Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques by Pear and Mulberry

Bronze Generatiu · 2025

Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques

by Pear and Mulberry

A' Design Award de Bronze 2025 in Generatiu
CLIENT: Pear and Mulberry
Estimated Number of Design Views: 122,358
Verification code 0C0492D5CC · Verify this award

View at A' Design Award Press Release

Colors

About Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques

Weaver és una sabata terapèutica dissenyada per a nens d'entre 8 i 14 anys. La sabata es desenvolupa mitjançant escaneig 3D, mapatge de pressió i modelatge paramètric, de manera que cada parell s'adapta a la forma dels peus d'un infant concret. Tota la sabata s'imprimeix en 3D amb un únic poliuretà termoplàstic reciclable, la qual cosa redueix la complexitat de fabricació i els residus generats. La part superior, impresa amb estructures que imiten el punt tèxtil, combina flexibilitat direccional amb estabilitat, de manera que no calen cordons. La sola, dividida en zones, distribueix la pressió i ajuda a alleujar el dolor als peus.

About the A' Design Award de Bronze

Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Bronze, un reconeixement altament prestigiós concedit a dissenys sobresortints que es distingeixen per la creativitat, l'enginy i l'astúcia. Els guanyadors de Bronze són artefactes ampliament hàbils i sorprenentment creatius que autentiquen la vasta experiència, la imaginació i el recurs dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques sigui un objecte molt apreciat, admirat i estimat, notablement professional i innovador. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Bronze incorpora les millors pràctiques de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia i és excel·lent per la seva atenció al detall. Weaver Sabates Terapèutiques satisfà esplèndidament les necessitats, toca els desitjos, encisa els sentiments i crida la curiositat.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: This project is a pioneering therapeutic shoe system that leverages computational design and 3D printing to provide personalized foot care for children aged 8-14. Unlike conventional shoes, We|aver+ integrates parametric modeling, pressure mapping, and material anisotropy to create a tailored support-comfort balance. Its print-knit TPU upper mimics textile knitting structures while offering directional flexibility and stability, eliminating shoelaces and enhancing fit.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 230mm x 85mm x 135mm
Material: Recyclable TPU
Fabrication: Full-body 3D printing with integrated print-knit upper and zoned cushioning sole
Design Parameters: Gait-adaptive sole structure, anisotropic flexibility, localized pressure distribution
Tags: therapeutic footwear, 3D printed shoes, parametric design, pediatric foot care, computational design, sustainable footwear, pressure mapping, AI-assisted design
Production Technology: It is produced using 3D scanning, pressure mapping, and parametric modeling to generate individualized shoe designs. The entire shoe is 3D printed in a single material (recyclable TPU), reducing manufacturing complexity and waste. By utilizing Grasshopper plug-ins (Kangaroo, Weaverbird, Mesh+, LunchBox) and DOE optimization, we fine-tune element thickness, porosity, and structural orientation for each foot’s unique needs.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was reconciling flexibility with structural support in a single-material, 3D-printed design. Overcoming material constraints, we engineered a knit-inspired TPU upper that adapts dynamically. Additionally, ensuring cost-effectiveness and sustainability for growing children’s feet required computational efficiency and recyclable materials. The project pushes the boundaries of generative design in medical footwear, merging biomechanics, AI-assisted customization, and additive manufacturing.
Research: We conducted design-driven research to develop personalized pediatric footwear. Objectives included optimizing support-flexibility balance, sustainable fabrication, and medical efficacy. Methodologies included 3D scanning, pressure mapping, and parametric modeling, analyzed using DOE simulations and material stress tests. Results showed that print-knit TPU structures improve directional stability, while zoned soles provide customized pain relief. Insights highlight the potential of data-driven footwear design in clinical applications.
Inspiration: It was inspired by the structural properties of hollow-loose knitting, commonly seen in textiles and chainmail, which achieve varying stiffness and stretch in different directions. This paradox of support and flexibility guided our parametric approach, where 3D scanning and computational optimization enabled customized footcare solutions.
Project Duration: The project began in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, with fabrication conducted at Harvard FabLab. The next phase involves IRB-approved user testing and material research collaboration with 3D printing start-ups in Boston.
Operation Flow: The shoes are personalized through foot scanning and pressure analysis, generating a custom design optimized for foot health. The print-knit TPU upper adapts snugly, eliminating the need for shoelaces, while the dynamic sole customizes zoning softness to relieve pressure-induced pain. Over time, the parametric bottom grid wear pattern helps monitor gait and diagnose foot pathologies.
Image Credits: PEAR & MULBERRY