Iron Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design · 2022
Adamas Shoes
- A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 36,957
- Verification code 8989715F7F · Verify this award
About Adamas Shoes
Adamas is a laceless shoe designed for daily wear in the city. The sole has sharp angular facets inspired by unpolished diamonds, while the soft elastic upper wraps the foot closely. The main materials are synthetic rubber and elastic fabric. Computer analysis was used to define the structure and the required mass of each part of the sole. The sole is formed in one piece, which supports fast production, stable footbeds and less material waste. A support structure extends from the sole to the ankle and holds the upper in place.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The accelerating urbanization has put people's lives in a constant state of tension. Adamas' style reflects the state of existence of urbanites in a rapidly developing technological city. The Adamas' diamond-like angular sole represents a seemingly impenetrable system, but the soft upper gives the foot a sense of complete wrapping and security. It encourages people to challenge authority bravely and seek breakthroughs freely.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Length 320mm x Width 115mm x Height 150mm
- Tags
- Lifestyle, Computational, Techwear, Laceless Design, Footwear Design
- Production Technology
- The primary materials used in the production of this footwear design are synthetic rubber and elastic fabric. In this case, the synthetic rubber was optimized by computerized virtual physical algorithms and tests to derive the structure of each part and its required mass. In addition, connections for one-piece molding exists between all aspects of the sole to help achieve rapid processing and footbed stability. At the same time, the support structure extending from the sole to the ankle also provides sufficient bonding space for the upper to ensure proper curvature and wrapping.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge of this design was the need to support the upper using a structure that extends from the sole of the shoe. The streamlined material requires more detail in the side wrap structure.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2019 in Champaign, IL and finished in June 2019 in Champaign, IL, and was exhibited in Beijing in September 2020 and Los Angeles in April 2021.
- Research
- This design aims at innovative research and practice on outsole shape and soft/hard material fit. In the process, we explored the possibility of using computer analysis in shoe design to control the force of materials and improve the wrapping of the upper. At the same time, we also tried to create wrapping strong one-piece outsoles to reduce the waste of manufacturing materials. This design further explores the prospect of high contrast technology style in the future urban lifestyle shoe field in terms of style.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration of Adamas comes from unpolished diamonds. The design of the shoes reflects the designer's view on the future status of urbanization. With an elastic upper and sturdy sole, Adamas is the synthesis of organic soul and ruthless technology. It is like a high-capacity creature from the world of cyberpunk, hiding a peaceful mind in the hardened shell, wandering on the edge of high urbanization. The sharp contrast of forms brings sensory stimulation.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #2: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #3: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #4: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #5: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, 2021