Design Goal:
Create a shoe for a specific user & environment. Cater to that environment in the sole & upper design.
User & Environment The user I targeted for this project is an active, nature-lover who enjoys the more adventuresome side of exploring the outdoors. Climbing over boulders and walking through rivers by the mountains is commonplace for them. This user needs footwear that give them full flexibility, are water-friendly (and fast-drying), but will also prevent them from slipping on wet rocks/surfaces. As an Arizona native, I've noticed that my favorite environments to vacation to in-state usually involve a combination of rock & water. Whether it is Oak Creek Canyon, Slide Rock in Sedona, Havasupai Falls or Tonto Natural Bridge, there is water to play in and rocks to climb! This is the environment I am aiming to cater to. |
Sole Study
The soles of most shoes are comprised of different textures & segments to help with gripping and flexibility in different environments.
An interesting pattern I noticed is that the less friction an environment offers, the more texture will be on the sole of the shoe designed
for that environment, and vice versa. For our chosen environment of rock & water, I need to prioritize flexibility (large bits of segmentation in the sole) so the shoe can adapt to the foot's natural "grasp" and include small swathes of texture to keep the user from slipping on wet surfaces.
The soles of most shoes are comprised of different textures & segments to help with gripping and flexibility in different environments.
An interesting pattern I noticed is that the less friction an environment offers, the more texture will be on the sole of the shoe designed
for that environment, and vice versa. For our chosen environment of rock & water, I need to prioritize flexibility (large bits of segmentation in the sole) so the shoe can adapt to the foot's natural "grasp" and include small swathes of texture to keep the user from slipping on wet surfaces.
Fabrication
After selecting a sole & upper design, I went through the process of fabricating a model of the shoe itself.
I did several foam "drafts" of the sole and carved out the one I felt would work best. Next, I made a cast of my foot, taped over the cast,
and then drew out the pattern I wanted for the upper design. Then, I went to Goodwill and gathered a variety of fabrics that would be
well-suited toward water. Finally, using my tape mockup, I cut the pieces and sewed together my upper design.
Finalization
The last stages of this project were to illustrate & photograph my final design of the shoe.
I needed to provide call-outs to specific components on the shoe, as well as note any technology.