Concept Development
Throughout the ideation process, I refinanced many forms and shapes from the chosen collections and used these elements to shape the shoe using a silhouette as a guide. Developing the forms to create new forms of footwear, I explored boots, basketball shoes, and running shoes. Once my design was finalized, I started on the model. A base form must be created to create the model from clay, so I started the process of building the shoe last. Once the clay has been built up, it is shaved off and sculpted with additional elements added to define the shape after building up the lower mid and upper of the shoe.
User Persona
Name: Luca
Age: 28
Occupation: Creative Professional
Location: Paris, France
Age: 28
Occupation: Creative Professional
Location: Paris, France
Lifestyle:
Luca blends fashion and function effortlessly. They spend their days in creative meetings, walking through the city, and attending events. Their style is bold and artistic, and they look for pieces that stand out but are practical enough for everyday wear.
Luca blends fashion and function effortlessly. They spend their days in creative meetings, walking through the city, and attending events. Their style is bold and artistic, and they look for pieces that stand out but are practical enough for everyday wear.
Style:
Luca’s wardrobe is a mix of high fashion and streetwear. They love clothing that is comfortable but makes a statement, which is why the Mugler Eclipse sneakers are perfect—combining Mugler’s bold designs with the ease of athletic footwear.
Luca’s wardrobe is a mix of high fashion and streetwear. They love clothing that is comfortable but makes a statement, which is why the Mugler Eclipse sneakers are perfect—combining Mugler’s bold designs with the ease of athletic footwear.
Values:
Luca values individuality, comfort, and innovation. They appreciate the Mugler Eclipse for its unique design inspired by past collections and the way it translates couture into everyday wear.
Luca values individuality, comfort, and innovation. They appreciate the Mugler Eclipse for its unique design inspired by past collections and the way it translates couture into everyday wear.
Favorite Activities:
Attending fashion shows, working on creative projects, and exploring the city on foot.
Attending fashion shows, working on creative projects, and exploring the city on foot.
This persona captures the spirit of Mugler's fusion of high fashion with practicality.
Research Influence
With this project, I intended to expand Mugler’s product line to include athletic sneakers. Mugler as a brand is known for taking textiles and making them extravagant and larger-than-life clothing, transforming the wearer to fit a look or persona. Mugler's first collection was released in 1973 in France. This collection played with popular silhouettes from the urban area at the time but added sophistication, youthfulness and contemporary elements to these silhouettes. These sneakers are intended to create a feeling of Mugler through its elements of form and shape with colours that reflect articles of clothing from the fall 1995, 1997 and 2021 collections.
Shoe Last
To shape a wooden shoe last for an athletic shoe, I start by selecting high-quality wood that matches the desired size and shape. Then, I use precision carving tools to sculpt the wood, gradually removing material while referencing the shoe design and specifications, refining the last's contours and ensuring a snug fit and ergonomic support.
Form Development
As a designer, I used car modelling clay on the wooden shoe last to craft my concept for an athletic shoe design. The clay allows me to sculpt and experiment with intricate details, ensuring a dynamic and functional design that can be further refined before transitioning into production.
