Weaver 治療用シューズ by Pear and Mulberry is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 銅賞 in ジェネラティブ・アルゴリズミック・パラメトリック・AI支援デザイン Competition Category.

銅ジェネラティブ· 2025

Weaver 治療用シューズ

by Pear and Mulberry

Client: Pear and Mulberry

A' Design Award 銅賞 Winner in ジェネラティブ Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Weaver 治療用シューズ

Weaverは、8歳から14歳の子どもを対象に設計された治療用シューズです。3Dスキャン、圧力分布マッピング、パラメトリックモデリングを通じて開発され、一足ごとに一人の子どもの足の形状に適合します。シューズ全体はリサイクル可能な単一素材の熱可塑性ポリウレタンで3Dプリントされており、製造の複雑さと廃棄物を削減します。プリントニットのアッパーは繊維の編み構造に倣い、方向性のある柔軟性と安定性を両立させているため、靴ひもを必要としません。ゾーン分けされたソールは圧力を分散し、足の痛みの緩和に役立ちます。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅賞

Weaver 治療用シューズは、創造性、独創性、鋭い洞察力で際立つ傑出したデザインに授与される、高い権威をもつ評価である A' Design Award 銅賞の受賞作品です。銅賞の受賞作品は、十分に巧みで印象的なほど創造的な工芸品であり、デザイナーの豊富な経験、想像力、機知を裏づけています。Weaver 治療用シューズは、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される品であり、顕著にプロフェッショナルで革新的であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 銅賞を受賞したデザインは、芸術・科学・デザイン・技術のベストプラクティスを取り入れており、細部への配慮に優れています。Weaver 治療用シューズは、ニーズを見事に満たし、欲求に触れ、感情を魅了し、好奇心を引きつけます。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

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