Biodesign Breathing Shoe @ Milan Design Week
Puma Innovation’s partnership with the MIT Design Lab has produced magical moments in design and innovation for sports. In 2017 Puma Innovation decidedly took the lead among major sports brands by investing in biodesign, a methodology utilized to create products using natural organisms. In 2019 we took one step closer to realization through our BioEvolution exhibit at Design Week in Milan featuring the Breathing Shoe with support from Fraunhofer Institute. Biodesigned products are far from commercial. They serve as visions of a future in which industry takes the bold step to use nature to create unique and sustainable products. Stay tuned for more.
The Cooper Hewitt Design Journal featured Puma Biodesign in the Summer 2019 edition on Natural Design.
Project Profile
What is it?
An exhibition at Milan Design Week that showcases the Breathing Shoe, a footwear concept that adapts the climate of the shoe to the individual using bacteria.
Why is it innovative?
It shows the way that bacteria can be used as a design tool. It mitigates the effect that manufacturing products has on the environment.
What were the biggest challenges?
Developing working prototypes that displayed how the micro organisms work.
What was your role?
Project Owner, Creative Director
Coordinated the collaboration between Puma, Innovation x Design and Fraunhofer Institute.
Why was it successful?
It placed us as leaders in the sports industry; the first global brand to take a lead in this type of manufacturing and sustainable product.