Senior Thesis :: TODDLER FOOTWEAR

Cool…thanks guys. I am definitely keeping that in mind with these surveys. Having also handed them out to several faculty members here in the department, I am keeping in mind that they are indeed designers, and I will be getting a different result from them when compared to the regular parents…which will be interesting to compare in the end i think.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading in this area, and have found some good information that is pushing me towards the two-part system i had mentioned…where an inner sock/bootie can allow safe barefoot walking around the house for the large majority of the time, and an outer shell, or “chassis” can be utilized for safe outdoor walking when necessary.

Here are some of the key findings that i’ve come across in my readings:

–Children with the healthiest and most supple feet are those who habitually go barefoot…studies of developing nations show that non-shoe-wearers have better flexibility and mobility, stronger feet, fewer deformities, and less complaints than those who wear shoes regularly.

–A high proportion of the world’s population walks barefoot most of the time, and the average person who walks barefoot has much healthier feet than the average person who wears shoes.

–The barefoot walker receives a continuous stream of information about the ground and about his own relationship to it, while a shod foot sleeps inside an unchanging environment. Sensations that are not used or listened to become decayed and atrophy.

–The majority of foot damage is preventable if parents take proper care of their children’s feet by allowing them to grow naturally - barefoot.

–A cross-sectional study suggests that shoe-wearing in early childhood is detrimental to the development of a normal or a high medial longitudinal arch. The susceptibility for flat foot among children who wear shoes is most evident if there is associated ligament laxity. We suggest that children should be encouraged to play unshod and that slippers and sandals are less harmful than closed-toe shoes.

–A baby who has just learned to walk takes around 176 steps a minute.

–Children’s feet can sweat up to half a pint of perspiration a day.

–Children take even more steps than adults each day - more than 18,000.

The comment in one survey about kids not knowing right from left? Ehh ehh?

Also a two part system might be cool but make sure to talk to some frazzled parents about whether they see a benefit in doubling the pieces involved in foot covering. My guess is that the added hassle of having four pieces to keep track of might outweigh the benefits.

Whats Phil going with for his thesis?

hey alex…haha…yea, i was really interested when i saw that comment too. I see what you’re saying with the four pieces…part of the design will be exploring loss-prevention aspects as well (that same questionnaire with that comment incorporated a blue-tooth component to make the phone beep if the kids go out of range haha, which inspired me to think about a quick-find option too) Phil is basically doing the opposite of my project, looking at work boots for asphalt paving.

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…

It isn’t that constructive criticism, but I love the characterisation with the eyes and the mouth, super clever and functionnal.

Thanks…yea, i’m looking at having that “mouth” be an elastic gusset for functional entry/exit purposes, and so that the shoe is “eating” the kid’s foot so to speak, in a playful, interactive manner. I have a presentation today, so i’ll be getting feedback there as well.

I came across these guys in some more market research too…sort of a sock/shoe hybrid:

I dunno how I feel about the shoe eating the kids foot. Might scare the bejesus out of the kid, and give him a complex for life…

For the sock thing,have you seen those (adult) socks that have a sort of rubberized print tread on the bottom? Usually something kinda cheesy like paw prints or something.



R

R - Yea, i think i’ve seen those around somewhere. People have also been referencing the Vibram Five Fingers when they see this concept as well.

Feedback was good from the presentation this afternoon…everyone took quite a bit of interest in the form and function within the interaction of the concept so far, and they aren’t really concerned with the “foot eating” action haha. However, the one comment deals with the gender of the child, as this concept seems to be geared more naturally towards boys rather than girls. So, I’ve been asked how this concept can be related to that female market…whether it be a chacterization change, material change, etc.

Rich- Just a heads up- “Cheesy” usually translates as cool in the world of toddlers :wink:

lol

Tony - thats exactly what one of my professor keeps stressing everytime I talk to him haha…

I’ve been getting more questionnaires back in the meantime…here are the parent’s designs. The first 2 are from my profesors in the department (yes, that first design is a high heel), and the third from a mother that did one for me - which is very interesting to see how she is considering form and function with the flowers.

I have also found these guys, called Pip Squeakers…they are toddler shoes with an air bladder in the sole, so that the shoes squeak with every step, exactly as a dog toy would. My niece actually has these…and while they are very functional for the parents, since they can tell where their kid is at all times, it is a love/hate relationship. My brother and his wife had to take the shoes away and hide them because the squeaking was driving them crazy after 5 minutes of use. However, it’s tough because the kids absolutely love them.

did your professor see this?

http://www.heelarious.com/stella.php

ick.

i don’t deal with kids even on monthly basis, so i have no idea what true needs in kids’ footwear are, but i would love to see a kid related project that a) doesn’t gender stereotype from infancy, b) doesn’t trun the product into a monster/animal.

Some exploration of the inner sock:

Some great exploration and thought process here no doubt.

My question is why is it all so complicated? These little guys aren’t running marathons.

If I where doing this I would focus on:

  1. ease of getting it on the buggers
  2. some way to keep them on, but still easy for parent to take them off
  3. comfort for the little guys (so they don’t want to take them off, can they feel good so kids want to keep them on?)
  4. life extension, the child will grow out of them far before the wear out. Can the stretch to fit? Can the be sized at SM M L XL ?
  5. style. The parent most likely doesn’t have the coin to get a lot of pairs. How can they go with different outfits? Can the parent print or iron on customized graphics…

Just some thoughts. You might have played with some of this already.I love that you are diving deep into this.

Thanks Yo - those aspects are the main part of my project…I posted the concept last week, and that most recent exploration post is looking at the inner sock component of this 2-part “system” I am looking at…

Here is what I posted last week, which you may have missed:


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.

These were the sketches in that post:

As a parent of a 16 month old I have to agree. Simple is better…and find a way to do em cheap! Babies are expensive enough and they grow out of shoes every other week. I think ease of gettin em on is my biggest issue. My wife is way better than I am. Thing is, kids that age don’t really help with getting their feet in so if you can make that easier that would be good.
My feeling is that shoes at that age (10 months-2/3yrs) should be comfy for the kid (they dont need more reasons to cry…trust me) and easy on the parents (meaning low cost and easy use). My daughter has been walking since about 9.5 months…does most of her walking at home w/o shoes. When we go somewhere she walks a little but mostly we still carry here cuz its hard to control where she goes and gets into…plus she isn’t as fast to keep up. So the shoes are actually used very minimally. Just my thoughts. good luck!

Presented on Wednesday and got some great feedback on the inner-sock component concepts…I pinned-up those exploratory sketches I had posted earlier. However, in the 10 free minutes I had before we started, I did these sketches, which gave way to the last sketch (footprint)…which ended up being the sketch that got everyone talking in my review:

People liked how I approached the grip configuration from a more technical, biomechanical standpoint in the earlier sketches, but stressed that this would probably fall on deaf ears to the parent consumer. Yea, the parents do care about non-slip surfaces, but they are also looking for that simple style and that “cuteness” or “cleverness” factor as well. My professors discussed how I am achieving both good grip and that “cute” style factor with that footprint concept, while the previous explorations fall short on that later aspect. So, with that said, I’m looking at having that inner sock be quite simple, with a sidewall overlay for some support.

The other main discussion revolved around this quick prototype concept for the over-shoe/chassis component: Using a toddler shoe from Walmart, I made some very simple modifications with strategic velcro applications. As illustrated in the pictures, the strap and tongue are cinched down, allowing the footwear to be “open” for much easier entry…so the tongue or strap don’t get smashed or crunched when trying to stuff the kid’s foot in. Definitely exploring this more and how it can be refined further. At the presentation, everyone saw this idea and thought the shoes had come like that, and were surprised when I told them it was just a modification I had done in a few minutes.

Looks like a cool project!

Have you talked to a pediatrician, or even better a pediatric podiatrist? Or a clerk at a childrens’ shoe store? Also, a tip for your crit- video these conversations!

With my tyke, the biggest thing with learning to walk is slipping or tripping, so the shoe should address that- I swear the earliest month or so is enough to cause cardiac arrest for a parent. The abilities change pretty quick too, ie toddling a step at a time, o walking, turning, running, jumping, etc.

Consider cold weather, hot weather- how does the shoe address those climates?

Also, how about orthotics for kids with developmental or genetic foot problems?

As for shoes, getting them on should be easy, and they should stay on until intended to come off. Not easy since the shoe is probably a little “Big” early and then a little “small” at the end…

Thanks…it’s always great to get some feedback from parent’s perspectives. With the specialists i’ve talked to, and the research that i’ve done, there really is no substitute for barefoot, or shoe-less walking in these early stages which is why my concept is utilizing the inner slipper sock component for that reason. Without shoes, the muscles of the foot can develop naturally and things like balance and control are constantly being worked on. As far as orthodics or any other correctional products, those are highly discouraged unless there is a real serious medical condition…otherwise they would do more harm than good in most cases…and kids tend to grow out of any kind of walking condition.

Here’s the exploratory concept sketch:

another quick sketch: