Welcome back to Part Two of The Untold Stories of Nike Skateboarding, powered by NEMO Design. In Part One, we introduced the people behind the project and teased the early foundation work that set everything in motion. Now, we dive straight into the product.

This episode goes behind the scenes of what made Nike SB so special, from the details, decisions, and experiments that shaped the product to the creative and cultural considerations that helped it earn credibility in skateboarding. It’s a deeper look at how product, purpose, and people came together to build something that would ultimately change the game.

For decades, skateboarding wanted nothing to do with Nike. Too big. Too corporate. Too far removed from a culture built on instinct, rebellion, and earned credibility. And skaters could smell the disconnect from a mile away. Nike had already tried twice and failed. Money, power, and global reach weren’t enough. What they lacked was trust.

In this episode of Co-Pro, we unpack the moment Nike stopped trying to force its way into skateboarding and instead chose to listen. A third attempt. New leadership. A stacked internal crew. A carefully built team of skaters. Real product. Real intent. And finally, a version of Nike Skateboarding that resonated with the culture.

This is Part One of Nike Skateboarding: The Untold Story. How one of the world’s biggest brands learned that in skateboarding, credibility isn’t bought. It’s earned.

On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we open the proverbial can of worms with Aaron Draplin — designer, maker, Field Notes co-founder, and all-around creative force of nature. The Michigan-born legend has gotten his hands dirty on the heaviest of brands: Nike. Burton. Red Wing. Patagonia. Fender. NASA. Even campaign work for Obama and Bernie. And that’s before you get to the posters, merch, and the gospel of good design he’s been preaching across 500+ stages from Adobe MAX to TEDx.
Draplin brings his trademark mix of honesty, humor, and blue-collar hustle to the table — talking shop on the business of merch, the grind of freelancing, and why community and collaboration still matter. He gets real about sweating the details, rooting for the underdog, and keeping your compass steady in a world that moves too damn fast.
Oh, and we also throw him an AI logo challenge just to see what happens when analog meets algorithm.
If you’ve ever filled a Field Notes notebook, drooled over a clean logo, or just love hearing a big personality speak their truth — this one’s for you.