#150820: FILA China/How to Design an Unique Running Shoe Tooling
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January 2016 -November 2016
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Anta Sports/FILA
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A project based contract in the period of 12 month
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To design a series of 4 silhouettes under the performance category, tennis, running, cross-training and a lifestyle for locate China market. A lifestyle sportswear silhouette is the second project.
Here, I am explaining one of my favorite FILA designs. It’s a running shoe concept of an unique running tooling. I proposed this concept to FILA China team as part of a series of 3 performance shoe concepts, a tennis shoe, a cross training shoe and a running shoe.
In this fast paced world of ours. I realize consumers still have demands in running shoes these days and probably will always do. In order to design a new running silhouette amongst mountains of running styles in the market, an unique direction is needed. For me the direction is “speed”. I want to design a running shoe that can push you to run fast.
This person is extremely active and enjoys competitions. Running is an important part of his/her life. He/she just wants to be better and faster. This shoe is trying to help this individual be a little bit faster. This person is extremely active and enjoys competitions. Running is an important part of his/her life.
Picking up a pair of running shoes you see a flat piece of rubber, PU or eva sole. This sole piece has at least 50% of ground surface direct contact, which is to provide traction and stability. On the other hand, the greater the traction the slower you go. What if there is a shoe that has minimal direct ground surface contact so that traction is minimal? Hence, increasing speed.
Light weight, barefoot, cushioning, low profile are all important facts of modern running shoes. We want to push further by reducing running shoe bottom and ground surface contact. We believe by reducing surface contact it will reduce surface traction between runner and ground. In return runner will gain speed.
I created a pill shape system that attached to an underfoot stabilizer plate. Each pill is individually attached to this plate, which provide enough stability, yet each separated pill provides maximum flexibility.
I created a pill shape system that attached to a underfoot stabilizer plate. Each pill is individually attached to this plate, which provide enough stability, yet each separated pill provides maximum flexibility.
Below are detailed section drawings showing the construction of this design. Each pill system is attached to footbed plate with a curve shaped bridge that sits deep within pills. This creates a locking effect which each pill can perform freely yet securely.
I love the concept so much that I knew this concept was never going to be adopted and there is no chance it would move into development. Considering this concept is quite sophisticated to begin with.
