Project 02 · Footwear Design
Project 02 · Footwear Design
Overview
Many shoes are not built to withstand the unusual forces generated from high impact sports. The Laterals add support to both sides of the toe box and a leather toe cap to reduce wear, providing durability where it's needed most.
Discipline: Industrial Design · Program: USU OPDD · Year: 2025
Research
The two problems that I am addressing with this project are toe wear and side wear for sports shoes.
Toe Wear
Toe wear occurs when athletes repeatedly drag or pivot on the toe box during play. The abrasive forces generated by sports like tennis, pickleball, and skateboarding rapidly degrade standard shoe materials at the front of the foot, shortening the lifespan of the shoe and reducing structural support.
Lateral Side Wear
Lateral side wear results from the aggressive side-to-side cutting movements common in court and field sports. The outer edges of the shoe experience concentrated stress during direction changes, causing the upper and sole to separate or wear unevenly — leading to reduced ankle support and increased injury risk.
Market Research
The market has a gap for shoes with both lateral and toe reinforcement.
Research
"How might we design a shoe that can withstand both lateral force and toe wear?"
Ideation
Rubber reinforcement is integrated from the sole of the shoe, across the toe-box, and connects back to the sole of the opposite side.
TPU reinforced toe increases durability and an abrasion resistant rubber covering decreased friction from toe dragging.
Final Renders
