ABOUT
This project is focused on using artificial Intelligence to expedite and improve upon existing design methodologies in the performance running sector. For this project I imagined the future of Asics’ NovaBlast franchise, using AI to supplement the design process and generate new design insights.
DESIGN BRIEF
Propose the future of Asics’ newest hit franchise: Novablast, through groundbreaking design solutions that showcase a balance of modern sculptural form with performance enhancing functionality. Demonstrate mastery of materials and unexpected engineering and insight driven constructions through a creative design solution that falls within a price point of $140 at retail.
Design Objectives:
For this challenge, I wanted to capitalize on the design objectives of the NovaBlast franchise: improving on the existing trampoline design to bolster energy return from the midsole during step-through, light weight supportive design elements, and pushing the envelope on the shoes’ visual identity through a new and dramatic silhouette.
MaxBounce: Maximize the bouncy cushioned underfoot experience through intelligent geometry and unique tooling constructions.
Lightweight Support: Re-imagine supportive elements for an integrated light weight construction that doesn’t slow you down.
Push the Envelope: Our most unexpected fresh silhouette - visualize stylish, premium, and unexpected design solutions.
Visual Research (Iterative Product History):
Because the NovaBlast franchise has evolved over multiple iterations of the shoe, I started by researching how the form language has evolved over multiple releases. This allowed me to avoid moving backwards and gave me an idea of how to elevate the existing form language.
Research (Shoe Reviews):
To refine my design objectives and align them with my ChatGPT research, I read and watched a multitude of shoe reviews online. In particular, I referenced Kofuzi’s 100 mile shoe review of the NovaBlast3, and a Hes Kicks review of the NovaBlast3 on foot. The Kofuzi review was incredibly detailed, and focused on specific design shortcomings that I sought to improve upon in my design.
Research (Origami and Paper Tessellation in Compression):
The midsole of the NovaBlast franchise is clearly inspired by Origami. I researched several forms of paper tessellation looking for a tessellation that is strong under compression. I also hoped that learning about more complicated tessellation would inspire my design for the next iteration of the NovaBlast sole.
Research With ChatGPT:
I used AI as a means of expanding my inspiration as well as validating the importance of the design objectives.
I queried ChatGPT in a variety of ways. One way was to look for idiosyncrasies in the generated answers that might lead to insights. For example: Design a lightweight running shoe in the style of Asics. Next, I queried ChatGPT to design a shoe in the style of Phil Knight. Then I queried it to design in the style of Nike. After running several queries, I would compare the answers, looking for differences which would often lead to brand-specific insight.
Another method was asking the AI to expand upon the correlation between two lightly related items. For example: What are the similarities between ski rocker tech and running rocker tech? These queries often highlighted the similarities and generated a jumping-off point for further research.
Feet on the Ground - In-Store and On-Foot Research:
Seeing online vs in person are two different experiences. I wanted to learn more about the shoes firsthand.
I was able to try offerings from other brands to better understand how FFBlast+ stacks up against other energy midsoles. I was also curious to find out what the hype around rockered shoe technology was, and how it worked in application. Here are some of the shoes I observed from the store
Initial Sketches:
Here are my initial sketches inspired by my research.
AI Ideation:
I used Midjourney to further my ideation phase. I started by using generative prompts inspired by the insights gleaned from ChatGPT in the research phase. After I had collected a variety of different styles and ideas, I used the blend feature to blend generated Midjourney concepts together with existing Asics shoes. The blending was most successful when an existing shoe was blended with an abstract concept. For example, I asked Midjourney to imagine a tessellated shoe inspired by origami. Using one of the more abstract images it generated and combining it with existing Asics product allowed the software to apply the abstract ideas of form generated by the imagine prompt with the Asics platform. These blended renders generated some of the most successful content.
The following is a snippet from my ideation with Midjourney, followed with the renders themselves.
The initial design mirrored the amount of eyelets on a traditional Sk8 hi but offset to work with the lines of the shoe when it was fully laced. The final shoe was a development of this concept as I played with using both the original eyelets and a tracer lace looped through a second set of eyelets.
GALLERY
Here are a collection of photos of the final shoe, put into production in 2018 and recirculated multiple seasons in different colorups.
PRESS
The Sk8 Mid Ghillie Reissue (a whole mouthful of a name) garnered a lot of attention the following year, ti was picked up by skate accounts around the world and even written up by Mens Journal as one of the must-haves for the Fall/ Winter season.
LEGACY
It turns out that the Sk8-Mid Reissue Ghillie was popular! So much so that they gave it new colors for multiple seasons. Here are some of the colorups that have released since the original drop of Black, Beige Gum and Grey.
