Richard Kuchinsky’s Post

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Global Footwear Designer & Performance Running Expert

But why? Are we running out of air to put in basketballs? Performance is below standard. Exorbitantly expensive price availability makes it inaccessible. If it’s innovation for exploration and experimentation that’s cool but why is this a “retail” product? What makes this successful? To me, it seems like this is a perfect example of my post from last week explaining that “expensive product ≠ good design”. Just because it can be done, is that reason enough? I can’t see what makes this good design.

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We are so excited to share that the first-ever 3D-printed basketball is now available for purchase. The Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Airless Gen1 Basketball never needs to be inflated, and nearly fits the performance specifications of a regulation basketball, including its weight, size and rebound (bounce). While the Wilson Airless Gen1 is crafted for play, it is truly a coveted, technology-infused product meant to create and inspire a new community of innovation enthusiasts and basketball hype curators alike. Be a part of innovation history and be one of the first to get the Wilson Airless Gen1 today.

Airless Gen1 Basketball | Wilson's First Airless Basketball

wilson.com

a.n. faison

advisor | entrepreneur | attorney | part-time podcaster

6mo

Having to carry a pump around is pretty annoying. A lot of times you’ll only have a flat ball and no one has a pump. So you just play with a flat ball. Concept kind of reminds me of the Neverflat basketballs or the One World futbol.

Luca Ciccone

Director of Product Engineering - Saucony 👟 | Product Creation Leader, Innovator👨🔬 Strategist |🎙Content Creation Hobbyist 🎥 | Speaker 🎤 Storyteller | Hacker 👨💻 Former D&D Dungeon Master 🧙♂️

6mo

The only thing I'm curious about is if it behaves and sounds like a whiffle ball when it's being passed or thrown.

Shawn Hoy

I am a strategist (McKinsey and Bain) and a consumerist (Nike, Saucony, DSW). My approach is to fuse the science and art of business and product creation to create market-defining products and services.

6mo

A rare time when I disagree with you, Richard Kuchinsky . There is a problem to solve with balls losing air, the need for a pump and a gauge, etc…. How do you know performance is below standard? Maybe this starts expensive, is proven and then scale and tweaks drive the price down. And, if it leads to a new experience and aesthetic, that’s the point of innovation, right?

Sam Parkinson

Freelance Senior Sportswear Designer | I help brands to create and build their sportswear range.

6mo

I am all for trying to push the boundaries but I’m a Bit concerning when the post states “nearly fits the performance specifications of a regular basketball”! Feels a little bit more of a brand awareness project than an industry game changer.

Bradford Waugh

Industrial Designer / aspiring engineer

6mo

I'm inclined to agree and I would say the value of an overly complicated yet outrageously expensive, airless basketball is pretty low. I do appreciate that they did it because of what it may mean for other industries. What if you could use shaped pieces like this in your footwear to develop spring and support with fantastic ventilation? I think I see some value here in potential adjacent markets. Patent the material and maybe you've got a flyweave competitor 😉 😎

Novelty Factor for the moment ? And it could possible lead other better product inventions where Filling air is a challenge or risk.

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