Dotted shoe wins James Dyson runner-up award
A running shoe with a patented sole made of thin layers of coloured dots has been named ‘runner-up’ in this year’s James Dyson award ceremony.
The shoe, designed by Peter Kuschnigg, a student at the Royal College of Art, UK, helps the wearer monitor his or her running technique, as the dots gradually erode with use.
The James Dyson Award is an international student design award running in 18 countries. It is run by the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to “encourage the next generation of design engineers to be creative, challenge and invent”.
Through controlled erosion, the shoe’s colour dots produce a unique pattern, according to Mr Kuschnigg. “This pattern allows a runner to watch his running technique,” says a statement from the designer. “A landing on the heel or have been placed to prevent over-supinate simple pressure points in the liner. These increase the stimulation of the foot during training sessions and learn to run the technology can be removed.
“The shoe consists of two parts resembling a sock and a replaceable shoe sole. Due to the controlled abrasion of the sole of these must be replaced more often than conventional running shoes. The packaging of the shoe contains the information necessary to secure the wear pattern to interpret. When a new order through the soles of packaging to be returned for recycling.”
Mr Kuschnigg took the problems of ‘runner’s knee’ and ‘shin split’ as inspiration for his design. A few years ago he suffered vertebral injury which prevented him from running long distances.
“I have found the solution in our body,” he says. “Natural running, also known as ‘barefoot’ is a healthier and more natural running technique. The landing is on the forefoot with the tendons and muscles absorbing the shock.
“However, on the basis of already marketed minimal running shoes I could see that running barefoot is not as easy as we thought. By wearing a shoe is the beginner often gives a false sense of security which can lead to land on the heel.”
Over a four month period, attended several workshops run by biomechanics experts. After creating more than 15 prototypes, the final design was developed and tested.
“Personally, I am proud to have solved the problem with a low-tech variant instead of a gadget,” he says.
