Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify visionary designers in footwear. The Fibonacci Mule was awarded the best in Women’s Fashion category for brand level as well as the winner of GFA x Shoe Girls Up and Coming Female Brand.
The Fibonacci Mule is the 2nd piece of Sarah’s Collection of 2 Luxury Footwear. For the creation of the collection, Sarah worked with Skillful Artisans and Engineers form Egypt, Italy, Uk, Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan and Refugees from Syria. Inspired by Geometrical Patterns in Nature. Sarah was inspired by how patterns in nature amazingly follow a proportional system, in which one element or more are related to each other in a proportional ratio, known as “Nature’s Code/Golden Ratio”.
Returning from Japan in 2018, Sarah Diab, Egyptian designer, decided to get back to her homeland “Egypt” and follow her life-long passion for footwear and fashion. Sarah travelled to Italy and Switzerland in 2019 to study footwear design and manufacture. In the same year she graduated in footwear design during her stay in Milan. Coming from a multicultural background, Egyptian with Sudanese roots and mother to Japanese/Egyptian children, Sarah values multiculturalism and diversity.
GFA talks with Sarah about the winning project:
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
Luxury for global citizens, luxury that is not a product of consumption but an expression of identity. Global citizens are directed towards a culture of purpose and as a designer my mission is to achieve an equilibrium in my designs that reflects the ethics and values towards both earth and humanity.
What is your guiding design principle?
Design thinking is the backbone of my design work. I am keen to ensure a long life cycle and a lasting emotional attachment with every product design.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
Being an Egyptian with Sudanese roots and mother to Japanese/Egyptian children, I value multiculturalism and diversity. I focus on reflecting the fluidity between Arabian, Asian and African influences in my designs.
What advice would you give to future aspiring footwear designers?
“Go out, widen you exposure and don’t be afraid to experiment. It is difficult to be inspired behind closed doors”. This is a valuable advice that my lecturer shared with me while I worked on my graduation project in Milan 2019.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
With the pandemic striking the world, we all had to rethink our behavior and how we interact with Nature. I believe as fashion designers, we have a great role to reshape what we call fashion and what fashion is, by taking in consideration our impact as early “as the design stage” with an aim to value nature and mankind.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
Fashion in general has always been an interest to me, it is a unique tool to represent an identity and pay homage to heritage. I developed an interest in design at a very young age and my mother, to whom I am most grateful, has been the main source of empowerment.
How do you feel about the topic of sustainability and social impact in regards to footwear design in general?
Footwear production goes through many stages to reach the final product, if we are not mindful, the process could be harmful to the Planet. Sustainability, artistry and heritage are at the core of my designs. The work process involves a diverse team of artisans and engineers form Egypt, Italy, UK, Russia, Ukraine and Pakistan. Giving back to humanity and supporting local communities, I work with Syrian refuges in Egypt, and local Egyptian craftsmen and women. The creation process of The Fibonacci mule, for example, has been an opportunity to value nature, combine Innovative Technology with Craftsmanship. The Fibonacci mule, is inspired by geometrical patterns in nature and how they amazingly follow a proportional system, in which one element or more are related to each other in a proportional ratio, known as “the Golden Ratio / Fibonacci Sequence”
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
I find inspirations in nature, people and cultures. The travels to Europe and Asia and the people, who I have come across with, have been an interesting source of inspiration.
How do you deal with feedback?
I see feedback as a valuable input to anchor creative work to what customers really desire. The quicker the feedback, the faster you can pivot or persevere.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
Manolo Blahnik and Salvatore Ferragamo. I admire originality, creativity, craftsmanship and elegantly feminine designs.
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.
The Global Footwear Awards 2021 Best Overall Winners Announced
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.
For the first time, The Global Footwear Awards is partnering with Sneakers By Women and Shoe Girls Studio to launch special awards specifically for female footwear designers with a mission to provide greater exposures for aspiring female footwear design professionals as well as emerging designers.
“One of Sneakers By Women’s main goals is to educate and inspire the next generation of females entering the sneaker industry. To recognise and congratulate those women through GFA, as well as providing the tools they need to thrive through access to a roster of sneaker industry.” Julia Lebosse, Founder of Sneakers By Women
The GFA jury panel consists of leading industry professionals coming from different disciplines within the footwear industry, including publications, retailers, institutions and the footwear guru in the industry, providing an overall industry perspective towards the selection of the best designs. Here are some of our jury’s words:
“The GlobalFootwearAwards is a great competition for both, young and aspiring designers to showcase their concepts and also for established brands to let their work compete against each other.” Timon Kuhlenkamp, On Running Footwear Designer.
“Apart from enjoying the variety in creativity I was most happy to see that more and more designers start to think of footwear as an area to tackle socio-political issues and so plays a part in taking the discipline beyond only reproducing styles of fashion, and playing with technology, and engaging with real-life issues.” Eelko Moorer, LCF MA footwear course leader.
Congratulations to all winners on their outstanding works!
“It’s been such an exciting journey seeing all the work this year. The level of creativity conjointly with innovation and sustainability made us realised why we do what we do. I hope that our platform encourages many more aspiring designers, professionals and brands to continue pushing boundaries of design as we provide space and exposure for their creative visions to ignite.” Siramol On-Sri, GFA Managing Director.
To learn more about GFA’s award structure and winner benefits, and more, click here. For any press enquiries, emailsupport@globalfootwearawards.
Global Footwear Awards announces Winners for GFA x SBW Up-and-Coming Female Sneaker Designers.
The Global Footwear Awards and Sneakers By Women (SBW) just announced the winners of the GFA x SBW Up-and-Coming-Female Sneaker Designers, celebrating the incredible female talents in streetwear and sneaker culture. With this special partnership with Sneakers By Women, we are able to connect our female talents with industry experts through GFA and SBW community.
“One of SBW’s main goals is to educate and inspire the next generation of females entering the sneaker industry. To recognise and congratulate those women through GFA, as well as providing the tools they need to thrive through access to a roster of sneaker industry. Each applicants designs beautifully combined creativity with innovation, it was so hard pick my favourites”, said Julia Lebosse, founder of Sneakers by Women
GFA x SBW Up-And-Coming Female Sneakers Brand The Prelude Brittney Perry – Perryco Shoes
Winning designers in this special category will receive mentorship support by footwear professionals through GFA and SBW community to help further their career, while benefiting from the GFA marketing campaigns, press releases, newsletters, interviews, and promotions
“Julia truly is the voice of today’s generation, advocating for female footwear designers. We are so excited to partner with her and build together a global platform that provides exposure and support, and inspires many more female sneaker designers to come”, added GFA Director Siramol On-Sri.
GFA x SBW Up-And-Coming Female Sneakers Designer Inspire Change Initiative by Gloria Rose Mackaya – University of the Arts London
Sneakers by Women (SBW) is an online platform/community that celebrates the unsung female heroes that work within the industry that define streetwear and sneaker culture. While shedding light on industry inequalities and problems women face. The main goal being to continue to grow a community of female and male allies who will collectively advocate for a more diverse sneaker industry! Through this inspiring and encouraging the next generation of women to thrive in the ever evolving sneaker world.
Global Footwear Awards announces Winners for GFA x Shoe Girls Up-and-Coming Female Footwear Designers.
The Global Footwear Awards and Shoe Girls Studio just announced the winners of the GFA x Shoe Girls Up-and-Coming-Female Footwear Designers, celebrating the incredible female talents in fashion. With its ongoing mission to uncover visionary design talents, the GFA and Shoe Girls Studio hope to encourage creative female designers to showcase their exceptional designs by creating a special award specifically for female footwear designers, to help develop their footwear concept with support in design, development, and production, including more sustainable sourcing.
“Shoe Girls Studio’s founding focus is to make space for women in a male-dominated industry. We provide a supportive design development process that lifts female-led footwear startups. We are excited to work with the winning designer to develop their vision further and bring their brand to life”, said Mar Espanol, Shoe Girls Studio Co-Founder.
GFA x Shoe Girls Up-And-Coming Female Footwear Brand The Fibonacci Mule by Sarah Diab
Winning designers will receive a free consultation from Shoe Girls to help kick-start their business while being a part of the GFA network of footwear professionals and benefiting from the GFA marketing campaigns, press releases, newsletters, interviews, and promotions.
“Shoe Girls Studio has been very passionate about supporting women in the footwear industry and we’ve found common values in celebrating female footwear designers together. We’re grateful for their generosity to utilize their footwear expertise to help shape footwear businesses for women in different stages of the process“, said GFA Director Siramol On-Sri.
View all GFA x Shoe Girls Winning Designers here:
GFA x Shoe Girls Up-And-Coming Female Footwear Designer Tabi Flow by Haoran Qi
Shoe Girls Studio is a New York-based creative footwear consultancy known for our high-touch and custom-fit collaborative approach to footwear and accessories design and development. With more than a decade of industry experience and a vast international network, Shoe Girls talented team of designers and product developers take a hands-on approach with clients, producing products that are both classic and innovative.
Los Angeles, CA – Global Footwear Awards(GFA) is launching a special award for Up and Coming Female Sneaker Designers!
The Global Footwear Awards and Sneakers By Women are joining to create an award to celebrate the incredible female talents in streetwear and sneaker culture. With its ongoing mission to uncover visionary design talents, the GFA hopes to encourage creative female designers to showcase their unprecedented designs by creating a special award specifically for female sneakers designers, in partnership with Sneakers By Women(SBW).
“One of SBW’s main goals is to educate and inspire the next generation of females entering the sneaker industry. To recognize and congratulate those women through GFA, as well as providing the tools they need to thrive through access to a roster of sneaker industry pros, aligns perfectly with SBW. So it was an obvious yes to partnering up!” Julia Lebosse, Founder by sneakers by women
Silent Runner, GFA2020 Winner: Hodei_Club
Winning designers in this special category will receive mentorship support from footwear professionals through GFA and SBW community to help further their careers while benefiting from the GFA marketing campaigns, press releases, newsletters, interviews, and promotions.
“Julia truly is the voice of today’s generation, advocating for female footwear designers and we are so excited to partner with her. We hope to build together a global platform that provides exposure, support, and inspires many more female sneaker designers to come.”GFA Director Siramol On-Sri
Sneakers By Women is an online platform/community that celebrates the unsung female heroes that work within the industry that define streetwear and sneaker culture. While shedding light on industry inequalities and problems women face. The main goal is to continue to grow a community of female and male allies who will collectively advocate for a more diverse sneaker industry! Through this inspiring and encouraging the next generation of women to thrive in the ever-evolving sneaker world.
The Global Footwear Awards aims to celebrate their exceptional creations at a global level while honoring sustainable practices that will inspire the industry as a whole. The 2nd Annual Global Footwear Awards is now open for submission! Please visit www.globalfootwearawards.com
Global Footwear Awards proudly announces the First Annual Winners
Los Angeles, CA –Farmani Group launched The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) for the first time as a sister awards alongside IDA International Design Award. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers on all levels, from emerging designers to businesses and corporations. The GFA offers recognition in all footwear divisions, from Fashion to Sports, and at every stage of development, from design to the manufacturing process. The GFA winners were announced today.
“We, at International Design Awards (IDA), are very excited to create an awards specifically for footwear design as we see a tremendous design potential within this field. I see a fast growing momentum of young footwear talents that truly deserve global recognitions. There are many great works that bridges art, footwear and technology together, which is extremely exciting”, said Hossein Farmani, International Design Awards (IDA) president.
The GFA jury panel consists of leading industry professionals coming from different disciplines within the footwear industry, including publications, institutions, established designers and industry leaders providing an overall industry perspective towards the selection of the best design. Evaluating submissions from all over the globe, entries are evaluated at four different levels: corporations, small businesses, independent designers and students, in order to provide a fair opportunity to each level. Each design entry was evaluated by the professional GFA Jury panel on its own merit.
“The special part of the Global Footwear Awards is the way we evaluate designs, not by popularity, but through the lens of cross-disciplinary professionals, with a long experience within the footwear industry. The winning designs will truly make a mark and set examples of what true innovation and sustainability means in the footwear industry”, added Siramol On-Sri, GFA Project Manager.
The Global Footwear awards also honors strategic thinking and innovative solutions to medical footwear, sustainability and social impact to inspire many more social responsibility projects to come. Here are some of our jury’s words:
“Apart from enjoying the variety in creativity I was most happy to see that more and more designers start to think of footwear as an area to tackle socio-political issues and so plays a part in taking the discipline beyond only reproducing styles of fashion, and playing with technology, and engaging with real-life issues.”Eelko Moorer, GFA Jury and LCF MA footwear course leader.
“Having judged the awards and really investigated what each brand/trainer was about, it was so great to see a dedication to sustainability and ethical practices on so many fronts. It’s one thing designing and manufacturing great-looking shoes, but to do so and achieve a high-level of sustainable awareness at the same time is applaudable.” Zak Maoui, British GQ Style Editor.
“The GlobalFootwearAwards is a great competition for both, young and aspiring designers to showcase their concepts and also for established brands to let their work compete against each other.” Timon Kuhlenkamp, On Running Footwear Designer.
Congratulations to all winners on their outstanding works!
MgA. Zuzana Oharek Bahulova, Ph.D.
Medical footwear – Brand level
Silent Runner
Benjamin Thomas
Sustainability – Brand level
THE NEXT
Kui Cai
Special Awards – Brand level
Sonic IQ 1.0 (Hearing Impaired Assistive Footwear)
Jaden Zhai
Kids – Independent level
Safa Sahin Sneaker
Safa Sahin
Fashion Sneakers – Independent level
Bloom Foam
Olly Saunders
Fashion – Independent level
City Glider – Next Gen Footwear
Phua Wei Qiang Frederick
Performance footwear – Independent level
Walking in Silence
Maria Bika
Medical footwear – Independent level
Voronoi Runners
Rik Olthuis
Sustainability – Independent level
mutualism
Chiyang Duan
Special Awards – Independent level
Congratulations to all winners on their outstanding works!
The 2nd Annual GFA will be open for submission in the coming month, stay tune via globalfootwearawards.com or @globalfootwearawards
To learn more about GFA’s submission criteria and award structure, winner benefits, and more, click here. For any press enquiries, email siramol@globalfootwearawards
About Farmani Group
Established in 1985, Farmani Group is responsible for many successful awards program around the globe, including the International Design Awards (IDA), Architecture Masterprize, DNA Paris Design Awards, London International Creative Awards, Prix de la Photographie in Paris, and the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious awards.
Croatian eco-sneaker brand Miret wins big at Global Footwear Awards
Croatian eco-sneaker brand Miret has beaten prestigious world brands to win three awards at the Global Footwear Awards.
Just over six years ago, brothers Domagoj and Hrvoje Boljar, whi are from Duga Resa, a town just outside of Zagreb, launched their Miret sneaker brand which are made of 97% natural materials.
At the recent Global Footwear Awards, Hrvoje won first place for materials sourcing in the small size company category for the Miret project, and gold in the materials sourcing / biodegradable materials category. Ana Boljar won the silver award for the Miret Forest dark collection for materials sourcing.
“This award is a great recognition for our hard work and continuous research through which we improve our product. We are at the beginning of an era in which sustainability comes first. As ecology is our primary goal, through Miret we try to inform the public and emphasise the urgency of environmental actions. All human activities harm the environment, but there are ways to reduce it. These awards best shows in which direction we are going and what we are striving for,” said Domagoj.
Creating environmentally sustainable ‘made in Croatia’ sneakers was their guiding line when starting the brand. When it comes to the domestic Croatian market it was a nice step forward in entrepreneurial vision. Although, their target audience far exceeds Croatia’s borders.
Hrvoje, an industrial designer, and Domagoj, an economist, grew their business experience in the world of footwear with their father Josip Boljar, who spent his entire life working in the footwear industry. His most famous footwear brand was Mr. Joseph, whose shoes he designed and manufactured himself in his factory in Duga Resa.
MIRET Co-founders Domagoj and Hrvoje Boljar
Miret ecological sneakers were created from as many as 10 natural materials – hemp, kenaf, flax, cork, wood, corn, jute, eucalyptus, rubber, and 100% natural wool from New Zealand certified to the strictest environmental certificates in the world for animal and environmental safety.
Last year, they launched the second collection of their comfortable and durable soft sneakers on the Kickstarter funding platform, raising over 400,000 kuna. Miret also won the Gold medal at the IDA Design Awards 2020.
The story – OurOwnsKIN is a project which explores human foot skin to rethink how we design for future manufactured 3D printed and grown shoes. We translate anatomical and emotional perspectives of the body into design for items we wear – from footwear to fashion apparel. We run design thinking workshops with collaborators and wearers, evoking insights to create solutions for critical design and future manufacturing. A collection of varied natural non woven materials were selected and applied to a methodology in a masters educational context.
GFA talks with Liz Ciokajlo about her winning project.
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
The collection asks questions on the authenticity of materiality and challenges perceptions of the acceptability of materials perceived as waste.
What does this award mean to you personally?
This award is really unexpected. The Global footwear Awards is of a very high standard, I admire so many of the finalist and winners work! The award has a fantastic jury and it means so much to me for this recognition.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
Most important were to keep the integrity of the material character and to present in a clean, modern way. The biggest challenges as achieving this and manimpulating the materials!
What is your guiding design principle?
Design is like an elastic band that is pulled and shaped by various contextual factors. As we develop more sustainable materials to ‘replace’ in a ‘like for like’ way and in essence mimic other materials…are we loosing material agency and character? So in Natural Selection my aim was to celebrate material character in a pure, provocative way, where the ‘elastic band’ is not added to but pulled in unexpected but somehow familiar ways.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
Playing with materials and observing and leaning about natural processes.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
I always liked to make things, take things apart. I discovered there was a thing called design when I was about sixteen and that is when I decided.
Is there something [shoes or any other product] that you wished you had designed?
I have designed furniture and products. Really anything with form and that has a personal attachment. Footwear is one of the most complex and exciting objects that exist. It is sensorial, emotive, functional, and steeped in material cultural references and history.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
I was born in and trained in Industrial Design in the midwest in the US. With this came that pragmatic and instrumentalism approaches. Also with this came the experience of nature which in the right places is breathtaking in the US. I can’t get away from the idea that design is a powerful reflection of cultural meaning. When I refer to design it is the representation of societal values.
Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement?
Caskia: Designing a MarsBoot. It was a collaboration between Maurizio Montalti and further Manolis Papastavrou and Rhian Solomon. In this collaboration we proposed a woman’s boot for Mars made from material small at launch (variant mycelium and 3D print) and grown, expanded and constructed during the seven month journey. It was a hard won developed concept and the work was originally a response to a MoMA commission via the wonderful Paola Antonelli and was shortlisted for the Beazley Design of the Year.
Which designer in footwear industry do you most admire and why?
Marloes Ten Bhomer, she is amazing in her thinking. I once asked her how she determines if an aesthetic is ‘right’. She said something to the response that if it does not look ‘right’ it means something is not in keeping with the concept. That has always stuck with me.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Climate Change is a real driver for the vast material development we have witnessed over the past years. We are producing sustainable material alternatives that ideally can fit into established invested manufacturing models. However at some point I hope the new alternative materials and associated processes will define new aesthetics as exciting as our last material innovation era, The Plastics Age.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
I opperate really outside of the industry to a large extent. I think that industry realises the importance of the issues raised in the work, however it is challenging to incorporate in our existing, very established manufacturing models and supply chains.
What would be your dream design project?
To design a zero waste item with a system that in a deconstruction and reconstruction of a natural, vernacular material, which reflects it’s culture, agency and wearer.
What’s your creative process and what creative software do you use?
A lot of making mock-ups, etc… and Rhino CAD.
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
What is the aim and the context. Who is it for, what is the associated history, culture and thinking that can provoke new perspectives.
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
Respect, trust, compassion, openness and true desire to work with people. I have been so lucky to collaborate and work with wonderful people. I have learned so much from my colleagues in the everyday.
How do you deal with feedback?
Always good to understand perspectives and lenses of feedback. Once you understand this feedback is just a conversation from which you can grow and learn. Feedback is also contextual. This takes to focus to what is appropriate in a given situation.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
In addition to designing footwear items I teach design at University. The Pandemic has made gruelling for educators so things have slowed and been a bit in overdrive for shifting education solution plans. There are things slowly happening, which I prefer not talk about at this point.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
I am using more CAD and more interested in supply chains.
How do you feel about the topic of sustainability in regards to footwear design in general?
We can not truly address sustainability issues without considering the evolution of have we have arrived here. Technology and material innovation can go a long way to address many issues but without the designers input and concept innovation these fixes will not stick. And sticking or as Jonathan Chapmen put years ago emotionally durable design, is so important.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
Awards are fantastic places for debate and in the context of an everyday object such as footwear can help us collectively determine our current cultural value aspirations. Simply awards help us dream to be our collective better selves.
What is your design mantra you live by?
What I hear I forget, What I see I remember and what I do I understand. Xunzi (340 – 245 BC)
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear deign?
To remember that such a fundamental product as footwear is a vehicle which captures our endlessly morphing values and world we share.
Where do you start when tackling innovative design solutions?
I look at what others have done historically and currently. By understanding continuum and evolution we can decide innovative directions. We are not short of ideas in society. Innovation is drawing from and making connections with and ultimately observing our world. Once an aim or idea is formed then this directs the actions needed to make things happen.
What advice would you give to future aspiring footwear designers?
With 24 billion pairs of shoes made each year, there is a place for you. You just need to follow your interest and values, and get specific and exhaustive with finding out as much as possible. Then make, make, make!
What do you think will keep pushing the footwear industries forward?
Industries change and morph historically. I really do not know if the industry will radically change soon. There are too many external factors that ultimately will determine this. However what I do know is that people love shoes, men, woman children. Of course sustainability and technology (robotics, AI) will and are already changing the industry and will continue to do so. My hope is that people, wearers will ultimately be the drivers.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
Material diversity, authenticity and localism.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
Honestly technology is great and so important. But do not let it replace real materials, real items, real communities and real people’s (wearers) choices.
Making its debut on the international design stage, Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify the most innovative design in footwear. Walking in Silence was awarded the best in Medical category for Independent level.
GFA talks with Maria Bika about her background and her winning project.
Tell us more about your project?
My work aims to point out the importance of meditation and spirituality in the contemporary world, where more and more people suffer from anxiety and stress. The footwear I am proposing is designed so as to help people relax and meditate, and at the same time get into deeper contact with their inner center. The design combines the principles of nature and reflexology. The main materials of the collection are the hard wood (Walnut and Oak), leather and some parts of silicone. During the whole design and construction process, I have been using recycled wood and leather.
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
My project suggests a new footwear form and indicates our need for self-concentration and internalization. I also believe that the combination of the materials is unique and minimal.
What does this award mean to you personally?
This award is an affirmation for me and gives the motive to keep researching and creating. It makes me happy and reminds me not to give up my dream.
What was most important for you when working on this project and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
The most important factor was the construction process and how could I translate my concept idea into a 3D Footwear outcome that would be effective. A great challenge I faced was the process of giving shape to the final wooden parts and the definitive curve of the wooden sole.
What is your guiding design principle?
My aim is to design minimal shoes, inspired by architecture, that are effective, unique and propose a new way of walking and standing. I want to create innovative body shapes that help people to relax and distress.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work?
My motivation derives from my deep love for footwear and my personal vision for a better world. I always observe people and the way they tend to move or stand. I also get inspiration from nature and architecture, history and art.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
Since I was a kid, I have always been attracted into drawing, fashion and footwear design. After graduating Architecture School in Athens, I was sure that design is what I wanted to do.
Is there something [shoes or any other product] that you wished you had designed?
A footwear model that I love and I would love to have been part of its creation, is the Melissa Shoes from Zaha Hadid Architects.
How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision?
Regarding my environment, my parents love art and travelling around the world, so I always loved visiting museums and going to galleries since I was a young girl. Additionally, my greek culture has definitely influenced my creative vision, and ancient Greek history is still for me a source of inspiration along with my experiences from my trips in Europe, America and Asia.
Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement?
My final thesis in London College of Fashion, called Moving in Silence, is for me my greatest achievement so far, as it was the first time I designed a full footwear collection and managed to complete its construction and publication. It is a project I deeply love and it expresses my design character and my personality.
Which designer in footwear industry do you most admire and why?
I deeply admire Eelko Moorer because he is really an innovative and conceptual footwear designer and he is an inspirational professor. Furthemore, I love Zaha Hadid’s fashion projects and I admire Rem D Koolhas and United Nude for their architectural shoes.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Footwear design for me is an expression of the culture and society and it evolves as history changes along with the way of life, of style and the terms of beauty and fashion. I believe that shoes are becoming more and more comfortable and attached to our everyday reality which demands a lot of energy and constant movement. Technology, Ecology and Gender are definitely three factors that will determine how footwear design is going to evolve during the next years to come.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
Industry gives you a number of different possibilities, and you have the chance to work abroad and meet new people and be part of amazing footwear projects. A big challenge I see in my career is that you need to have a number of qualifications and have knowledge of the new technology and the medical shoe.
What would be your dream design project?
My dream design project is a shoe that would combine design with biomimetics, and would give the wearer the opportunity to experience dreams, old memories and feeling while using the pair.
What’s your creative process and what creative software do you use?
Everything starts from concept design for me. I always start from abstract sketches and random ideas and trying to translate them into 3D mock-ups. Regarding the creative software, I am using Rhino, AutoCAD and Revit.
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a shoe design? What piece of information is of utmost value?
When I began to design a shoe project, I always write down my core idea and what I want these shoes to express. Who is going to be the user and the environment where they are going to wear the shoes. After, organizing all these factors, I question myself how can they become environment-friendly and still express the design I have in my mind. Overall, for me less is more when it comes to design and despite what we create, as designer, it is always necessary to think about the ecology and the sustainability of the shoes.
What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration?
Team collaboration is vital for a project to become successful. For that to happen, it is very important to have a clear organization and an equal post division. Each member of the team should have specific qualifications and tasks to accomplish. And team should be fun, because when you are happy somewhere you always give back the best you have.
How do you deal with feedback?
Feedback is fundamental for going forward and becoming a better designer. It is something that I am used in since I was a student in Architecture, because you would receive all the time feedback both from professors and students. It makes you stronger to brave to deal with your possible mistakes.
What are you working on now, what is in the pipeline for you?
Right now, I am a fellow teacher in National Technical University of Athens. At the same time, I am dealing with my brand RΞAA and any footwear or architectural project I can accomplish.
How has the pandemic affected your work and design process?
Pandemic was something unpredicted that affected 100% my design process. I had to stay home and try new ways of creating and making. And, after all, my brand idea express the human need to stay calm despite all this anxiety and distress through footwear.
How do you feel about the topic of sustainability in regards to footwear design in general?
Sustainability and Ecology are still a big matter for shoe industry and there are a number of different factors that still need to get solved. For me, footwear design has to go along with sustainability as this is something that affects the design and the construction process.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
I would congratulate my younger self and remind me to stay focus on my design vision.
With so many designs coming out daily, how do you keep pushing boundaries in footwear deign?
That is really a good question, as footwear designs come out all the time. But, I believe that sometimes you should focus on your design and think about your own creative direction. When you really desire to be innovative and push boundaries in footwear design, you should work constantly and research your topic.
Where do you start when tackling innovative design solutions?
When you tackle innovative ideas, it’s good for me to start from point 0 and try to walk away for the project for some period of time, like one or 2 days, and then summarize all your actions and design aims. It is true that the best ideas come when you don’t expect them to come.
What advice would you give to future aspiring footwear designers?
Never stop dreaming and working. It is important to love this if you want to succeed. There will be challenging times of difficulties and obstacles. But, when you focus on your own design vision you always manage to make it through. Learn as much as possible, and enjoy all the process despite any prize or achievement.
What do you think will keep pushing the footwear industries forward?
Societies and Cultures evolve and change all the time, as the human need and what footwear industry desires. Shoes are closed attached to all the people and determine our everyday way of life. Additionally, technology is affecting the footwear industry and will certainly continue to do so.
What do you wish to see more of in the footwear industries?
I wish to see equality, respect to all human beings and constant design innovation.
How do you handle pressure in design?
I cannot deny you that I always work better in pressure. It is then that I manage to accomplish even the most difficult parts of a project.
How do you feel about the impact of new technology towards footwear design and the industry as a whole?
Technology and 3D innovations, along with biomimeitcs and science, will help footwear to evolve even more. It will affect the design, the walking experience but also the manufacture process.
Making its debut on the international design stage, Global Footwear Awards (GFA) has begun its global search to identify the most innovative design in footwear. Sonic IQ 1.0 was awarded the best in kids category for independent level.
Sonic IQ 1.0 is an assistive footwear technology designed to help aurally challenged young athletes communicate during team sports and physical education. This project primarily focuses on basketball, but can be applicable to other team sports.
GFA talks with Jaden Zhai about his winning project.
What do you see as the strengths of your winning project?
The strength of this project is that it can be implemented by schools and athletic programs to be more inclusive to students with hearing disabilities. With the advances in wearable technology, this project can be feasible within the near future and improve physical education for youth living with hearing loss.
What does this award mean to you personally?
This award gave me the validation that my concept resonates with people. I am glad to see that my idea spoke to the judges, and this gives me the confidence to develop this concept even further.
What is your guiding design principle?
The principle that guided me throughout the entire design process is to focus on the user. It was important to understand the user and make sure that I am catering to their needs. Sometimes it is easy to forget that this product is not for me, so it’s important to put myself in the user’s shoes at all times (no pun intended).
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
I always loved to build thing with my hands. Ever since I was a kid I liked to draw and take toys apart to see how it worked. When I got older, I understood that I had a talent for creating, and I knew that design work was what I wanted to do.
Is there something [shoes or any other product] that you wished you had designed?
If I wasn’t into footwear design, I would have liked to do packaging design. I had always been interested in the creative ways that packaging can communicate brand image.
Which designer in the footwear industry do you most admire and why?
One of the designers I admire the most in the footwear industry is D’Wayne Edwards. He was the designer of the Jordan XX and XXI, but most importantly, he is the founder of Pensole Academy. He was a great mentor for me during my time at Pensole, and I admire his mission to provide opportunities to the next generation of designers. D’Wayne always challenges his students to think outside the box, and pushes them to be the best version of themselves. Today, a huge portion of footwear designers in the industry had been under D’Wayne’s mentorship at Pensole.
How do you feel footwear design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Over the last few years, there has been a lot more emphasis on experimental forms, 3d printing, and non-traditional manufacturing methods in footwear. Also there has been a huge shift towards environmentally conscious design. I think eventually we will achieve at least 75% sustainability within the footwear industry.
What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career and the industry now?
I think the biggest challenge for aspiring footwear designers trying to break into the industry is having talent but not enough experience. A lot of companies tend to hire designers with a certain amount of experience, and that’s tough for young designers trying to make it. Sometimes you really just need your work to be seen by the right person, whether it’s a design manager or director, so it’s important to network and get your name out there.
What would be your dream design project?
Working with a professional basketball player or an artist to design his/her signature shoe would be a dream project of mine.
What’s your creative process and what creative software do you use?
I usually start sketching on my iPad during the ideation phase. Depending on the project, I might also cut up some old shoes or mold some clay to experiment with physical forms. Then I would tape up and draw on a last to get the proportions right. When finalizing a design, I’d render using a combination of Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate. Currently, I’m playing around with software such as Gravity Sketch and Blender to learn to render in 3D.
What would you tell your younger self seeing you winning the awards?
I would tell my younger self to just keep working hard, don’t stop creating, and the right people will see your potential and give you an opportunity.
Learn more of Jaden Zhai at https://jadenzhai.com/
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