Investigating Air Technology
IN(AIR)VATION
Inflatable technology, which harnesses air and empty space, has emerged as a powerful tool across a wide range of industries, from aerospace to footwear. This concept of using ‘nothingness’ as a structural element is paradoxical, as its functionality arises from the very absence of material. This innovative system challenges typical design thinking, proving that emptiness can be just as effective as substance in creating functional and dynamic products. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in footwear, where inflatable systems have become synonymous with advancements in cushioning and performance.
FOOTWEAR
Few brands harness air like Nike and Reebok, using ‘nothingness’ as a technology that enhances movement and comfort—an invisible force that adapts, cushions, and supports. Nike Air, introduced in 1978 by former NASA engineer M. Frank Rudy, who adapted Apollo space helmet techniques to create polyurethane pouches filled with dense gas in the midsole. Over time, Nike refined the system, transitioning to nitrogen for greater durability, culminating in the latest Air Max Dn, where shifting air provides ultra-reactivity.
In 1989, Reebok responded to Nike’s dominance with air cushioning by introducing Pump technology, which would use inflatable chambers for a customisable fit. Activated by pressing the Pump Ball, air fills hidden chambers that wrap the foot for a secure, locked-in feel. In both cases, air’s weightless presence not only creates structure but actively solves problems—offering support, adaptability, and performance.
SAFTEY
In the utility sector, air tech’s potential extends beyond aesthetics to provide comfort and safety, using air’s void to create flexible, functional solutions. A key case is the Mammut Pro 35 Removable Airbag 3.0, which employs air to enhance safety in extreme mountain environments. Its lightweight, compact system features a compressed air-powered deployment mechanism that inflates a high-visibility orange airbag within seconds, providing critical protection in avalanches while preserving mobility. This air-filled void is lifesaving—offering both impact absorption and buoyancy for those navigating unpredictable terrain.
Similarly, the Mercedes-Benz Airbag has redefined automotive safety through its precision sensors and controlled inflation that cushions occupants from impact, adapting dynamically to crash severity and passenger positioning. Innovations like multi-stage inflation, side and knee airbags, and the Pre-Safe system extend air’s role beyond reaction to anticipation—proactively mitigating injury before a collision occurs. In both cases, air becomes more than an invisible element and instead acts as a transformative force.
CYCLING
Ventete, an air-tech company reshaping cycling headgear under the immersive lens of the sport, builds on this concept. Their aH-1 Bike Helmet marks a radical departure from traditional EPS foam designs, using a pneumatic system that absorbs impact with pressurised air while addressing key challenges like portability, ventilation and comfort. Its concept began with the idea of transforming an object from 2D to 3D, leveraging air to reduce mass without sacrificing function. In this case, the helmets inflatable design allows it to collapse to 10% of its size for easy storage, while integrated air vents ensure breathability. Its packability mirrors the compact design of the Nike City Knife 3, solving the problem of compact storage in modern, space-conscious living, but with the added benefit of air.
By replacing mass in with air in a meaningful way, Ventete embraces a structural minimalism where negative space activates the object. This philosophy reflects a wider ethos of embracing the ‘spaces between’ and turning ‘nothing’ into something essential. After a decade of refinement, the aH-1 combines lightweight air and high-performance fabrics into a sleek, protective helmet, balancing soft and rigid elements while subverting the typical, featureless cycle helmet.
CLOTHING
In contrast to functional design, air technology has shaped aesthetic, collectible pieces that blur the boundaries of archetypal garments. Issey Miyake’s 1987 inflatable rubber jacket is a seminal example, utilising two separate inflater tubes on the chest to allow each side to be independently inflated. This transforms the jacket’s form, adding a sculptural quality that goes beyond traditional garment construction. Miyake’s use of inflatable technology would continue his trajectory of reshaping the relationship between garments and the body, introducing dynamic, adaptable elements to fashion.
Nike’s ACG Inflate Jacket builds on this interplay between function and form, using inflatable insulation to create a modular approach to warmth. Released in the late 1990s, it features air-filled chambers that can be adjusted to regulate insulation, merging technical adaptability with an unconventional silhouette. Unlike Miyake’s sculptural exploration, the Inflate Jacket remains rooted in performance, yet its experimental design challenges conventional outerwear structures. By integrating air technology into a utilitarian framework, it reflects a broader shift toward garments that respond dynamically to their environment.
FURNITURE
In the furniture space, Oskar Zięta’s PLOPP stool reimagines the interaction between material and form by inflating steel through the FiDU (Free Inner Pressure Deformation) process. Two ultra-thin steel sheets are welded together and inflated under high pressure, transfiguring the stool from a solid, heavy structure into a ballooned, hollow configuration. This combination of metal’s durability and air’s fluidity reduces the stool’s weight while maintaining its form, blurring the lines between solidity and adaptability. This approach is also seen in Balenciaga’s Derby, where the inflated toe area creates tension between rigidity and softness without using inflation.
Alternatively, the William Ellery Inflatable Seatpack which uses air to provide durable, adjustable seating in any environment. Its two-stage Boston Valve allows for quick inflation and deflation, while a nylon and brass support strap offers adjustability. By leveraging air as a structural element, its design challenges conventional material expectations to introduce both functional adaptability and aesthetic evolution with air.
Spanning across diverse industries, inflatable technology exemplifies the profound potential of air as both an essential material and conceptual force. From protective helmets to shape-shifting furniture and portable outdoor gear, it demonstrates how absence can drive transformation. Beyond its practical applications, this method speaks to a deeper truth: that structure, stability, and progress can emerge from the simplest, most essential elements—making air not just an essential for life but a powerful tool for design.