Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Pointe.2 was awarded Best Overall in 3D Print footwear, medical footwear as well as Footwear Innovation.
A smart footwear system to help ballet dancers train better & lower injury risk. Each dancer’s foot is scanned to produce a custom 3D printed elastomeric shell & toe protector -Unlike traditional ballet shoes, these stretch & adapt to the user’s movements. Cushioning modules reduce impact & a smart insole records pressure distribution & galvanic response to infer pain points. Footage of the dancer can be played back in-app with the sensory data to detect movements that result in pain & potentially injury. Components of the shoe aren’t glued together so parts can be replaced as they wear out.
GFA talks with Abdul’s background and his winning project
Tell us about your background and your journey to footwear design?
I’ve always had somewhat of an interest in fashion and footwear, I imagine spending too much time on tumblr during my teens probably added to this. My tastes and requirements for the things I own started to become more unique as I wanted them to solve specific problems in my life and also just feel like ‘me’. This is what pushed me into making things for myself and cutting up my old shoes to see what I could do with them. Growing up, air forces had basically become part of my school uniform, I wore them everyday and knew them like the back of my hand – I think they were the first pair of shoes I ever made something with. I went on to study product design at University which helped me develop some of the skills I needed to start exploring other aspects of footwear design.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. The Julee Boot was awarded Independent Designer of the Year as well as category winner in Women’s Fashion and Artistic Footwear.
The Julee Boot was named after Julee Wilson, Beauty Director of Cosmopolitan Magazine. It was inspired by the eclipse of the sun and the idea that spheres represent motion, vitality, wholeness, completion, and perfection. The contrast between black and white illustrates that the beginning and the end of cycles are always repeating.
GFA talks with Tori Soudan about the winning project
What does this award mean to you personally?
It is such an honor to receive this award. I am very grateful to the jury and to the Global Footwear awards for recognizing my work on this international landscape. The Julee boot was named after Julee Wilson, Beauty Director of Cosmopolitan Magazine. It was inspired by the eclipse of the sun and the idea that spheres represent motion, vitality, wholeness, completion, and perfection. The contrast between black and white illustrates that the beginning and the end of cycles are always repeating. This design is very significant to me, especially because the realization of the concept was very complicated given the sphere shape of the heel, however I was determined to bring it to fruition.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
I was determined to make the heel round, which was quite difficult to execute and required several iterations. There were many structural obstacles that I had to circumvent. However, I was committed to ensuring that my original vision remained intact.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
Designing has always been a passion for me. I started with gowns and clothes growing up, and eventually shifted my focus to shoes after studying abroad in Europe. I had the passion and business acumen but needed to create a foundation of how to navigate the industry. Before starting my business, I took two years to study the industry, build my knowledge, and make key connections before my launch.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
Coming from a family of creatives, I was always given the space to develop my creative ideas. I draw inspiration from seeing the colorful quilts created by my mother and grandmother, which led me to experiment with a broad array of colors. I also find inspiration from photography tips that my father shared with me. He showed me how contrasting textures create dimension in photographs and I apply this concept to my designs.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
When I first started research for my brand 13 years ago, the luxury shoe space was not very inclusive. Since then, there has been an increase in diversity, which has brought more cultural influence into designs and styles.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
One of the biggest challenges that I find is the amount of time it takes to produce shoes. The industry is also fragmented with many suppliers that must be coordinated in order to start a production. Technology has not yet advanced enough to shorten this process significantly and I it would be great to see more advancements in this area.
How do you deal with feedback?
Feedback is essential for the success of my business. I appreciate the strong and interactive relationship I have with my customers, as their feedback has helped me evolve as a designer over the years. I enjoy learning about how they experience my brand and how they integrate my designs into their lifestyle.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Genderless Heels was awarded Best Overall in Unisex Fashion.
Genderless Heels IS OUTRAGEOUS SHOES IN INCLUSIVE SIZES. For a decade, Kira Goodey (@kiragoodey) has built an international reputation for creating towering footwear. Her shoes have elevated style icons including Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Kylie Jenner, Doja Cat and Nikita Dragun. She believes incredible shoes should be available to everyone – whatever their size, shape or gender. Now, after two years of development, the brand is releasing its first ready-to-wear shoe collection. Every style in the collection is available in an extended size range from EU 36 to 46
GFA talks with Kira about her background and her winning project:
Tell me more about your background and how you get into designing shoes?
I started more in womenswear. I always been obsessed with making things since a young age. I always instinctively knew I wanted to do something in design. Later down the line, I came across this bespoke fetish shoe cobbler, and I became very curious about the idea of making shoes so I begged the artist to let me be his apprentice. I love everything about process of shoes making from day one. This experience resonates to so many things I love; the fashion, the expression, the sculpture, while still being durable and practical; the idea of finding the perfect balance between fashion and function. I was hooked into the world of footwear design and from then on, that has what I’ve been doing in the past 10 years.
When I first started, I work with bespoke client and my clients are so diverse, they came in all shapes and sizes. The clients who have larger sizes struggle to find shoes that work for them, shoes that are equally exciting, there really is nothing available for them. The idea of doing a shoe that covers all sizes from 33-36EU is very uncommon when you look at the offers available in the current market, especially for smaller brands. So my brand really fills in the gaps, that everybody in all foot sizes can fully express themselves the way they deserve.
What is your guiding design principle?
Fashion is only clothing, until someone put it on. It’s how someone wear something and what it says about them and the journey they take with it. It’s not just a piece of art sitting on a shelf to just look at. That’s what really important to me. For me it’s more important to look at a shoe not just as art but as a working functional shoe; they have to work, if they don’t work, there is no point to it. It’s this the idea of bridging engineering and artistic challenge.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
Back then, pre-pandemic, going to the club, I always inspired by people expressing themselves in those scene; perfect make-up, incredible hair, and wearing outfits that tell stories. Then you look at their shoes and you wish they would be able to be as expressive on their feet as well. What inspired my work is when I walk out of the street of East London, the color and the contrast, how people style their shops, the sights, the smell, the lifestyle and culture. Going to museum and seeing this divine object that are 100 years old, and the craftsmanship that is immaculate, the attention to details and the love that pour into the work.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
I’ve been working in the industry from bigger luxury brands, and I learned that the biggest challenge is how the whole fashion industry is set up on how shoes are bought. So when you’re a shoe brand and you show shoe collection to buyers and the buyers select what goes on the market. So even if you offer them a collection that come in full sizes, they only select limited portion of specific sizes that are sold the most in order to meet their bottom line. This is the reality of retails and the pressure that they have. They have take the safest route and only invest in what will drive their revenue. This means that for me selling to retailers and wholesalers with uncommon sizes is out of questions. So with the ethos for my brand to make shoes accessible to everyone, I could only do it direct, in which direct to consumer business for independent brands are extremely challenging. This ultimately became a problem for the lack of offering in uncommon sizes.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
The one that I always look up to would be Andrea Prussia from the early 20 century, designing the most divine, surreal, sculptural shoes. For me this is the type of designer I wanted to be, where the craft is miraculous and concept is strange and exciting and the final piece is so beautiful.
Can you tell me more about your design process?
So I tend to be quite material-driven. I’m quite hands-on with my process with the influence from the shoe-making background. A lot of my designs are dictated by what the material does. I work with leather a lot, it’s the byproduct from the meat industry, it’s so strong, versatile and so good for your feet and I love the techniques leather can achieve. So I would started of mixing materials and play with different techniques then piece them together into the collection. I love working by hand to understand its technicality and then get into sketching and then getting back to sample making. I tend to work on the first sample myself before working with factory because I have this process of realizing and designing through making. My background with shoe-making continues to influence me with the way I work today.
What would be your dream design project?
I love making collection and being able to financially able to do this forever is the dream. I am a huge art fan; every places I visited, I always go to art museums and different galleries which keep me nourished. If I have all the resources in the world, I would love to have a gallery and created this experiential space for people to fully express themselves; dressed up from head to toe in my designs and immerse themselves completely in this world that has the feel of semi real and semi surreal ecosystem.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
More fantasy, more drama. To see more designs that is unapologetic and not afraid to make their own status quo. I would like to see more small brands doing niche creative things, more innovative, with all the love and passion, instead of looking the bottom line and only design what sells for the masses. And I hope that people and social media really push to nurture these small brands to continue breaking the ground and push boundaries.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
The pandemic has hit supply-chain really hard. Getting things you want, getting the things on time have become slower and more expensive. It definitely causes every brands to rethink about how they build business, how they communicate and how they need to adapt constantly. You have to be quick on your feet because you can no longer able to stick to how the industry run and how it has been done because it doesn’t work that way anymore. You need to be more patient, go with the flow and be innovative with the constrains that come with it and make the most of what you can access. You may look at this as a downside, but since everything is influx, you could actually take the whole industry in another direction; to be more sustainable, more ethical, kinder, nicer and simply more ‘human- focused’. I can really see positive change coming as a result of the pandemic.
What does this award mean to you personally?
I’m really over the moon, it means so much. It’s been a lot of work on my own, behind closed door, hoping that I’m doing the right thing and so to put it out there and getting the recognition this way really gives me the confident and optimism that even though this journey is hard, I’m taking the right direction and that people see the value in my brand and motivated me to not give up. I’m very grateful.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Tabi Flow was awarded GFA x SHOE GIRLS UP-AND-COMING FEMALE FOOTWEAR DESIGNER.
Tabi Flow is a combination of tabi traditional shoes and 3d printing technology, the definition of the future is not just a pursuit of technology, but our design is a continuation of the classical design aesthetics to the future of a style in their own definition, we aim to define a new sense of authenticity by inventing new products with the usage of classical elements, building and expanding artistic expression through the seasonal projects and collaborations.
GFA talks with Haoran Qi about the winning project
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
I think it’s always too stereotypical to think of style in the usual way, and when we talk about the future we always lose sight of the fact that we are already the future in terms of the past, so with this pair I tried to find a timeless element in the medieval aesthetic and combine it with the fixed impression of tabi shoes to give women’s shoes more possibilities.
What does this award mean to you personally?
For me it’s actually a recognition and a new beginning to make sure I’m on the right path, so that’s very important.
What is your guiding design principle?
In fact, I have always believed that shoes must be good to wear, because the reason why we will produce love is because of the long contact with the feelings, in other words, a kind of companionship, so I will spend a long time to experience their shoes in the end is good to wear, if he is a beautiful work of art so much that do not want to wear that in my this is not equal to a pair of really good shoes.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
I am currently working on my own footwear brand with my partner and I plan to see you all this year!
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
In my own case, my team members are the first to recognize my design we will work together. I do not like a clear hierarchical relationship. I like everyone can have the enthusiasm to put forward their ideas to collide with each other, enthusiasm is also the most important cohesion.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
My personal favourites are some of acg’s earlier vintage shoes, which for me would still be relevant even in today’s market.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
It’s never too early or too late to discover what you love and stick with it.
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
The information we are exposed to nowadays is exploding and I always look for inspiration from different objects, books, life or nature, the most important thing is to focus on it, believe in yourself and you will be satisfied.
How do you handle pressure in design?
I think pressure is a very important part of the design industry. People hate pressure, but whenever you come up with a great solution under pressure it makes you twice as happy, so I’m comfortable with it and enjoy it.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
New technology and software iterations will always become faster and faster, but I don’t think it’s a technology-driven world, just like civilization is to globalization, there are always things that are timeless, and the thousands of years of shoe design history is no exception, so I think the ones that survive in the whole industry are the ones that have their own design thinking perspective rather than relying on technology.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. ARCapsule was awarded Best Overall Sports performance.
ARCapsule has been reimagined as an update for the current Adidas Adios Pro2 series.It features an adjustable carbon fibre plate inspired from Paralympics runner blades which the user can adjust for core running or for a simple warmup just before running.3D printed mesh upper for customized fit for each user.It houses an advance inflatable boost capsule system on the foot arc area which can be set to different arch support needed by different users based on their requirement and their running patterns.This arc system will benefit many flatfoot runners as well to accomplish their daily run.
GFA talks with Parthasarathee about the winning project
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
My design paints the vision for performance footwear 2030, with focus on generative personalized upper details, adjustable arch support and unique CMF,which were the main success pillars of this winning project.
What does this award mean to you personally?
This award is a symbol of respect especially in my final year of University. This is definitely going to boost my self esteem,pride and confidence. Winning this award means that I have an obligation to continue doing the good work throughout my career and sharing it globally as I Hope one day this would change the lives of the society or at-least for some people for the greater good.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
Since this project was envisioned as a concept for 2030 I wanted this footwear to have a futuristic functional look and in order to achieve that “design follows function” form was my biggest challenge.
What is your guiding design principle?
When I start working on a project I always make sure the problem to be solved is well defined at the beginning in order to offer the best solution/outcome/experience.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
I have a huge passion for Sports,Fitness and the Automotive industry. My inspiration comes from my everyday life whether I am running, or watching my favorite DJ perform live in a concert, it’s the minute details which catches my attention and that’s what inspires me to do crazy stuff.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
When I was younger, although I didn’t know at that time, it was lifestyle design that I was after, at a very early age I was inclined towards things like sports, automobiles and the fashion industry overall.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
As a travel enthusiast ,before the global lockdown I took trips to fashion shows & trade fairs in Paris,Milan,Dubai & Berlin almost every year.I seek inspiration everywhere I go. “I love to experience new places and cultures—every experience is meaningful. I am mostly inspired by photography, digital art, the automotive industry or people near me. Anything that captures my eye and provokes an emotion.
Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement?
After bachelors, I started working for a company that launched an e-commerce footwear line with my design direction.I think that was my biggest achievement till date, though I am very positive that the biggest-best achievement is yet to come.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
Virgil Abloh,it was with the founding of OFF-white in 2013 that he caught my attention. His streetwear-focused collections – rich in screen-printed sweatshirts, long-line hoodies and bold yellow tab sneakers caught my attention right away.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
From leather shoes to 3D printed ones we have come a long way.
I believe the consumer today demands exclusive products and with advanced tech in place I see customization & personalization of footwear to an individual’s need is evolving.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
This Pandemic has taught me one thing, nothing is permanent nor predictable. But this has also opened new doors for me in terms of my career path as now I have more time than before to learn a new skill and handle multiple projects online.
What would be your dream design project?
Collaborating with a major fashion house or working on futuristic products for global sports companies.
What’s your think about the different creative processes and softwares and how they play a role in design today?
My creative approach is very unconventional at times, though I try not to limit myself just to one approach.I try multiple 3D softwares to generate various outcomes before deciding on the final one. I believe in building mockups parallelly to my 3d models just to be sure of the ergonomics .With 3d printer in place, life has become easy when It comes to prototyping your designs at home.
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
At the beginning of the task I try to analyse the problem at hand by prioritizing the consumer’s needs above all else.I try to look at problems from many different perspectives.
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
A diverse workforce, sharing goals and encouraging innovation thought- process needs to co-exists in a successful team collaboration.
How do you deal with feedback?
Constructive Criticism helps, that’s what I believe in .The more eyes you have on your project ,the more opinions you get before actually launching the product, hence it helps in building a successful product in the end.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
Right now I am focusing on learning new parametric softwares like grasshopper and solidworks which I can integrate with my other 3D modelling programs . I have also started using gravity sketch which is an awesome VR tool for digital sketching & generating ideas in a very simple yet effective manner.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
As of right now, my life doesn’t seem too terribly different in terms of the flow of my work, but I’m anxious about the uncertainty in the future. Because as footwear designers, designers need to have some kind of contact with people/teams for collaborations— whether it’s during factory visits, on sampling sites, or in client meetings to review materials or the actual sample in person. It will be interesting to see how the design and production processes adapt to account for social distancing, or even more restrictive measures.
How do you feel about the topic of sustainability and social impact in regards to footwear design in general?
Sustainability in the footwear industry is all about reduction in consumption and waste.We as designers should be able to adapt to more digital working methods into our workflow which will lead to eliminating the initial prototype making process which is a small step towards sustainability.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
Oh so many things…focus on learning new skills, Be innovative, willing to pivot and think outside the box and most importantly.. Trust your intuition.
What is your design mantra you live by?
Stop making sense. Logic is predictable. Think differently – Paul smith.
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
Evolution of design workflow is necessary for one to succeed,I believe being Persistence is important in you have to survive in there design industry.
Where do you start when tackling innovative design solutions?
I would look at problems at hand which need to be solved and also benchmark them with existing design solutions before proposing an innovative solution.
What advice would you give to future aspiring footwear designers?
Learn from your mistakes and pay attention to trends.
What do you think will keep pushing the footwear industries forward?
As robots, automation and artificial intelligence perform more tasks ,I think these new technologies will help us create more efficient sustainable products and enhance our product quality.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
I believe in the “Less is More” mantra, while also looking into a sustainable future I think we should focus on creating smart innovative products which provide multiple functions to the user.
How do you handle pressure in design?
With time I have learned how to prioritize my work and meet deadlines though I always give my 1000% into my projects, be it big or small.I pay a lot of attention to detail which helps me sail through my project from start till end with ease.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
I definitely am excited about the new technologies in footwear design especially the 3D print technology where printed parts are being used directly into footwear making and the new VR platform sketching/modelling abilities in the VR world which gives the designer early access to visualize their dreams within minutes of ideation.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. 3D SPHERE was awarded Brand of the Year as well as Winners in Fashion Sneakers, 3D printing and Sustainable manufacturing.
“3D SPHERE” is an innovative, fully 3D printed lifestyle shoe that is 100% recyclable. The objective was to reimagine how footwear can be made and its lifecycle. By leveraging 3D printing technology, we wanted to deliver a sustainable closed-loop product for our consumers – from data collection to customization, 3D printing, and recycling. Compared to other 3D footwear on the market, the “3D Sphere” is fully recyclable, utilizing the user’s foot scan, to create a unique aesthetic and personalized product.
More about Kui Cai’s background:
Graduated from Art Center GradID, Kui Cai is a strategic innovator and sneaker designer with over ten years of experience in the sports industry. In 2019, He established the multifaceted creative studio- PEAK SPORTS USA DESIGN CENTER. Currently, He is the Design Director of this design studio in L.A. Kui Cai’s footwear designs received many international design awards such as Red Dot Design Award, Spark Design Award, Global Footwear Award, Golden Pin Design Award, and Design Intelligence Award. Through Kui Cai’s professional career, he led and created disruptive business strategies, product plans, and designs. He piloted brand collaboration across multi celebrities and brands and created signature footwear designs for NBA players such as Jason Kidd, Shane Battier, Andrew Wiggins, and more.
GFA talks with Kui Cai’s winning project
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
In today’s consumerist society, most products are designed to become obsolete quickly. The “3D Sphere” marks an important step towards a circular economy where products can be reused at their full potential. We also improved PEAK’s supply chain and 3D printing capabilities to ensure the scalability of this project.
What does this award mean to you personally?
Receiving awards is a huge encouragement for us to continually pursue the idea of the circular economy and environmental protection. Also, it validated our vision of “free your feet from the standard” and sculpture-like design aesthetics.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
Movies, Music, Art… basically the talented creators in different fields that make me want to join them.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
The environment I grew up in, the culture, and the language are my natural gifts. They made me who I am today. They also became the fundamental programming code for my creative journey.
What’s your think about the different creative processes and softwares and how they play a role in design today?
If the designer is a superhero in the movie, in my opinion, his/her superpower is creativity. The creative processes, software that could boost creativity-power are the secret weapon.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
The uncertainty caused by the pandemic forces us to explore more 3D printing and new manufacturing process to solve problems. For example, during the lockdown, many manufacturers have not been able to assist in designing iterations and producing on a large scale, we developed 3D printed face mask adjustment accessory that is breathable, flexible, and recyclable. And the design was “open-sourced” and shared with 3D printing companies. Finally, the production has reached more than 1,000 units per day and all the products had been sent out to the hospitals for free.
How do you deal with feedback?
I seek feedback and I will listen to it. Because I believe every piece of criticism is an opportunity for new work. Thanks to all of the valuable comments for the 3D sphere project from the GFA jury team! I love all of them!
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
More sustainable projects which could contribute differently to our footwear industries!
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
In my opinion, the footwear designer is very similar to the marathon runner or a novelist. The creativity path can be a journey without a finish line. If we only concentrate on the design several hours a day and feel tired after a week of this, we can not keep the consistency of the work. Not to mention pushing the boundaries of the design. The endurance and the commitment are very important.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Gravel was awarded the best in Sustainability and Social Impact.
Gravel is a football boot, which was designed for the rough conditions of Ghanaian football pitches. It consists of a hemp-textile upper and a replaceable natural rubber outsole. A lacing system, along the lateral and medial sides as well as stitching in the toe and heel area connect the two. This enables the replacement of the rubber sole without special tools, which is exposed to lots of abrasion. The foundation of this project is a two week long research trip through the southern part of Ghana. It was documented by means of photographs and it represents most of the research from this thesis.
GFA talks with Ruben about the winning project:
Please tell us about your background and journey to design?
Growing up in Austria with a ghanaian dad and an austrian mother forced me to look for alternative ways to connect with the people around me from an early age on. Sports helped me on that journey and quickly became one of most vital ways of building those connections. Especially football took a hold of me and so my first time becoming aware of design and being interested in a product was also connected to football. It was the Nike „joga bonito“ campaign which included people who looked like me and had a style that I also wanted to imitate.This in combination with me always enjoying to tinker around led me to add things like lacecovers to my football shoes which furthermore increased my interest in the way objects are made and how they work. After graduating from mechanical engineering school (type of high school in Austria) I realized that I wanted more freedom within my process of creating, thus my journey in the field of design began.
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
I believe the holistic nature of the project is what makes it so strong. Sustainability is still only an afterthought for so many products and design concepts. This project has the idea of sustainability at its core and is giving the spotlight to a place that is not in the main focus of most globally active sportswear companies. Another substantial aspect is the authenticity and the closeness this project has with the people and environment the shoe was designed for. Every design decision is based on experiences and interactions with those people and places I visited on my trip through Ghana.
What does this award mean to you personally?
Obviously, the news that my most personal design project so far is of interest for not only my friends and family but also accomplished designers who have seen a lot already in their careers, makes me proud. But more importantly it shows that authenticity is being valued in the field of design and that definitely encourages and motivates me to continue on this path.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
From the beginning to the end, I tried to stay as true to the impressions of my trip through Ghana and the people I engaged with as possible, because it is essential for me that my designs carry an aspect of integrity and authenticity. That in itself was a big challenge, because there was so much that I saw and experienced during those two weeks, which unfortunately had to be left out. For example pollution like plastic and electrical waste is a huge problem that I witnessed in Ghana. I faced the ethical dilemma which many designers encounter: working in the consumer goods sector while trying to offer sustainable alternatives.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration for your work?
From interactions with people who are passionate about their crafts. While researching I try to take in as much as possible from those kind of moments and usually it doesn’t take long for their passion to rub off on me and spark something new in me.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
Coming of age, no matter if it was in Austria, where I grew up, or with my family in Ghana, always seeing yourself as somewhat different from the people around you definitely had a big impact on who I am today and how I see and understand people and society. That may sound a little bit depressing but I was lucky enough to have always had a very supportive family as well as nonjudgmental and accepting friends. Ultimately the times in which I had to look in from the outside became a big part in shaping my vision and way of approaching not just design but life in itself. The combination of all those experiences made me realize the true value of the people close to me and this is also the reason why I like to base my projects on human interactions and connections.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
There are a couple whose work I appreciate greatly. Daniel Bailey, for his mayor role in inspiring so many of us footwear designers, as well es some astonishingly daring designs. Aaron Street, for his unrestricted yet functional approach. But the one that I truly admire is Robert Fliri, for designing the Vibram FiveFingers. Which is still the most innovative shoe when it comes to functionality and health in my opinion.
What do you think about the different creative processes and software and how they play a role in design today?
I strongly believe that every designer needs to experiment to find tools which fit their style and approach the best. As someone who never spent a lot of time sketching, making mock-ups or actual prototypes came more natural to me. The fact that I already worked with CAD software in my early teens makes experimenting with all the new softwares such as Gravity Sketch, CLO3D and so on, something to look forward to in my projects. Some designers think that using tools like CAD too early on in the process reduces the quality of one’s work. I beg to differ. They open up so many new paths which can result in never thought of solutions.
With so many Designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
I don’t like to focus on pushing boundaries. I’d rather focus on creating something of true value for the people and their community.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
Seeing more experimentation of how shoes can be constructed would make me happy. But most importantly I’d like to see the big sportswear companies finally make a real commitment towards sustainability. They need to realize that they have a massive influence on the younger generations and that comes with a certain responsibility. Using a small percentage of recycled materials to create shoes which still end up in landfill as toxic waste won’t cut it.
Learn more about Ruben here:
IG: @rubenrabiato
LinkedIn: Ruben Asuo
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Foot’s Nest was awarded the best in Artistic footwear.
Master custom shoemaker Noriyuki Misawa pursues formative, yet functional artistly. To display the external space of the foot, its shape is defined by a Foot’s Nest. As if slipping a foot into a high heel, the space nestles your foot. The material is a leather used for heels, and like insects making nests, stacking the several-fold leather layers to create the space brings a sense of dignity. Everything is fabricated by Misawa’s hands. Under the COVID-19 pandemic situation, people are forced to change their lifestyles. “Foot’s nest” represents a new interpretation of the Shoe.
GFA talks with Noriyuki about the winning project:
Tell us about your background and your journey to design?
My mother’s art books surrounded me, and my childhood was spent immersed in crafts and painting. I was very much into hip-hop music, and strove to be a professional DJ during my college days, while studying English literature. That hip-hop spirit nurtured in those days still influences my activities and my art creations. Meanwhile I had a chance encounter with a leather shoe shop, and I jumped onto the path of fabricating shoes. I was fascinated by the “artistry” of shoes expressed in its functional artistry.
Before moving to Tokyo, I had handled many kinds of shoes, from sneakers to leather shoes, while working at a large shoe chain store for a year. Then I trained as a shoemaker in Tokyo and in Vienna, Austria, for 10 years. In Vienna, I worked at a shoe workshop and in shoe manufacturing. I spent my free time visiting artists’ ateliers and art museums, where I was absorbed by the creative artistry. This experience inspired my career as an artist.
Returning to Japan in 2011, I launched my workshop-shoemaker’s class, and aside from making bespoken shoes and teaching shoemaking, I continued to learn under some Japanese artists and craftsmen for 4 years to extend my range of expression. Over 10 years until my independence in my 20s, I devoted myself to long and arduous days of training in pursuit of developing my techniques. The following 10 years in my workshop since its opening were days of anguish and excitement, as I sought my original expression.
It has been 20 years since I’ve engaged in shoemaking. Opportunities for collaboration with artists of various genres from all over the world have increased recently. Every experience has made me discover new things about myself, and has enhanced my enjoyment of creating art pieces in resonance with other artists. Misawa will keep pursuing the new value of “shoe art.”
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
As if slipping a foot into a high heel, the space “nestles” your foot. The point that I attempted to express was the external space of the foot; I created the external space of the foot in contrast to the general shoemaking approach, which shapes by composing faces with planar leather pieces running along the foot.
What does this award mean to you personally?
It has been 20 years since I associated with shoemaking. Recently, I have suffered and have been thinking, “How long this anguish will continue?” but winning this prize made me feel that all the effort was rewarded and it surely motivates me to move forward.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
The piece and creating under the corona virus pandemic situation. But I wanted to make something not too serious but humorous. Needless to say, in general, I make shoes towards the foot. But this project, I made the piece towards external to the foot. This project required moving my mind-arrows in reverse direction and it was a big challenge for me as I have 20 years shoemaking experiences, so that I always felt strangeness during creation.
What is your guiding design principle?
It should be the Shoe.
It displays artisanship, effort and time.
It has humor.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
What motivates me is that I have a wish to change the world by my creations, and also “anger” toward people who didn’t have respect for my works. I run a shoemaking class and instruct students. I always try to make good works to serve as a role model for students.
I had been inspired by various art fields in the past, but recently, I am inspired by daily life.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
When I was 20 years old and a university student, I visited a shoe shop and I found that “Shoes can be made with hands” through deepening exchanges with the owner. Until then, I didn’t have this idea, so that was a shocking moment like a thunderclap.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
Since I was young, I have been into hip-hop music. For Japanese people, hip-hop music is imported music. And the Shoe is also imported culture. For me, who had absorbed hip-hop music into my body, I thought that shoemaking would be a very good match. The track (beat) in my favorite hip-hop music helps me deal with craftsman work that has lots of repetitive tasks. And ideas and methods of sampling assist my shoe design. Japanese hip-hop that has evolved uniquely in Japan is linked to my desire, that as a Japanese shoemaker, I would like to evolve western-origin shoe in Japan. And I think I am also influenced by my living experience in Vienna for study. During my stay, like a soaking in sunlight, I learned every single day from Gustav Klimt and around 1900s arts. Besides, my life, 24 hours, 365 days, was to think about Shoe all the time. That attitude is a source to create good design regularly as a professional.
Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement?
I have participated in an event of world renown industrial designer, Syd Mead, for which I created an art work. I learned his works deeply and this experience made my brain’s OS fully upgrade, I felt that way. As a result, although the work (project) I created was still unpolished, but as an answer to the question, I would like to say it was this “experience.”
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
“Salvatore Ferragamo.” He convinced me that he could produce amazing designs like his “Rainbow” Sandal even in a severe environment. At that time, due to the war, purchasing “iron” and use it were difficult, and he couldn’t use a steel shank to sustain a shoe. In such a negative situation, he invented a historical design, the “Rainbow” Sandal with his designer’s ingenuity by using a wedge sole in order to address the limitations. That shoe is a shoe having rainbow colors that make people feel a bright future in that difficult situation. I feel that for us living this era, it seems like a designer’s power is tested.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
The corona virus pandemic took shoes away from many of us (preventing us from using them to go out). And IT advancement and diffusion have been accelerated rapidly. Of course, we will take our shoes back in the future. But the 100 percent fixed concept, which is that a shoe is a “tool for walking,” may change.
What would be your dream design project?
My shoes are displayed and being a collection in a world-class museum.
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
Whether my design of the shoe has value/meaning to be a “Shoe.”
I don’t know which information is utmost value.
How do you deal with feedback?
It is very important as they tell me things I can’t discover by myself, but I also have a feeling to want to fight against it a little bit.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
I am working on a piece that was inspired by the great sculptor, Isamu Noguchi’s work. And there are many of his art pieces in Japan.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
It has hampered opportunities to go and exhibit my works to the world, but it gave me too much time for creation. And I think now would be the only time that I can make works affected by the pandemic.
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
There is no choice but to keep pondering, thinking and learning; that’s it. Then, you may see scenery that only you can see in the remote areas that you have reached after following your own path.
How do you handle pressure in design?
I am not a genius so I can’t escape from pressure. I think studying harder than others would ease pressure a little bit.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
I am a hand-crafted shoemaker. The waves of advance technology roll on inevitably and change shoemaking, shoe design and entire shoes. I think that being able to introduce those advanced technologies nicely is a certain capacity of makers and factories. A small, private shoe designer/craftsman/artist like me should always stand at the opposite side from advanced technology, consciously. I think that Being at the opposite end from main stream and designing the opposite end is my existence’s value.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. The Prelude was awarded the winner of GFA x Sneakers By Women Up-and-Coming Female Brand.
Lifelong sneakerhead Brittney Perry grew up facing a market saturated by sneakers made for and by men. With few options marketed to women at the time, Brittney resorted to buying men’s sneakers, but felt the need for something more inclusive. In 2018, Brittney launched PerryCo shoes with the mission of creating a genderless sneaker that can appeal to all styles and identities. The Prelude is the first sneaker released by PerryCo Shoes, in collaboration with Quintin Williams. Simplicity allows versatility.I aspire to provide pieces you can wear on a daily basis.
GFA talks with Brittney about the winning project:
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
This was my very first sneaker I’ve ever made. With some help from Quintin Williams, he helped design and gave helpful advice on how to get started. Most sneaker companies have teams to help with, materials, color, R&D, but I did everything on my own. Since I didn’t go to school for fashion design, I faced many obstacles trying to figure out all the moving parts of how a sneaker is made. I faced several financial obstacles. It took me a couple of years to save money from my full time job to create this shoe. It was super important for me to make this sneaker (beginning in 2016) and make it unisex so that nobody felt excluded. Inclusivity is a big part of PerryCo’s mission.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
I find motivation to design when I travel to new places. Seeing other cultures style and feeling the energy of new cities gets my brain churning. For example, when traveling to Tokyo, I did a lot of walking and used public transportation 95% of the time I was there. This made me really think about footwear differently and think harder about the different people from all of the world that will wear items in different types of environments. I want to make sure they are comfortable no matter where you are. I also take inspiration from shoes that I used to wear growing up and try to put my own spin on them.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
There are several designers I admire, but one that stands out the most is Guillaume Philibert. This was one of the first independent brands I saw while I was in college that really inspired me to start my own. I feel we are on similar pathways and to see how big the brand has become is very inspiring.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Footwear design has evolved extremely fast over the past 5 years. From customization and now easier access for creatives to start their own brands, competition is at it’s peak. I think we will see more independent brands and an audience that is more open minded to other brands besides the larger well known companies. Sustainability will play a large roll in manufacturing especially with generation alpha. 3D printing will also be utilized.
What would be your dream design project?
I have 2 dream projects. The first would be to come out with my own Jordan shoe or SB Blazer. The second would be to create a sneaker with Yoon Ambush and Aleali May with a 100% women team.
What does this award mean to you personally?
This award means a lot to me because it’s my first award as a sneaker designer. What makes it even more special is that it’s in collaboration with Sneakers By Women. It is my goal to inspire other women in the world to get in the footwear industry. I love everything that the award represents.
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
The main question I ask before designing anything is, what and who is this for? What is the meaning and inspiration behind what you are about to create? With every product, there is usually a story as to why you want this to exist. I believe the storytelling aspect is the most important part of a design. It makes people want to buy the shoe.
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
I am really big on energy and vibes. I like teams that I am apart of to feel like family. What I mean by that is not being afraid to give feedback, being able to communicate and approach each other if you are in need of help and of course pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves. We can all bring different skillsets and ideas to the table and be open to different opinions. Thats what collaboration is for. We are around our team for most of the day, so having a fun and open minded environment is key.
How do you deal with feedback?
I appreciate when people give me feedback on my products, because it’s potentially advice that could help my products be better. Not to say that I apply every single thing people say because I can’t meet everyones needs, but hearing from different people gives me different perspectives. I take mental notes and keep what I feel would would add benefit to that product.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
I’d tell myself, growing up the way you did, in this specific environment is what makes you who you are. Look where it got you! Always be yourself, never give up, and you can do anything you set your mind to.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. Inspired Change Initiative was awarded the winner of GFA x Sneakers By Women Up-and-Coming Female Designer.
Inspired Change Initiative was a design competition for young BAME designers in the wake of the BLM protest of 2020. The shoe was originally named “Cozy Day” but later changed to “The Gloria-Rose” after the winner Gloria-Rose Mackaya, 17 at the time of the contest. The shoe is a chunky yet light and comfortable sneaker with vibrant and sunny colors appealing to all genders. The shoe keeps the sole of the original Clint TRL sneaker which is very sporty and outdoor but twists it into a more relaxed and casual pair.
GFA talks with Gloria-Rose about her background and the winning project:
Tell us about your background?
I was born in the South of France from West African parents. I traveled a lot while growing up, living in places like Singapore and Los Angeles, it exposed me to so many different cultures and ways of life, teaching me that there are infinite possibilities in life. Made me try so many hobbies, each as random as the next, I’ve always been very multifaceted and that is something I want to keep being throughout life, I can never really be doing one thing only. Footwear is definitely my main path though, it has been since I discovered it was a career option in High School. Started when I customised old pairs to give them a second life. Over time I started on new pairs then felt I needed to create something from scratch so I researched a lot and fell in love. Found a great course here in the UK and moved to London by myself after graduating to pursue my dreams.
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
I think the design in general and how simple it is yet unique. The colorway was appealing to a lot of people of any gender
What does this award mean to you personally?
For me it is not only a huge honor but it is also very encouraging. It means I’m on the right track.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
To make sure the prototypes were as close to the original design. The challenging part was the whole covid situation, it caused a lot of delays.
What is your guiding design principle?
I would say my intuition to be honest, listening to the little voice inside.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
I really get motivation just from the joy that the craft brings me. For the inspiration, it’s usely from whatever I’m interested in the moment.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
I discovered it while in high school, I started customising old pairs of shoes because I couldn’t always afford new ones. Gradually I got more interested in designing something from scratch.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
I think it made me very open minded, experimental and multifaceted. I grew up living in 4 different countries across 3 continents, I got exposed to many cultures and constant change.
Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement?
Definitely the Inspire Change Initiative, the response to my design was amazing and it has opened me a lot of doors since.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
He’s not necessarily only in the footwear industry, but I would say Virgil Abloh first as he is the whole reason I started getting really interested in designing and paying attention to details. But otherwise Helen Kirkum as I find what she does very impressive.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
I think it is getting more popular and people realise it doesn’t have to be automatically linked to being a fashion designer. There’s more and more opportunities being created and platforms around it.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
To be honest at the moment I would say my age, I’m still quite young so getting a job for example is quite complicated as I need more experience and to finish my degree. The biggest opportunities are workshops, contests, grants etc… being more and more present. It really gives opportunities for visibility.
What would be your dream design project?
Currently either making a shoe for Nike or Adidas or for a luxury brand like Louis Vuitton.
What’s your thought about the different creative processes and softwares and how they play a role in design today?
I really love it, gives so many ways to develop ideas that it is manually or digitally, giving different perspectives
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
Who are they going to be made for, who would wear them and what is this person’s potential interests that can relate to the design and be incorporated in marketing.
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
Definitely a culture around respect, kindness and sharing, lots of communicating. Thinking you kind of have a second family at work and can count on each other.
How do you deal with feedback?
I embrace them as long as they are constructive, useful and help me progress.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
Starting building my brand maybe, definitely trying to work with people and have more projects.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
I think it affected my learning process at uni at first and being able to go out to events, meet people or get opportunities.
How do you feel about the topic of sustainability and social impact in regards to footwear design in general?
They are essential in my opinion, they’re relevant to our current world situation so need to be taken in account more than ever.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
Wow you’ll never guess where you’ll end up, turns out you are not going to the olympics anytime soon.
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear design?
I think I’m still working on that, not sure if I’m pushing many boundaries yet as I’m just starting, it’ll come naturally I imagine. But maybe my age to achievement ratio could be considered that.
What advice would you give to future aspiring footwear designers?
Take everything chances that present themselves no matter how big or small they might be. From grants, contests, workshops etc.. you got nothing to lose in shooting your shot.
What do you think will keep pushing the footwear industries forward?
Technology, visibility and inclusion always.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
Women obviously and more head of footwear positions within fashion brands. Like Yoon Ambush is in charge of the jewellery at Dior, I wish there’s something like that for shoes within those kinds of brands.
How do you handle pressure in design?
I thrive off it but to a certain point, if it’s too much naturally it’s not enjoyable anymore. I like just enough to squeeze the remote crazy ideas out of my subconscious.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
It’s great, helps with finding new sustainable processes and making big crazy ideas come to life.
The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its second edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels; Brands, Independent and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.
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