02. iaso
the road to recovery
a female specific recovery shoe
ouch !!
due to differing biomechanics, women experience common injuries more often than men
the difference
aside from a wider q-angle, women's feet take a much different shape then men's
the differing biomechanics and foot shape creates an opportunity to design footwear specifically to aid in recovery from sustained injuries or to prevent those injuries all together.
recovery footwear features
looking into the key features of recovery footwear
what's on the market
taking a look at other recovery shoes and women-specific shoes on the market
A brand designed by women, this sneaker has 3 different fits depending on a number of factors including food width, arch height and sneaker use.
Hoka has combined their beloved oversized midsole with their Meta-Rocker geometry to create a fan favorite recovery slide.
Oofo’s clog claims to absorb 37% more impact than traditional footwear due to their foam technology.
Made for all day wear, the Topo Revive creates a happy medium between a comfy slipper and a recovery shoe.
Originally designed for those in healthcare, Clove’s design has become a comfy favorite for everyone on their feet all day.
what's trending
using WGSN to forecast future and long lasting trends in fashion and footwear
elevated utility
With a shift towards more flexible lifestyles, the importance of extending a products lifespan becomes more important. Designing styles with utilitarian purposes and a refined aesthetic will be desired by consumers.
prepare - wear
With an onslaught of unpredictable weather and increasingly volatile global affairs, adaptable garments with safety and technical features will become more desired. Designing with an aim for multifunctionality and longevity will become more important.
comfy living
As people begin to prioritize health and wellbeing over work, the idea of protecting downtime becomes more important. Creating styles where comfort meets the familiarity of being at home, while also playing with the ideas of newness.
ideation
first looking at silhouettes and then refining based on research and aesthetics
phase one : silhouette exploration
phase two : sole + tread refinement
phase three : upper refinement
phase four : final concepts
three final directions were chosen, each with a distinct design direction.
concept validation
showing chosen concepts to my target audience
after reviewing these concepts in the validation phase, I decided it needed to be altered to better fit the needs of my target audience and design objectives
revisiting my research
looking back at my initial research to see what women value in a running shoe versus in a slide/mule.
diving deeper into what aesthetic qualities women value and seek in footwear
refining and redesigning
refining and expanding upon previous concepts based on user feedback and revisiting previous research
final directions
the final direction was chosen by combining the most desired features of the refined concepts while keeping overall functionality in mind
