PENSOLE ACADEMY: L.E.A.D FOOTWEAR DESIGN TRACK 2020
BEYOND AIR
DESIGN BREIF
To design a lifestyle shoe that embodies the individuals curiosity and purpose.
BACKGROUND
Beyond Air is the project I made during my attendance at PENSOLE Lewis College of Business and Design, L.E.A.D Footwear Design Track 2020. Instead of making a shoe intended for a wide range of users, I made my shoe for one particular person in mind. My best friend, Ram Gupta. In order to produce the shoe, I needed to interview Ram for his "user story" and draw inspiration from things he saw on a daily basis, and what he enjoyed the most. From this story, I was able to create forms and details in the final produce that depict Ram as he truly is.
USER
For my intended user, I scheduled an interview and compiled the most important aspects into a story that depicted Ram Gupta for who he is.
Ram Gupta, 19
Ram is a college student who works at an American Eagle in Westchester, NY. He makes around $12,000/year and lives with his parents during breaks from school. He gets up at 5 AM everyday for work. During his morning routine, he goes out for a run and can't help but occasionally look up at the stars and wonder: "what is my purpose", "who do I want to be", and "where does I belong". When finished, Ram will go to work and start his tasks around the store. He is constantly surrounded by clothing, some of which he really likes. For 8 hours, he is constantly moving around the store, helping customers, and standing waiting to assist anyone in the store. After work, Ram will either go home or go out with friends to the harbor to his favorite restaurant. He enjoys going to the harbor most because it reminds him of his childhood, and his deep appreciation for boats and the sea. At the end of his day, ram will go home, but just before he walks into the front door, he looks up again and stares at the stars one more time.
SKETCHES
During ideation, I drew inspiration from aspects of Rams story, and used them as design elements in each idea. The issues Ram hated most with the shoes he had at the time was tight entry and lacking comfort. The solution to this problem was including either a BOA system, zipper and velcro strap, or dial system to open the shoes for ease of entry.
CONCEPT
In the final stages of Beyond Air, I wanted to include Ram in deciding which shoe to move forward with. In the end, he ended up choosing the dial and strap concept because he felt it resonated with him the most.
BEYOND AIR
With the final design determined, it was time to create the final rendering for the lifestyle shoe that Ram would wear. Some of the forms that are seen in the Beyond Air are stars in the night sky, clothing, and a boats wheel. The colorway for the shoe is also reminiscent of Ram's story which is why different shades of blue and grey are used. The "ships wheel" is the dial used to tighten or loosen the strap around Rams foot. On the sole, there is also a way to inflate or deflate the air bag in the sole depending on the cushioning preferences of the user.
