Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo by Ye Shen

Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo by Ye Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award de Plata in Diseño de Calzado Competition Category.

PlataCalzado· 2023

Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo

by Ye Shen

Client: Ye Shen

A' Design Award de Plata Winner in Calzado 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 Calzado interactivo

Wacky Pack es una colección de zapatos que explora nuevas formas de cerrar el calzado. Cada par sustituye los cordones tradicionales por un sistema de cierre alternativo, como una cubierta para el zapato, broches metálicos o una cremallera completa. Los cierres modifican la manera de llevar cada zapato y permiten conseguir varios estilos con un solo par. En toda la colección se emplea cuero curtido al vegetal en distintos grosores, así como herrajes metálicos personalizados. Las piezas del patrón se cortaron, cosieron y montaron sobre horma a mano. Un extenso trabajo de prototipado permitió afinar las proporciones, los métodos de ensuelado y el diseño del cierre.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Plata

Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo ha ganado el A' Design Award de Plata, un reconocimiento extraordinariamente prestigioso concedido a diseños de gama alta, magníficos e impresionantes. Los ganadores de Plata son obras tremendamente brillantes y sumamente creativas que ilustran la destacada experiencia, el talento y la agudeza de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo sea una obra maravillosa y emblemática, notablemente profesional y profundamente innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Plata es una invención muy notable y admirada que beneficia y hace avanzar las fronteras del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología. Wacky Pack Calzado interactivo es una creación enormemente envidiada que evoca deseos, aporta sentimientos positivos y despierta asombro y admiración.

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.