An article of footwear comprising: an upper; a sole assembly; the sole assembly including a midsole and an outsole; wherein: the midsole includes a fluid-filled bladder element including a polymeric material that has a surface with an impression (12B; 12C; 12D); the fluid-filled bladder element further including a first polymeric sheet bonded to a second polymeric sheet to form a peripheral seam in the fluid-filled bladder element that at least partially seals an internal cavity that retains fluid; a portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by said one of the midsole, the outsole, or by the article of footwear, wherein the polymeric material comprises the first polymeric sheet that comprises a gas barrier polymer and has a first thickness; wherein the impression (12B; 12C; 12D) has a maximum depth into the first polymeric sheet of not more than about one-half of the first thickness such that the gas barrier polymer is not compromised by the impression (12B; 12C; 12D); wherein at least a portion of the outsole is substantially transparent; wherein the fluid-filled bladder element is secured to the outsole; and wherein the impression (12B; 12C; 12D) is exposed to view through the portion of the outsole that is substantially transparent. an upper; a sole assembly; the sole assembly including a midsole and an outsole; wherein: the midsole includes a fluid-filled bladder element including a polymeric material that has a surface with an impression (12B; 12C; 12D); the fluid-filled bladder element further including a first polymeric sheet bonded to a second polymeric sheet to form a peripheral seam in the fluid-filled bladder element that at least partially seals an internal cavity that retains fluid; a portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by said one of the midsole, the outsole, or by the article of footwear, wherein the polymeric material comprises the first polymeric sheet that comprises a gas barrier polymer and has a first thickness; wherein the impression (12B; 12C; 12D) has a maximum depth into the first polymeric sheet of not more than about one-half of the first thickness such that the gas barrier polymer is not compromised by the impression (12B; 12C; 12D); the midsole includes a fluid-filled bladder element including a polymeric material that has a surface with an impression (12B; 12C; 12D); the fluid-filled bladder element further including a first polymeric sheet bonded to a second polymeric sheet to form a peripheral seam in the fluid-filled bladder element that at least partially seals an internal cavity that retains fluid; a portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by said one of the midsole, the outsole, or by the article of footwear, wherein the polymeric material comprises the first polymeric sheet that comprises a gas barrier polymer and has a first thickness; wherein the impression (12B; 12C; 12D) has a maximum depth into the first polymeric sheet of not more than about one-half of the first thickness such that the gas barrier polymer is not compromised by the impression (12B; 12C; 12D); wherein at least a portion of the outsole is substantially transparent; wherein the fluid-filled bladder element is secured to the outsole; and wherein the impression (12B; 12C; 12D) is exposed to view through the portion of the outsole that is substantially transparent.