RTFKT

Pokemon Go for Sneakerheads

Project:

Pokemon Go for Sneakerheads

Location:

Los Angeles

Type:

App

Spatial

Gaming

Reimagining sneaker culture through AR‑driven gaming and NFTs, this project was an early leap into the future of digital collectibles.

Problem & Partnership

Polyform partnered with RTFKT Studio in 2020 to help design and prototype an AR‑powered gaming experience that centered around collecting and evolving digital sneakers. At a time when Web3 hype was still speculative, RTFKT brought an ambitious vision that combined NFT drops, augmented reality unboxing, virtual try‑on, and a gamified XP system tied to real world gameplay.

Through a rigorous discovery process, we immersed ourselves in gaming mechanics and collector culture, identifying how AR interactions could amplify excitement and drive virality in hype‑driven communities. Working alongside RTFKT’s trailblazing team, which routinely anticipated cultural trends months in advance, we co‑defined a product roadmap modular enough to align with their agile Web3 strategy.

Project Description

Our collaboration delivered a fully interactive prototype: users could mint NFTs via AR unboxing sequences, try them on virtually, and link gaming accounts to earn experience and evolve their digital footwear. This UX flow mirrored the cadence of a modern mobile game, complete with surprise reveals and progression loops, while remaining rooted in the collectible sneaker space.

Although the app didn’t launch commercially (partly due to Nike’s acquisition of RTFKT), the work laid foundational patterns that the industry broadly adopted. The game concept became a stepping stone for CloneX, driving hundreds of millions in NFT sales, accelerating community growth, and ultimately contributing to RTFKT’s acquisition by Nike, the development of Nike's Dot Swoosh, and solidifying their position as Web3 fashion icons.

Outcomes

Shipped

iOS app, NFT minting, virtual try-on, & gaming-link

Fundraise

$8.2M seed / Andreessen Horowitz (05.2021)

Acquisition

Acquired by Nike (12.2021)

Impact

Set benchmarks for phygital & gamified Web3