The Nike Air Max 1 was designed by Tinker Hatfield with a visible Air unit for its 1987 launch.
Hatfield drew inspiration from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, particularly its exposed structural elements. That architectural influence helped make the cushioning technology visible rather than hiding it inside the midsole.
The shoe was originally called the Air Max, and it later became known as the Air Max 1 after subsequent models entered the line. Its visible window was a major design change for Nike running shoes and helped turn performance footwear into a lifestyle category.
The Air Max 1 is often confused with the Air Max 90, which followed in 1990 and was originally called the Air Max III. The two models share the visible-air concept but have different uppers and tooling.