’s a clear way to connect classroom skills to professional practice.
Tasked with creating the lightest, most responsive boot for Kylian Mbappé, the team started from scratch. A three-quarter-length Zoom Air unit supported fast movement and flexibility, while every design choice focused on the athlete’s needs, a real-life lesson in user-centred design.
Materials and innovation in action
Testing in the Nike Sports Research Lab produced a ‘lockdown map’ of the foot, showing where support and grip were most important. Using flat knit technology, a zero-waste approach, designers reduced layers to create the lightest, thinnest Flyknit upper Nike had ever made.
This focus on materials and problem-solving links directly to our ‘Inspired by Industry’ context with Gola, a free resource that introduces textiles design through a sports theme. Pupils explore fabrics, fastenings, pattern creation, finishing techniques and sustainability, including repurposing old PE kit. Members also gain extra Focused Tasks (FTs), Investigative and Evaluative Activities (IEAs), and curriculum units to support delivery. Both projects show how understanding materials and user needs leads to inventive, functional designs.
Iteration and teamwork
Physical prototyping and iteration were key to the Mercurial, from rough models to 3D prints. Collaboration across engineering, materials and sports science allowed the team to refine ideas and secure patents.
For teachers, the message is simple: creativity, technical skill and teamwork drive innovation. Linking the Mercurial to Gola shows pupils how iteration, materials exploration and user-focused design can turn classroom projects into real-world solutions.
Teachers can access the PDF version of this article, featured in Designing 132 below and download their digital copy of the magazine here.
