Nonetheless, Interbike was a great experience on many facets. More insight to come from yours truly. For now, I'll start with this highlight...
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| Eddy Merckx. Thanks. (Apparently, I was "Carlos" for the day.) |
A log of my Industrial Design Thesis Project on highly functional business casual footwear for the bicycle/active transportation commuter.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Post Interbike
Good to be back in San Francisco, where I don't need to sweat as much as I did in Las Vegas.
Monday, September 20, 2010
"Footworks?"
So why "footworks" and not "footwear?"
1. The term footwear generally tends to connote some type of shoe, sandal, etc. whereas my coined term is meant to imply ANY possible product opportunity that interfaces with and aids the functions of the foot (for the commute, of course). At this stage in my thesis project (i.e. Research) I am supposed to be this "open" in order to really see the big picture and let my research guide me to the final product direction.
2. Footworks has a nice to ring to it!
1. The term footwear generally tends to connote some type of shoe, sandal, etc. whereas my coined term is meant to imply ANY possible product opportunity that interfaces with and aids the functions of the foot (for the commute, of course). At this stage in my thesis project (i.e. Research) I am supposed to be this "open" in order to really see the big picture and let my research guide me to the final product direction.
2. Footworks has a nice to ring to it!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
I hear you Interbike!
Two more days till the big show called Interbike. My first Interbike, but not my first trade show (ASR, SIA, MAGIC,...). I'm sure it will blow my mind.
Not only is this good for my R&D phase but good food for my product design-soul in general, nonetheless the sick-bike-products-geek in me.
Not only is this good for my R&D phase but good food for my product design-soul in general, nonetheless the sick-bike-products-geek in me.
The bigger picture
Through my preliminary research (e.g. statistics, observations, interviews, and questionnaires) in the general subject of commuting and how footwear relates to it, I realized several fundamental starting points:
– it's not just women
– commuter footwear deals primarily with active transportation
(i.e. walking, cycling, public trans., etc.–car-free)
– for a thesis design direction, bicycle commuting looks to be a good focus/direction
(e.g. from 2005-2008 in SF bicycle commuting grew 83% (us census), tons of bicycle/bicycle commuting blogs in existence, DZR shoes, Mission Workshop Rondel shoe, Chrome's new spd compatible shoe, Vittoria's leather classic, ... in other words, there is an opportunity here!)
– it's not just women
– commuter footwear deals primarily with active transportation
(i.e. walking, cycling, public trans., etc.–car-free)
– for a thesis design direction, bicycle commuting looks to be a good focus/direction
(e.g. from 2005-2008 in SF bicycle commuting grew 83% (us census), tons of bicycle/bicycle commuting blogs in existence, DZR shoes, Mission Workshop Rondel shoe, Chrome's new spd compatible shoe, Vittoria's leather classic, ... in other words, there is an opportunity here!)
The inspiration...
What originally sparked this topic for my thesis design project.I know it must feel better during the commute... but is this really what you want to wear with your business attire?
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