We’ve all been there: scribbling in a notebook to kill time during a dull class. For most of us, it might not lead to much more, but for one gifted youngster from the United Kingdom named Joe Whale, more popularly known as Doodle Boy, it opened up the door to some very significant opportunities, most notably a partnership with the global sportswear company Nike.
From Classwork Doodles To Major Designs
Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s probably necessary to acknowledge that Joe’s achievement did not happen overnight. Before the 14-year-old artist grabbed the attention of big brands like the Swoosh Label, he spent many hours perfecting his skills in class, which, may we add, he was frequently chastised for.
Yet despite being constantly lectured in class for his doodling, the young artist remained committed and started to promote his work on social media platforms such as Instagram, with support and encouragement from his parents, of course.
Interest in his work quickly grew, resulting in a current following of 185K people on Instagram (and counting) and opportunities to partner with other artists and brands in the industry. Naturally, the most exciting opportunity occurred when the Swoosh Label approached him about joining the family in 2022 for the opportunity to team up on some inspiring projects.
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The Doodle Boy’s Work
While this is not the first time Nike has collaborated with children to design sneakers, as evidenced by the number of Doernbecher Freestyle releases in previous years, this opportunity is unique in that this young talent was HIRED as a “co-creator” for the brand for promotional and marketing activity, as well as “special projects.”
So far, he has completed a number of special designs for the brand, including Nike Air Force 1s for the England women’s national football team, known as the Lionesses, and Nike cleats for YouTuber Tekkerz Kid.
We’re sure there’s still a lot more in the works for this young co-creator, and we can’t wait to see what other amazing collaborations he has planned with Nike in the future.
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More Sneakers
If you want to view more of Nike’s collaborations with young creatives, check out the Nike Air Foamposite One, Air Jordan 6, Nike SB Dunk Low, and Air Jordan 3 designs from their ongoing collaborations with Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. And remember to follow us here at Sneaker Fortress for more updates on the latest sneaker releases and collaborations from Nike and other brands.
Do you want to see Doodle Boy and Nike work together on a new sneaker design in the future?
