Course Description

This studio course is the second in a series of three courses (SPD 685, SPD 686 and SPD 687), in which students will use theories in biomechanics/mechanics, ergonomics/fit, design, research, business, sustainability, materials science and creative problem-solving methods to explore and push the boundaries of footwear design solutions in the field of sports product design. Sports footwear is defined as soft goods worn on the feet during sport for protection and enhancement during performance. They are typically made of textiles, rubber, and plastic and can include slippers, braces, wraps, cleats, and spikes. This course will address the relevant topics surrounding the link between an athlete’s ability to perform successfully and the objects they wear on their feet, as well as how design can help shape the future of this product interface. In this course, students will learn about the upper, midsole, sock liner, and outsole design, and investigate the use and failure patterns from reclaimed products in order to identify new design opportunities. They will also learn about sports-specific mechanical theories such as cushioning, stability, support, traction, spinning and slipping in order to innovate new product technologies. Students will also learn about sports footwear pattern drafting, construction, and reverse engineering, in order to accurately communicate their designs to others. They will explore materials science theories to understand the technical performance requirements and sustainability. The studio nature of this course encourages making and innovation, along with weekly critiques where students will continue to refine their critical design thinking and presentation skills.

Studio Process

Week 1

Studio Communication Making
Monday
  • Course Overview
  • Plan your projects
  • Project Presentation
  • Setting up UO Blog for the progress report
 Thumbnail Sketch<Type A>

Assigned:

  • 1.1 Egg Drop Challenge
  Type A x 50
Wednesday
  • 1.1 Egg Drop Challenge Review
  • Individual Concept Review and Development
 Detailed Sketch<Type B>

Assigned:

  • 1.2 Research
 Type B x 20

Week 2

 

Studio Communication Making
Monday
  • Project 1 Cushioning Research Presentation & Journal Club

Sketch Rendering 

 

Assigned:

  • 1.3 Cushioning System Ideation & Prototyping
  • 1.4 Cushioning System Design Prototyping

Sketch Rendering <Type C> x 5

 

 
Wednesday
  • Prototype Presentation

Technical Rendering

 

Assigned:

  • 1.5 Footwear System Design Presentation

Technical Rendering <Rendering> x 2

 

 

Week 3

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday
04/13/2020

 
  • Project 1 Presentation
 Quarter View

Assigned:

  • 2.1 Project Upper Research

Quarter View Sketches<Type B> x 5

 
Wednesday
04/15/2020
  • Heeluxe Presentation – Footwear Fitting and Testing
 Footwear Rough Prototyping

Ongoing:

  • 2.1 Project Upper Research

 

Week 4

 

Studio Communication Making
Monday
04/20/2020
  • Project 2 Prototype Publish Online

History + Warm-up

  • Unboxing
  • Athletic shoe history
  • Important invention
    technology drops
  • Upper anatomy
  • Basic upper making

Assigned:

  • 2.1 Project Upper Research

 

 

 2.5 Basic Footwear Upper Making
Wednesday
04/22/2020
  • Break the Rules

4/24 Friday Sessions:

Mixed Mediums Method I – 3D to Photoshop<Type C>

Break the Rules

  • Show + tell uppers
  • Rule breakers
    discussion

 

Assigned:

  • 2.2 Project Upper Prototype
 2.6 Rule Breaker Footwear Upper Design

 

Week 5

 

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday

04/27/2020

 

 Mixed Mediums Method II – Photoshop to 3D <Type C>

Follow the Rules

  • Last taping + base
    pattern process

Assigned<Wednesday>:

  • 2.3 Project Design

 Mixed Sketch Rendering <Type C> x 1

 

Assigned:

2.7 Tape last + make
base pattern

Wednesday

 04/29/2020

Retro Re-Invent

  • Upper design
    +making
  • Design reviews + QA

Assigned:

  • 2.4 Project Presentation

 

Assigned:

2.7 Tape last + make
base pattern

 

 

 

Week 6

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday
05/04/2020
  • Lecture: Traction Presentation
 Office hours on 5/1

 

  
Wednesday
05/06/2020		 Parametric Design in Footwear Traction Pattern 2 <Substance Designer Method>

Assigned:

  • Project 3.1 Traction Research\
  • 3.2 Traction Pattern Design (Element)
  • 3.3 Traction Pattern Design (Input and Parameterization)
  • 3.4 Traction Pattern Modeling
  • 3.5 Project Presentation
  

 

Week 7

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday
05/11/2020

 
  • Project 2: Upper Presentation

 

 

  
Wednesday
05/13/2020
  • Project 3 Traction Presentation
 

 

Week 8

 

Studio Communication Making
Monday
05/18/2020

Assigned:

  • 5.1 Preliminary Research and Project Brief

 

 
Wednesday
05/20/2020

Final Project Topic Review

 Selective CAD & Communication topics

Assigned:

  • 5.2 Research
  • 5.3 Prototype

 

Week 9

 

Studio Communication Making

Wednesday
05/27/2020
  • Final Project Research Presentation
 Selective CAD & Communication topics

 

Week 10

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday
06/01/2020

Due:

  • M.V.P Package(Techinical Drawings) / Work-alike Model

Assigned:

  • Concept Ideation

 

 Selective CAD & Communication topics

Wednesday
06/03/2020

Due:

  • Tech Pack of the final concept

Assigned:

  • High Fidelity Prototype<Upper>
  • 3D/CAD Model

 

 

Week 11

 

Studio Communication Making

Monday
06/08/2020

Due:

All Basic deliverables Due:

  • High Fidelity Prototype
  • 3D/CAD Model

Thursday
06/11/2020

 Final Review