PLYWOOD AND NEWSPAPER
NIKE EXHIBIT GOES GREEN
The 2008 summer will showcase world-class athletes from around the globe. Capturing the spirit of this sporting event, the Department of Nike Archives, known as DNA, showcased the company’s story in a unique exhibit located in the Prefontaine Hall on Nike’s World Headquarters near Beaverton, Oregon.
The DNA Team chronicled the journey of Nike influence on the sporting event from first introduction of the “Moon Shoe” in 1972 to this year’s breakthrough FlyWire technology and Lunarlite foam. This exhibit tells thirty-six years of Nike’s history as a leader in innovation and design. The DNA team also considered design, focusing on sustainability, as they were planning the exhibit.
“As we brainstormed how we could best tell the story to Nike employees and visitors, we considered every stage of the exhibit,” said Chuck Eichten, Design Director of DNA. “We were conscious of the environmental impact it would have, both globally and locally.”
Exhibit materials were analyzed vigilantly. DNA researched how they were sourced and manufactured, how they would be installed and finally, how they would be disposed of after the exhibit was dismantled.
The primary building material used for the exhibit was simple fir plywood from Oregon and is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. FSC has developed a set of Principles and Criteria for forest management that address legal issues, indigenous rights, labor rights, multiple benefits, and environmental impacts surrounding forest management. The graphics were printed directly to plywood, using low-toxicity UV inks or printed on cotton canvas substrates stretched over wooden frames. No glues or laminates were used.
The secondary exhibit material was newsprint. The newspaper concept was inspired by the 'official' internal Nike paper of the 1980s, called The Nike Times. The newspaper is relatively low-impact, using soy inks and is easily recyclable. This was used as an exhibit display, and its portability allowed for it to be taken and used as a personal and public information source.
The exhibit is complete with some of the most memorable relics of Nike’s history. When it's finally dismantled in late August, the plywood will be donated to “The Rebuilding Center” in Portland, Ore, the largest non-profit used-building materials resource in North America.