Hoke III
2008 A luJohn
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F e l low
John R. Hoke III ’88 A&A is vice president of global footwear for Converse. He
is responsible for global footwear product management, research design and
development, and product innovation.
Hoke joined Converse in March 2008, after 16 years with Nike, where he served
as global creative director of footwear design and vice president of global footwear
design. Prior to that, he worked as global creative director with Nike’s brand
design studio, where he directed the design and creative direction for Niketown
stores in New York and London and the Nike Goddess stores. His Nike Goddess
store concept won a Superior Achievement in Design and Imaging (SADI) Award
from the industry journal Retail Traffic.
Hoke’s interest in footwear design began when, as a teenage runner, he submitted
sketch ideas to Nike founder Phil Knight regarding an athletic shoe with “air”
in the mid-sole. More than 20 years later, Hoke designed the SHOX XTR, an
innovative training shoe with Nike Shox cushioning.
Hoke speaks frequently at international design conferences and was selected in
2003 to serve as a juror for the National Design Awards of the Cooper Hewitt
National Design Museum. His work has been highlighted in numerous media
outlets, including a 2005 Business Week article that cited him as a “voice of innovation” for promoting sustainable design. Hoke also serves on the board of
directors of the office furniture company, Herman Miller, Inc.
Hoke was previously recognized with the College of Arts and Architecture
Alumni Award in 2003. He and his wife, Karen, have three sons.