Adamas 鞋履 by Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 鞋履設計 Competition Category.

鐵鞋履· 2022

Adamas 鞋履

by Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 鞋履 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #127250

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Adamas 鞋履

Adamas係一款無鞋帶設計嘅鞋,專為城市日常穿著而設。鞋底以未經打磨嘅鑽石為靈感,呈現出銳利嘅棱角切面,而柔軟具彈性嘅鞋面則緊貼包裹雙腳。主要材質為合成橡膠同彈性布料。設計過程中運用電腦分析,以確定鞋底各部分嘅結構同所需質量。鞋底一體成型,有助加快生產速度、提升鞋床穩定性,並減少材料浪費。一個支撐結構由鞋底延伸至腳踝,將鞋面牢固定位。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Adamas 鞋履是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Adamas 鞋履將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Adamas 鞋履因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

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.
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.
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.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, 2021
Team Members: Hengbo Zhang
Wenxi Qi
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.