Every year, Nike’s Doernbecher Freestyle programme opens its doors to young patients from Oregon Health & Science University’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, giving them full creative control to design their own sneaker. For 2025, Sergio Cano Marquez steps into that legacy with his electrifying reinterpretation of the Nike Air Max Plus, a design that radiates imagination, strength, and storytelling in equal measure.
Born with mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A, a rare genetic condition that affects bone and joint development, Sergio has spent much of his life navigating challenges most people can’t imagine. Yet rather than let his condition define him, he channels his experiences into art, drawing, inventing, and creating worlds where anything feels possible. His Air Max Plus mirrors that world, where resilience meets unrestrained creativity.
The design itself is a vibrant collision of contrasts. On one shoe, a dark, video game-inspired aesthetic sets the tone, complete with digital-style graphics and lightning-like gradients that evoke Sergio’s love for action games and heroic storytelling. On the other, an explosion of colour brings his artwork to life, cartoon monsters devouring pizza under a hand-drawn New York skyline, rendered with childlike charm and bold personality. The asymmetry between the two shoes creates a visual dialogue: one grounded in determination and focus, the other brimming with humour and chaos.
Beyond its visual dynamism, every detail feels intentional. The signature TPU overlays of the Air Max Plus are reimagined with subtle colour shifts, highlighting the sneaker’s flowing form. The tongue tabs feature custom insignia inspired by Sergio’s sketches, while the insoles are covered in doodles that celebrate friendship, creativity, and courage. Even the transparent Air units seem to glow, giving the silhouette a kinetic energy that feels alive, much like Sergio’s imagination itself.
The Doernbecher Freestyle project has long been more than just a sneaker collaboration, it’s a platform for storytelling, empowerment, and community. Sergio’s edition stands out for its ability to balance fantasy with emotion, transforming the Air Max Plus into both a wearable artwork and a symbol of hope.
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