Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj by Ye Shen

Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj by Ye Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award i Sølv in Fodtøj, Sko og Støvler Design Competition Category.

SølvFodtøj· 2023

Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj

by Ye Shen

Client: Ye Shen

A' Design Award i Sølv Winner in Fodtøj Category

517,196

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #150436

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj

Wacky Pack er en kollektion af sko, der udforsker nye måder at lukke fodtøj på. Hvert par erstatter traditionelle snørebånd med et alternativt lukkesystem, såsom et skoovertræk, metaltrykknapper eller en gennemgående lynlås. Lukningerne ændrer, hvordan hver sko bæres, og muliggør flere udtryk fra et enkelt par. Vegetabilsk garvet læder i forskellige tykkelser og specialfremstillede metalbeslag anvendes i hele kollektionen. Mønsterdelene blev skåret i hånden, syet og pindet op i hånden. Omfattende prototypearbejde forfinede proportionerne, sålmetoderne og lukkedesignet.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Sølv

Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj er vinder af A' Design Award i Sølv, en usædvanligt prestigefyldt anerkendelse, der tildeles designs i topklasse, som er pragtfulde og imponerende. Sølvvinderne er enormt geniale og overordentlig kreative værker, der illustrerer deres designeres fremragende ekspertise, talent og skarpsindighed. Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj forventes at være et vidunderligt udstillingsværk, der er bemærkelsesværdigt professionelt og dybt innovativt. Dette design, der har vundet A' Design Award i Sølv, er en højst bemærkelsesværdig, beundret opfindelse, som gavner og flytter grænserne for kunst, videnskab, design og teknologi. Wacky Pack Interaktivt Fodtøj er en skabelse, som mange misunder, og som vækker begær, bringer positive følelser og antænder forundring og undren.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Wacky Pack explores the concept and possibilities of footwear closure, or traditionally speaking, "how-to-tie-a-shoe". It explores unorthodox construction and fastening method, creating unique yet diverse interactions between the shoe and the user, providing a new level of improvisation and customization for your day-to-day look.
Tags: Interactive Footwear, Fashion Sneakers, Alternative Closure, Shoemaking, Leather Goods
Production Technology: Veg-tanned leather with various thickness and metal hardware were used across the pack. All non-leather soft materials were dyed to match the cream color. The hardware selection was custom-tailored to perform the unique closures.

Each design was explored and validated through intensive prototyping to finalize the proportion, soling methods, and most importantly, closure system design.

All pattern pieces were hand cut, cemented, sewn, then assembled with metal hardwares and hand lasted, finished with various soling techniques and materials, finally sanded and finished.
Research: Gen-Z and Millennials will soon be (if not already) the core consumer of fashion and luxury. With low brand loyalty and contemporary view of value, all they are after is fresh concepts that grab their attentions, concepts that become the pieces and its value.

Brands are all playing up to these desires. But with the Millennials’ quick shift of attention, very soon a pure concept won’t attract them anymore, and they would want something more, they would want to be a part of the concept.
Inspiration: What does it mean to tie a shoe? Why does it need to be tied?
If all a shoe need to do is to enclose your foot, how differently can a shoe perform this task?

Can the mundane action of "shoe-tying" turns into something more meaningful or entertaining? Can the closure dictate how a shoe works, or become a shoe itself? Can it alter the user's experience and behavior?
Project Duration: This Project was created in a 4-month period in Fall 2018, within a shoe-making course taught by Anne Marika Chasse at Rhode Island School of Design.
Operation Flow: Bao Bao: Shoe born inside a shoe cover. Wear it close, wear it open, wear it flipped.

O Snap: Turn O-snap on, snap pieces to each other. Snap None or snap all; snap some or snap one, it's up to you.

Sticky Fingers: Shoe zipped all the way around. Zip or unzip, front or back. Zip it close, hide inside; Zip it open, reveal yourself.