Our aim is to provide a consumer specific product that maximizes comfort and performance in a variety of footwear categories. Ultimately, we hope to provide a spark in helping to shift the footwear industry's focus from cheap, standardized manufacturing to a consumer specific production process that dramatically reduces waste and provides a sustainable platform for intelligent design and growth.
Our current focus is on streamlining our production process and working with our suppliers and manufacturers to make Footprint a viable reality. Please check our website, as we'll be posting news, and soon, real-life evidence of people actually wearing our shoes. www.footprintfootwear.com
Until then, check out our presentation from Autodesk University for a detailed look into our process and future goals.
A visual run-through of our process and inspiration:
Footprint is just getting started and we'll be posting more about our progress as we move along. Before 3D printed footwear becomes more common in the marketplace, there are a few hurdles that need to be cleared. The main issues lie in high production costs for certain production methods and material durability issues in others. Below you can see some of our current mid-sole prototypes and printing technologies that we've experimented with.
Part of our next phase of research is attempting to incorporate pressure mapped data from sensor beds (like you see below) into our printed midsoles. Our process allows for the creation of point specific density. For areas where more or less support is needed, we can cluster cells closer together for added support or make an area less dense for increased freedom of motion.
Renders of sequential prototypes, starting last spring until the present. All of these models were done with a combination of Fusion 360, Rhino, and Grasshopper, with a little bit of code tweaking when necessary. Since then we've moved on to more powerful generative software giving us more accuracy and defined geometry.
Now working on more intelligent structures.
For more info on our current prototypes, news and updates on our progress, please visit: www.footprintfootwear.com
