Exhibit A

Spring/Summer 2021

CONVERGENCE

info person.jpg — EXHIBIT A

I’m fascinated by the unavoidable convergence of humans and technology. What will it look like when data and human organics begin to fuse together? Or artificial intelligence and artistic expression?
In SS21 I began to formulate these thoughts in a project called Exhibit A. The objective was to design a basketball shoe for the elite AAU athletes and teams who are evolving to play a position-less game.

First painting sold at public auction created by AI

INCORPORATING SPORT DATA - ARAMIS

FUTURE METHODS OF MAKE TO ASPIRE TO

In the future we may use liquids and spray materials to build support and layering, so I was inspired to recreate this visual sense through colors and lines that blend together.

DATA IN MOTION

As I began my research, I was inspired by recent advancements in how computers and AI are more and more incorporated into art and design experimentation. We are beginning to see their digital hands in motion.

NATURAL MOTION

EXPLORE

Initial gestural sketches to capture some of the visual motion I think computers will be able to achieve in the future.

CONNECTING COLOR TO LAYERING AND SUPPORT

Trying something unexpected by trapping an aglet under the TPU film which would later become a form of branding.

COLOR EXPERIMENTING

I tested out my color theory by using a single blue color of flow mold, but in varying depths/thicknesses. This gave me what I was hoping for, variations of hues that were controllable, but could also give imperfect and unexpected results.

vacuum forming some components in between sketching.

Exploring different design languages that I imagine could be manufacturable in the future.

PROCESS

In the makers lab, I explored offset layers of TPU that would lockout stretch meshes, creating dynamic areas of support. This also allowed for lots of fun explorations from color gradients, to different film treatments.

COLOR THEORY AND EXECUTION IDEAS

MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT

I created some material trials with the help of my CAM team. We experimented with 3D structures of support.

FEEDBACK AND COST CONSIDERATIONS

Due to cost and executional challenges, I simplified the TPU layering and tooling form. Based on team discussion, I went with direction 1 and distilled it as much as possible. The TPU heel clip was meant to provide lightweight support, and to appear as if it’s fluidly blending the upper and midsole.

DIRECTION 1

I started to refine the exploration around 2 directions. The first was to look at overlapping TPU films to create more support/locking stretch. This was also meant to give way to new color applications by mixing tints/hues of films.