Men’s/Unisex Footwear
A range of footwear focused on pushing the envelope of what consumers understand as a classic shoe. For this, the brand’s design language was blended with innovative market influences.
A range of footwear focused on pushing the envelope of what consumers understand as a classic shoe. For this, the brand’s design language was blended with innovative market influences.
EVA classic
Using a lightweight EVA midsole on classic chelsea boot was the idea that inspired the whole collection. The outsole was successfully reused for a range of classic footwear styles.
Base
Several design concepts were created to convey this idea. Originally intending to make a rubber outsole, there was a logical shift to lightweight EVA; which is seen more widely in sports and performance sneakers.
Target
The idea was to bring classic silhouettes to the active world, through minimalist design. Blending sporty materials of the outsole with classic upper styles.
Market
The shoe was met with success, and well received by customers. After high demand for the sneaker, the brand introduced more styles on this base, ranging from chelsea boots, to wingtips and minimalist loafers.
Unisex Low-top sneaker
An everyday sneaker for the metropolitan consumer, following the simple silhouette of Common Projects, Adidas Superstar, and Nike Blazers.
Design
This shoe reflects the casual lifestyle of young millennials living in the city. Always on the move and ever-changing.
Direction
Style was a product of designing with two very different directions in mind; A low-top city shoe, and a rugged high-top sneaker. The two ideas were met in the middle with a design solution that incorporated the UN logo in minimal fashion.
Low-top
Inspired by the Classic Stan Smith silhouette, the minimal design incorporated the UN design with pyramid texturing on the outsole.
The last
The shape of the last had a narrow toe similar to dress shoes, with minimal branding stitched on a nylon heel tab.
Colors
While basic color combinations were chosen for the first round of production, monochromatic pastel colors followed.
High-top
Research showed rising interest in high-tops, so the sole was made to appear more rugged, similar construction to boots.
Detailing
Addded striped texture on the outsole, suede shoelace border, with a zipper and heeltab for easy pull-on.
Market
Customers responded positively to the release. Even though it did not seem to carry too much of the brand’s design language, the subtle geometry and upper details quietly revealed the brand’s DNA, which resonated with the customers.
Role
Design
Credits
Creative direction, design lead — Rem D Koolhaas
Designers — Marla Marchant, Sangmin Park, Dor Chen, Anat Meshulam
Designers — Marla Marchant, Sangmin Park, Dor Chen, Anat Meshulam
