3. The Godfather of the Dad Shoe: Steven Smith on Crafting Iconic Sneakers

On this episode of DIBS, we sit down with the legendary Steven Smith, the man behind some of the most iconic sneakers of all time. Known as the Godfather of the Dad Shoe, Steven’s career has spanned decades and touched nearly every major sneaker brand—New Balance, Reebok, Fila, Nike, Adidas, Yeezy, and now Crocs. Steven's designs have defined generations of streetwear and sneaker culture, from the classic New Balance 574 to the futuristic Yeezy 700 Wave Runner.In this episode, we cover:How Chicago’s streets and sneaker culture inspired Steven’s iconic designsHis journey from a fresh art school graduate to a global design legendThe story behind creating game-changing sneakers like the New Balance 574, 996, and Yeezy 700His partnership with Kanye West at Yeezy and the innovative process behind the Wave RunnerWhy he chose to take his talents to Crocs and what’s next for his design evolutionSteven also shares his favorite spots in Chicago, his love for Piece Pizza in Wicker Park, and why he believes Chicago is the perfect blend of grit and grace.Connect with Steven Smith:InstagramLinkedInListen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman