ABBY TORRES
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About me
actorres0801@gmail.com
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Project brief
Design a shoe that grows with the child, combating overconsumption, supporting heallthy foot growth and development.
Users
Child & ParentsThe child’s comfort and foot health are directly affected, while parents are impacted by needing to buy new shoes as their child outgrows them.
Research
Overconsumption
The footwear industry is responsible for 1.4% of global emissions.Producing over 300 million shoes, 95% end up in landfills.
One shoe takes 25-1,000+ years to decompose.
“One of the most frustrating things about buying shoes for a child, is how quickly they will grow out of them. As a mum of three, it wasn’t the cost that frustrated me most, it was the waste.”
(How to tackle the waste crisis in kids’ footwear, By: ALISON MCALEAVY)Pain points
Parents often purchase footwear a size too big for their children,anticipating room for growth, but this can lead to various issues.
Children quickly outgrow their shoes, leading to pairs being discarded.
Discomfort and blisters from wearing ill-fitting.
Ill fitting shoes can create tripping hazards for children, leading to falls.
Strain from frequent shoe purchases.
Market analysis
Design Goals
How can we design a shoe for children begining to walk that addresses overconsumption while encouraging healthy growth?
Inspiration
Showcasing features and materials to be incorporatedinto this new shoe design.
Ideation
Initial sketches exploring methods for size adjustment.
Concept refinement
Defining the aesthetics and form. Focusing on
simplifying the touchpoints.3D exploration
Using clay, foam, elastic, and fabric to test the concepts and sizing systems, and functionality.CAD development
Building on the successes of the prototype, the modeling process evolved through various iterations before reaching its final form.Materials
Biomimicry
Inspired by the structures and materials found in bull kelp.PYRATEX®A biobased seacell fabrics are made with SEACELL a seaweed-based fiber.