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CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE EXAMPLES OF CAPSTONE PROJECTS SPONSORED BY NIKE

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Nike FuelBand App Development – A team of computer science students at the University of Oregon developed a mobile app to accompany Nike’s FuelBand activity tracker. The app allowed users to view their daily activity metrics, participate in challenges with friends, and sync their device data to the cloud. As part of the capstone project, students worked directly with Nike engineers to design the app experience, integrate with Nike APIs, and test compatibility with the FuelBand hardware. Upon completion, Nike provided feedback and insights that helped improve the user experience of their commercial app.

Sports Equipment Design for Athletes with Disabilities – Biomedical engineering students at Arizona State University conducted user research, prototyping, and testing as part of a capstone focused on designing new sports equipment for athletes with disabilities. Working with Nike designers and athletes in Nike’s adaptive sports program, students developed prototypes for basketball shoes, handball gloves, and volleyball knee pads tailored for specific mobility impairments. Their designs emphasized fit, comfort and performance through ergonomic adjustments, customized straps and lightweight durable materials. Feedback from athlete testing was incorporated into the final design proposals, some of which went on to inform future Nike products.

Sustainable Manufacturing Process for Nike Flyknit – A group of mechanical engineering students at the University of Michigan developed and tested new manufacturing techniques for Nike’s revolutionary Flyknit running shoe as part of their senior capstone. Flyknit shoes are constructed from threads that are knitted into a one-piece textile upper, using less waste materials than traditional stitched leather or synthetic uppers. The student team proposed and built prototypes for an alternative knitting process that reduced energy and water usage in the factory. Their process also produced less yarn scraps that are difficult to recycle. Nike engineers helped guide the project and ultimately adopted aspects of the students’ sustainable production method into their Flyknit manufacturing facilities.

VR Experience for Nike Training Apps – Computer science and graphic design students from Purdue University collaborated on a virtual reality project sponsored by Nike Digital. They developed an immersive VR training app that placed users inside simulated workout environments, such as a track or yoga studio, guided through exercises by a digital coach. Users could see personalized metrics overlaid in the VR space and compete against friends in leaderboards. The students designed novel interactions between the user’s physical movements and their corresponding avatar in VR. Feedback from beta testers was incorporated to refine the prototype experience. Elements of the students’ VR design and coaching mechanics were later applied to Nike’s commercial training apps and smart home partnerships.

Shoe Design for Everyday Athletes – A group of industrial design students from Central Saint Martins in London took a human-centered design approach for their Nike-sponsored capstone project. Through observational research and interviews with “everyday athletes” – individuals who integrated movement like cycling or weight lifting into non-athletic daily routines – the students identified unmet needs for comfortable yet supportive footwear. Their design process incorporated rapid prototyping, fit evaluations and material testing. The resulting shoe concept featured a breathable synthetic knit upper with adjustable laces and a flexible customized midsole Wrap for stability during varied activities. Elements of the students’ designs informed the development of Nike’s lifestyle sneaker lines targeted for casual athletes.

As these examples demonstrate, Nike has sponsored many innovative capstone and senior design projects that provide real-world experience for students while generating valuable insights. Partnering with university programs allows Nike to stay at the cutting edge of emerging technologies through collaboration with the next generation of designers, engineers and developers. Students benefit from applying their classroom learning to solve challenges presented by an industry leader. The successful projects often influence the future direction of Nike’s products, manufacturing techniques, digital experiences and approach to inclusive design – reflecting the mutual benefits of corporate-academic partnerships.

HOW DOES NIKE SELECT THE UNIVERSITIES AND STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CAPSTONE PROGRAM?

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Nike’s capstone program is one of the company’s most prestigious opportunities for students and universities. As one of the largest sportswear companies in the world, Nike is very selective in choosing the partnerships that will represent their brand. They use a thorough selection process to identify programs and individuals that exemplify Nike’s core values of innovation, passion for sport, and drive to push boundaries.

The first step in the selection process is for universities to apply to be considered as a capstone partner school. Nike markets the opportunity broadly to universities around the world with strong design, business, marketing or sports-related programs. Interested schools must submit a proposal detailing the strengths of their specific program or department and how a capstone collaboration could mutually benefit both parties. Proposals are reviewed by a committee at Nike headquarters consisting of leaders from their university relations, design, marketing and product teams.

Committee members evaluate university proposals based on several key criteria. They consider the caliber and reputation of the applying academic program to ensure capstone projects will be handled by high achieving students. They also assess how engaged and supportive the university leadership and faculty would be to ensure a seamless partnership experience. Strategic geographical location is another factor, as Nike aims to collaborate with schools in regions where they have business priorities. The quality and specificity of proposed capstone project ideas is weighed, focusing on ideas directly relevant to Nike’s business. Universities must also demonstrate a cultural fit with Nike’s brand and willingness to promote the partnership opportunities to students.

Schools that pass the initial proposal screening are then visited by Nike representatives who tour facilities, meet with faculty and gather additional insights. This allows Nike to validate claims made in proposals and ensure administrators and faculty truly understand and buy into the vision for the collaboration. Site visits also allow Nike to begin developing rapport with potential university partners. Final university partner selections are made based on the comprehensive evaluation of submitted proposals and information gathered from site visits. Typically 4-6 schools per year globally are selected to embark on 3 year capstone partnership agreements.

Once partner universities have been identified, the student selection process begins. Each selected school is allotted a set number of capstone placements annually based on size and program scope. Schools then develop their own application process to identify top student candidates for the coveted Nike capstone spots. Application requirements usually include academic achievement, relevant work experience, demonstrated leadership abilities and a passion for sports, design or business innovation. Students must also submit a proposed capstone project idea based on needs presented by Nike.

Partner schools review applications and recommend their top candidates to Nike for final approval. Nike conducts phone interviews with referred students, evaluating how they might contribute value through their proposed project and cultural fit. Final student selections are jointly decided by Nike and each partner university based on qualifications and mutual alignment. Selected students are then matched and assigned to capstone projects that leverage their specific skills and proposed project concepts. This helps maximize the potential impact and ROI of each individual capstone partnership.

Through this rigorous selection process, Nike ensures they are collaborating with the world’s top universities and students who share their vision and values. The process allows Nike to identify partners with demonstrated strengths in key strategic areas while scoping projects directly aligned with business needs. It also guarantees a personalized approach tailored to each university’s unique talents and regional opportunities. As a result, Nike is able to maximize the success and impact of their coveted capstone partnerships, fueling innovation that moves their brand and business vision forward for years to come. Their selective process exemplifies how thorough screening cultivates mutually beneficial, high-impact collaborations between elite companies and academic institutions.