So I was thinking about this system and did these quick sketches…
I’m exploring how these two components can really interact with eachother in a way to enhance the child and parent experience with the footwear. So here’s a rundown of what was going through my head:
–Simple inner bootie/sock with a grip configuration that allows safe shoe-less walking around the house environment…on all surfaces like hardwood floors, tile, etc. I definitely want the grips to be as minimal as possible so that they don’t compromise the natural feel for the ground, especially when placed in the outer shell/chassis.
–Adding subtle characteristic details to the bootie (like the eye detail on heel) so that it creates a unique interaction with the outer chassis…so the chassis is a “character” like a dinosaur, fish, etc…and when the bootie and chassis are together, this character “comes to life” so to speak…so like the eye on the bootie corresponds to the negative area on the chassis, which is also beneficial because i see this functioning as a “visual fit system” for the parent, indicating that the footwear is on correctly and the fit is right, which is often difficult. Also thinking that the bootie can be easily reversible, offering a different aesthetic for the kids to choose…giving them the independence and creativity that a lot of the parents have been hitting on in the questionnaires.
–Finally, looking at the bigger picture in terms of footwear replacement as kids feet grow rapidly at these ages: exploring the idea of having this footwear system be purchased in a “pack”…where the parents go to the store, buy this system which will include the inner bootie sock, the outer chassis(in increasing sizes), and extra bootie socks (which can also be purchased separately). So for example the pack contains chassis sizes 1 through 4 in increasing increments, and the “character” of the shoe matures as the size increases, allowing the footwear to “grow” with the kid, making it more dynamic and creating an emotional connection. This will also save the parents the time and money of going back and forth to the store in the long run.
Overall, also thinking about how this can influence that actual process of how parents get the shoes on the kids feet…this can open new doors and make this “chore” a more interactive, fun experience for both.
Curious for some feedback, questions, comments etc…