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Forthcoming Adidas Springblade Shows Benefits of Sneaker Design Industry

By Rain Noe - June 26, 2013

in Sneakers

Perhaps more so than with other design industries, we love seeing the kooky stuff that sneaker designers come up with. It's an industry backed by well-financed corporations that give designers access to all sorts of materials, a bit like the auto industry. But unlike the auto industry, sneakers are relatively short-lived products with retail prices in the hundreds, not the tens of thousands, so designers have more leeway to try crazy stuff; and if it doesn't stick, it'll wash away in a few more product cycles. That's good for experimentation and increasing the possibility of achieving some kind of radical breakthrough.

On August 1st Adidas will be releasing their $180 Springblade sneakers, which feature "individually tuned blades engineered to help propel runners forward with one of the most effective energy returns in the industry." These have to be the wildest-looking footwear design since Reebok's knobby ATV 19+. The Springblade's sixteen polymer fins, blades, flaps, whatever you want to call them, are meant to help turn downward force into forward motion, and Adidas' Innovation Team reportedly tested "hundreds of materials" to get the desired bounce.

Skeptics will devise reasons for why Springblades wouldn't work; we'd respond that we don't care. It's the experimentation and latitude afforded to designers that turns us on. What other design industry has such high visibility, accessibility, high-end production, and is willing to take such risks?

"For design inspiration, we drew upon everyday objects that deliver explosive energy return," says James Carnes, Adidas' Global Creative Director of Performance. "Everything from springboards to pole vaults and motorcycle suspensions." Those of us who've worked in the more staid branches of industrial design—package design, exhibit, consumer electronics, etc.—have also utilized unusual sources of inspiration, and watched as every last ounce of radicalness was squeezed out of it around a conference table. But the lucky bastards at a select few footwear companies have the freedom to let their imaginations literally run wild.

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Tom

11 years ago

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Word up, DJ.
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DJ

11 years ago

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Despite all the hateful and pointless comments on here, I think this is a very fun and clever exploration, and no boring podiatrist would even try to make it.

Most great designs weren't invented by "experts". They were made by the curious and naive. The Explorers.

Amputees with special "running legs" fabricated from hytrel were already shown to increase running speeds beyond normal human levels.

Sustainability IS very important - but that doesn't mean everybody should stop making interesting products.

Glad I'm not a shoe designer... seems everybody's an armchair expert!
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DI

11 years ago

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More Landfill!
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John Smith

11 years ago

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If you want to run faster, just train harder:)) We should be promoting our natural athletic abilities and human qualities (this can also make us more environmentally aware).

I like the "As Seen On TV" comparison and I'm already imagining the consumer that Adidas is attracting and I'm pretty sure they don't run. Maybe "Springblade" can convert a fast shuffle to the dinner table:)) into a few astonishing leaps..But then how do you stop all that forward motion charging into the kitchen?

I like that readers are becoming more critical, it stimulates thought and progress.

We are no longer living in the 80's and 90's, Shox, Bounce and the other mechanical cushioning for athletic performance is becoming played out. I know Zig Technology was a huge hit for Reebok..But lets face it shoe is not a car, so lets not continue living in the past and lets begin looking elsewhere for inspiration. Even the automotive industry is looking beyond shock absorption and engine performance towards digital applications.

There's nothing wrong with designing cool structural soles but I don't think they should still be the focal point of the shoe. Whats the big deal?

There are countless new avenues that can be explored and experimented with besides structural soles. Sure it takes more vision and determination because creating success from scratch is the hardest thing to do. But whats the point in not striving.

Nike attempted an alternative direction with their sustainable line. It wasn't a home run, but it was a new perspective and a great start to show that there are different ways to explore footwear technology. They also started the Nike+ and FuelBand technological direction.

Lets be more ambitious and look beyond the eyecandy to evolve design for a better world and healthy future.

So many established models in our culture are due for an overhaul..From the economic to the quality and ingredients of our food.

So don't be a sucker, keep it real and stay hungry.
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Jim

11 years ago

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While I applaud Addidas trying to design a shoe that takes the downward force of a running stock (which ends up absorbed in the knee and ankle) and tries to redirect that energy, I have to ask if they are trying to fix the wrong problem. Shouldn't they be trying to help people run properly, so that they aren't "pounding the pavement" and maximize their force used in a running movement that optimizes their forward momentum.

I agree with the poster that this does seem like really cool tech, and nice to see a company allow its designers to try to think a little more outside the box, but I don't think they're trying to solve the right problem with this shoe.
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Scoop3

11 years ago

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John Smith hit the nail on the head. All the companies and designers and that focus on gimmicks like this are in for a rude awaking. This is no different than an "As Seen On TV" product. A paradigm shift has occurred and if you are not working on creating sustainable products to address our dwindling resources, on top of giving the user a benefit, than you aren't doing anything innovative. Pretty things and gimmicks don't cut it anymore.
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Rob

11 years ago

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I would like to read about the design process that resulted in this shoe. It seems like this is a shoe that is only here to be a cool design, not solve a problem that the user has. I get the same feeling when I look at hub-less wheels.
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John Smith

11 years ago

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I wish more progress were made on providing and promoting environmental solutions instead of designs that make you run faster.

It feels like society is about to crash creating an environmental disaster and everyone is more interested in the styling of the car interior and innovative features of the on board sound system.

I wish we could focus more on design that matters and find a way to make it as compelling and profitable.
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Matt Clark

11 years ago

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I still don't care because nobody makes wider than a D width. Believe me if I wasn't an 8.5EEEEE I would wear dumb footwear.
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Aaron

11 years ago

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Just a reminder: Adidas owns Reebok.
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Luke

11 years ago

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You don't care that it wouldn't work? Ouch. It's no wonder we're seeing concepts like this, or those ATV shoes from Reebok.

Look, experimentation is one thing, but this is just voodoo. Not only will it not work, I will bet that we'll see and increase in running-related injuries if these torture devices should ever become popular.

As designers, it's our obligation to collaborate with the appropriate professionals (in this particular case, podiatrists and orthopedists), not pull high concepts out of our asses and proclaim it to be good design just because.
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db

11 years ago

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"individually tuned blades engineered to help propel runners forward with one of the most effective energy returns in the industry."

Ahhhh-bs-chooooo.

I'll believe when they publish a study with a posted methodology/data/conclusions. Until then, just marketing hype.

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