Inside the Design: How Arts-Rec Created Their Nike SB Dunk and Air Trainer 1

July 2025 was huge for San Diego’s Arts-Rec Skateshop. After two years of design work, they dropped their custom Nike SB Dunk and Air Trainer 1, globally. You can imagine, us native and local San Diegans were beaming with pride, and the fact that they took cues from the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park is priceless. After the hype has subsided a bit, the backyard party at their Logan Ave location is cleaned up, and the shoes are sold out everywhere, we shot over a list of questions to Mike Metcalf and Kellen James to find out more about the whole process:

1. How did this whole process start? How does a skateshop approach Nike SB to do a shoe, and how long did the process take?

We were lucky to get the opportunity. From the first convo to the shoes showing up in the shop, it took about two years. It’s a long process, but it goes by quick.

2. Most shops only do a Dunk. How and why did you choose the two silhouettes?
At first, we were only working on a Dunk. We had two solid Zoo-inspired colorways, and were going back and forth on which one to use. Then Nike asked if we wanted to do a Trainer 1 as well, so we split them up and used one for each. It couldn’t have worked out any better.

3. The colors and materials are inspired by the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park—where did that idea come from?
We wanted something that tied back to San Diego but still left room to be creative with the design. The goal for the Dunk was to make it unique but wearable. Not too loud, not too safe.

So stoked to get one of the limited trunks, he got it signed—by everybody!

Arts-Rec

4. Was there any contact with the Zoo? What was their reaction?
We originally planned to do a launch at the Zoo, but it was too tough to make it work as a public event. Having it open to everyone was a priority.

5. How wide was the distribution of the shoe? Global? US only?
Global.

6. What was the idea behind the safari trunks for the first 300 customers?
Originally, the safari trunks were supposed to be friends-and-family only, limited to whatever minimum the manufacturer allowed. But once we saw the sample, we decided to make as many as we could for our own launch event.

Tower of trunks outside with the line-up in the background.

Arts-Rec

7. What Easter eggs are hidden inside the shoe?
We added details wherever we could. If there was an opportunity to include something extra, we took it. If you’re into the details, there’s a lot to discover.

8. What was the sampling process like? Did it take many adjustments to get it right and skateable?
The first sample we got was actually really good. Between submitting the final design and getting that sample, you can’t help but wonder if we should’ve changed a color or switched up a material. But once we had it in hand, we felt great about it right away.

9. What’s next for the shop?
We’re in the thick of a few things right now. The Nike SB project was such a great experience, and it definitely lit a fire for us to keep things moving. Thank you to everyone at Nike SB.

Limited-edition Arts-Rec beer brewed by local Harland Brewing on hand at the launch event.

Arts-Rec

Visit Arts-Rec at one of their two locations next time you’re in SD!

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More photos from the launch event and the shoes: