Humanistic Footwear Design

As a product designer in the footwear industry I have pursued the most advanced technologies, materials and manufacturing methods all in the name of high-end performance for athletes. Lightest, strongest, most durable, stiffest, grippiest, most comfortable - these were the characteristics that promised the difference between winning and losing; when the term game changing actually means something. I have been successful in that pursuit producing my share of industry firsts and products that in fact have made it to the world stages of sport.

But in that pursuit it is easy to lose site of things. For some, footwear is a matter of life and death. The ability to simply ambulate their surroundings and avoiding life threatening disease is not possible in many parts of the world. Without foot covering children are seven times more likely to be infected with a Neglected Tropical Disease.

High Tech

Designing hi-tech shoes like the Adidas Tubular running shoe, a shoe that had and on-board pump and LCD screen were common for me. A shoe as simple as the World Shoe was not.
Low Tech

The first generation World Shoe is injection molded EVA with anti-microbial properties that help fight foot borne disease.

Design For Humanistic Values

In 2020 I gave a keynote speech at the International Design Conference. In Design For Humanistic Values I shared some influences which were fostering a transition in my design pursuits. I spoke about my intention to bring human values back to design; to be led first by what is essential to humanity.

Enter Samaritan’s Feet

Following my IDC keynote speech I was introduced to a representative of Samaritan’s Feet, a non-profit organization who’s mission is to bring hope and opportunity throughout the world by providing shoes to people without access to proper footwear.

Since their founding in 2003 they have distributed prophylactic footwear to more than 8 million people in 100 countries for those in need of reliable foot covering. But the shoes the provide do not just bring better health conditions rather they are the key to better educational and economic opportunity.

Alongside footwear donations Samaritan’s Feet produce the World Shoe, a simple injection molded foot covering that offers basic protection against the elements. I was asked to design a next generation version. Of all the design problems of which I have been briefed over the years, I have never had one for which the solution had such dire consequences for such a large sector of society. Designing the World Shoe is humanistic design.