Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェア by Ye Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 銀賞 in フットウェア・靴・ブーツデザイン Competition Category.

銀フットウェア· 2023

Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェア

by Ye Shen

Client: Ye Shen

A' Design Award 銀賞 Winner in フットウェア Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェア

Wacky Packは、履物を閉じる新たな方法を探求したシューズのコレクションです。各ペアは、従来の靴紐に代えて、シューカバー、メタルスナップ、フルジッパーといった代替のファスニングシステムを採用しています。これらの留め具は靴の履き方そのものを変え、一足でいくつものルックを楽しむことを可能にします。コレクション全体を通して、さまざまな厚みのベジタブルタンニンなめしレザーと、特注のメタルパーツが用いられています。パターンピースは手裁断、手縫い、そして手作業による吊り込みで仕上げられました。入念なプロトタイピングを重ねることで、プロポーション、ソール付けの手法、そして留め具のデザインを磨き上げています。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀賞

Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェアは、見事で印象的なハイエンドのデザインに授与される、非常に権威ある評価である A' Design Award 銀賞の受賞作品です。銀賞の受賞作品は、きわめて輝かしく創造性に富んだ作品であり、デザイナーの傑出した専門知識、才能、洞察力を示しています。Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェアは、素晴らしい代表作であり、驚くほどプロフェッショナルで、深く革新的であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 銀賞を受賞したデザインは、非常に注目すべき称賛される発明であり、芸術・科学・デザイン・技術の境界に寄与し、それを前進させます。Wacky Pack インタラクティブ・フットウェアは、多くの人に羨まれる創造物であり、欲求を呼び覚まし、前向きな感情をもたらし、驚きと感嘆を灯します。

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.