The Tala
Skate shoe project
Project Backstory
This project was my 3rd Semester exploration of footwear. In this project, I chose a type of footwear to design through sketches, modeling, and Photoshop.
This was my first experience with using Photoshop and working with foam and certain modeling techniques, as well as my original attempt at a website.
Mission of Project
The goal of this project is to look at and define some of the shortcomings of popular skate shoes and try to address them and solve them in a way that is both inviting and comfortable.
Research and Inspiration
The Idea
A lot of what goes into skateboard shoes is comfort and durability. Doing everyday activities in shoes that are uncomfortable can already be a pain, but having shoes that are not durable and are constantly falling apart makes the experience much worse.
For such a physically intense activity like skateboarding, having shoes that meet needs in both comfort and durability is among the highest needs for people who want to enjoy their time doing hobbies that they love like skateboarding.
Popular shoes and
skating culture
Skating is a massive culture that brings people from all types of backgrounds and all different levels together. People skate for all sorts of reasons; fun, transportation, some practice everyday to land the coolest tricks to compete against friends and to stand out, and many people are just learning and trying to figure out where they would fit.
A sense of style surrounds skating such as streetwear. People of all skating genres tend to be colorful and expressive in many ways, having a shoe that can compliment that is incredibly important. People want to show off aspects of themselves from grungy styles to colorful expressions. That's what the sport is all about, being able to express every aspect of yourself in a creative and interesting way (and with a board, of course).
All sorts of brands have their versions of skate shoes from companies known for running shoes like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance, to companies best known for skate shoes such as Vans. They usually keep very similar materials and features but vary in their designs. New brands are also popping up and trying to make a mark in the skate and streetwear scene, such as brands like Cariuma.
bottom photos via Book Club Chicago, LiveAbout.com, and GreenQueen.com
Body and Sole
The two main components and most important part of the shoe. These are both the most customizable areas of the shoe with countless design options and hundreds of ways to improve the overall quality of the shoe such as material, grip, and more.
Most skate shoes are made from a durable canvas to withstand the type of use skate shoes go through. Consequently, skate shoes tend to be less breathable but more durable compared to running and casual shoes. Several styles are available such as simplistic body forms or layered designs, even more, recent designs have specifically focused on having colorful layers that reveal themselves the more the user wears them away through usage. On top of the canvas body, some skate shoe designs have rubber/rubberized accents for detail and design.
Image from Dale Decker on Youtube
Skate shoes are known for their durable, tougher soles than other styles such as running shoes. They are meant to be able to provide adequate grip on a board in junction with grip tape, meant to be able to get a strong push on the ground when kicking on the board, and meant to withstand the heavy wear caused by friction on the surfaces such as the ground and the board itself. Many styles and designs are crafted in order to add character and to set the shoes aside, but the best ones are usually the ones that keep their grip the longest.
Image from Skate Deluxe
Inspiration
Inspiration was taken from some of the Vans and Adidas skate shoe designs as they are quite similar. Some themes from people interviewed about skate shoes regarding these two brands center around one of the shoes being good for walking in and the other for skating in, changing between people interviewed. I wanted to focus on the positive attributes of the style of these shoes and create something new.
Image by ZigZag
Sketches and Explorations
The two main components and most important part of the shoe. These are both the most customizable areas of the shoe with countless design options and hundreds of ways to improve the overall quality of the shoe such as material, grip, and more.
Physical Forms
Three versions were explored for the foam soles with a few things in mind. The main shape was to be sleek and mostly straight with most of the curve being towards the front of the foot.
The sides of the foam shoes show the indent included and the bumper lines show where the bumpers start and end. I wanted to test certain techniques and strategies to convey different information about the soles including the bottom pattern on one of the models.
First model
The original 3D form exploration consisted of a sock covering a shoe with cardboard cutouts layering the surface to show certain features.
A line goes around the base to show the sole as well as the bumper, and the parts going over the sides show the areas connecting the straps and the accent lines for the design.
Second model
I tested out another model design just in case I found it to be more intriguing than the one I chose to go with. It was a much faster and simpler exploration with tape and fabric on a shoe covered with a sock.
Along with the extra test, included are some process photos for setting up the first 3D exploration
The Tala
The finished design for the skate shoe was named the Tala to mimic the forms found on the show.
The design features velcro straps to eliminate shoelace wear or tears, extra flex points towards the front, and added padding to areas for protection and durability.