#HTE

The Best of Footwear Design in 2017 

Our list of the top twelve footwear stories from 2017 includes everything from sneaker sketches to the adidas Futurecraft 4D to the Flyknit sports bra. We’re already wondering what curious designs will be brought to the table next year.

Tom Sachs collaborated with Nike for the second edition of the Mars Yard shoe, proving that failure in the design process can lead to future success.

Netflix’s Art of Design series put designers at the forefront of everyone’s attention this year. We reviewed the Footwear episode, which followed around one of our design idols, Tinker Hatfield. 

adidas made everyone’s heads turn when they collaborated with Carbon for their Futurecraft 4Ds. The midsole is 3d printed using Carbon’s “Digital Light Synthesis” process, where it emerges from a bath of liquid thanks to light and oxygen.

Brooklyn-based company Storelli released a unique insole design that features a tab in the back and a material that eliminates slippage, even when socks are wet. 

Nike came up with this badass reverse-parachute closure for the ACG.07.KMTRs.

One of our favorite reader submitted projects this year: Ki Oriental’s Ki Ecobe shoes require self-assembly and are designed to eliminate sweatshops. No glue required in the manufacturing process!

This one-handed shoe tying system is genius for both the able-bodied and the disabled.

This video on how Sneakers are made had us questioning the sustainability of our most beloved kicks.

Nike’s FENOM Flyknit Sports Bra showed the world the power of clothing made from performance footwear materials.

Michael DiTullo showed us the key to sketching shoes as part of our Yo! C77 Sketch Series.

Speaking of sketching shoes, we put together a roundup of our favorite shoe sketches found on Coroflot.

It turns out, modern footwear designs actually force us to walk backwards. Looks like footwear designers have a new challenge to address in 2018…

*****

More of the best of 2017:

2017 Best of Furniture Design

Our Favorite Transportation Stories from 2017

2017 Best of Transforming Furniture