Skate shoes are notorious for breaking down fast—but not this one. With an entirely sewn construction, Switch is designed to be repaired and reborn forever.
As a keen skater since childhood, I know just how quickly skate shoes get destroyed.
For my masters year design project, I decided to design a better solution.
I started my research with a product autopsy of a typical skate shoe.
I was shocked by just how many different materials were used and how difficult it was to separate these materials - as you would need to do to repair the shoe.
The research phase of my design process lead me to a rough concept which was defined by a replaceable toe cap part.
3D printing emerged as a good choice for manufacturing and prototyping this part dues its its design flexibility, sustainability and most importantly - ease of manufacture. As the part is 3D printed, it can be manufactured anywhere in the world, further easing and incentivising users to make repairs.
