Design, product and apparel have a huge influence on the sports industry, and also shape culture.

The impact of design is hard to measure - we often talk about what 'looks' and 'feels' good, but we don't know why. To learn more, we go in to the world of design and apparel in sport with Nissanka Goonetilleke. 

Nissanka is Footwear Product Manager of Core Performance Sports at ASICS.

He has been at ASICS for seven years, where he has worked as a Senior Apparel Designer and was also Product And Design Manager for the Australian Olympic team for Tokyo 2020.

Prior to joining ASICS, Nissanka was a Senior Designer at compression company 2XU and was also a Headwear Designer at New Era in the UK. 

Nissanka joins Tredders to talk about:

• How big sports brands approach design and apparel
• How he fitted out an entire Olympic team during COVID
• How a designer in sport draws on storytelling, innovation, science, history, business and more
• The role of the elite athlete in the design process
• The tension of designing for both world class athletes and 'weekend warriors'
• Balancing performance and commercial outcomes
• Sports apparel and culture
• 3D printing, customisation and the future

And more!

What did you think?

Just reply or comment to our The Big Deal emails, or send a voice note to [email protected] to be included in the next Talkback With Tredders episode!

About The Big Deal

The Big Deal reveals the dollars, details and drama behind the business of sport, in Australia and around the world. 

Subscribe to the weekly podcast on your favourite podcast player, and join our community and get a weekly wrap of sports deals, breaking sports business news and much more at: www.thebigdeal.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.