When I was 11 years old, I drew my first shoe. I pinned it up above my bed and slated it for production when I was to go pro for basketball. I clearly did not go pro playing basketball, but 10 years later, I had the opportunity to have it produced. Coincidentally enough, my intramural basketball team was going on a run in the playoffs, and for a few games I wore my pro basketball shoe. Dreams do come true
Inspired by Air Jordan 1s, Reebok Pumps, the Denver Broncos, and Lebron 13's, the best way to describe it is "Yes, an 11-year-old designed these."
Role
Designer, Founder
Timeline
Two Weeks (November 2025)
Tools
Adobe illustrator
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah
Design Principles
#1 Truth to original design
I wanted it to be as close to how I envisioned it as a child. That it should remain pure in its intentions and represent how my tastes have changed and developed.
#2 loud
If you are rocking the Blocks, people should know. Loud colors, chunky details, baroque to the max.
#3 Kobe!
They need to be strong enough so I can play basketball in them. I was worried my foot would burst out in the first sample. If you can't hoop in them its a failure.
DESIGN PROCESS
February 2016:
The Broncos are fresh off a Super Bowl victory, my YMCA basketball team is undefeated, and I'm the star player; safe to say, life is good. One night, I watched the Sonny Vaccaro 30 for 30, and I realized that all design is combining things you like into something "new." So the Blocks were born.
November 2025:
Suddenly, I had the opportunity to create shoes, so I had to create my original shoe.
first sample, December 2025:
These came out pretty nice. I was impressed with the materials and how comfortable they were. They still looked a bit off.
second sample, December 2025:
A little more on point with what I wanted. They were already handling my other shoe production, so I continued on their footwear development
Final Sample Arrives, January 2026:
They are comfy, and they perform decently in the gym. Pretty cool to play in your own shoe.
