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design.edu

Footloose - adjustable high heels

By Aart van Bezooijen - February 9, 2007

Recently, Marte den Hollander has been recognized as 'Best Graduate 2006' at the Faculty of Industrial Design (TU Delft). We share the compliments for her project Footloose, a high-heeled shoe that turns into a low-heel version with a simple switch.

Enjoy the (brand new) Virtual Shoe Museum for Footloose and more shoe fetish - or continue reading after the jump. "The high-heeled shoe is a classic example of a no pain, no gain product. Women wearing them take so much trouble for granted! I decided to challenge this compromise. Would it be possible to make a shoe having all advantages of high heels, just as well as the comfort of flats?

I designed a shoe with a high heel, which can be changed into a shoe with a low heel. No more extra pairs of shoes in your bag, no more trouble driving a car or walking stairs, no more painful feet, no more knee and ankle damageâ€¦

For such a product to be a serious alternative for regular heels it has to be mechanically and ergonomically sound, and moreover: it has to have allure!

The character of this shoe is in the heel shape. It has separate tips for both positions. While being used in one position, the other heel tip is kept out of sight in and opening in the sole. The shoe is being transformed with a simple and quick movement: one just pulls the heel downwards to release it, after which it can be folded in or out as preferred. The adjustment of the heel position automatically changes the curvature of the sole to fit the altered shape of the foot. This mechanism has been patented."

Aart van Bezooijen

Aart van Bezooijen is a Dutch optimist and motivator for materials in design. He lives and works in Hamburg where he founded Material Stories (2005) to inspire and enable the best use of materials to make design more competitive, creative and sustainable.

2011 he explored sustainable solutions from around the world during the "It's Not Easy Being Green" project with graphic designer Paula Raché. He co-organized the Materials Café exhibitions at the Hannover Messe in Germany, the world's leading trade fair for industrial technology. Since 2012, he works as Professor for Material and Technology Transfer at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle growing a new materials library.

17 Comments

Paulin

10 years ago

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Hey all.
Love the shoe concept!

I saw another shoe concept that where really interesting. This guy, Kenny Wong had designed for a competition in Hong Kong. There f***ing amazing. He won like a bunch of prizes for the ones called SUIT UP!..
Take a look:
www.kennywong.se and click on footwear...

Laters :)
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Diaz

10 years ago

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When will the ultimate high heels appear?
Today's technology calls for a high heel in the 5 inch range, with no apparent shoesole in the middle foot section, leaving the foot sole of its wearer fully visible from a rear view standpoint.
The new design could be either a high- pump or a sandal, with a case hardened steel rod in the middle foot section, hooding the heel portion and the toe part of the high heel shoe in its place. The foot sole actually wouldn't have to touch the steelrod, since all weight is carried by the toes and partly the heel, on those 5-6 inch high heels. In this case the entire foot sole of the middle foot section would be exposed.
Another design could provide a window cut into this portion of a high heel pump. There, the remaining shoe sole should be as thin-, and the window as large as possible, leaving just enough sole material necessary to bear the weight of the wearer.
For example, a thin sheet metal made of titan would do the job.
Such a pair of high heels should cost some money and should only be worn by females with feet and soles to show for!
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sally

11 years ago

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I came up with the complete the same idea I even did drawings and everything then I show my friend that just got back from America and told me the they have already invented them so im bummed

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Tracy

11 years ago

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I love it! walking the streets of New York these would really come in handy. I love reading your blog, keep up the the good work.
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Stacy

11 years ago

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I must be really old-fashioned. I just don't get this shoe. Is there a finished, realistic version out there?
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marlene

11 years ago

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I'd like to be the one to test this concept...sounds great, only if it allows for cushioning in the sole.
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Taylor

11 years ago

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Looks like crap! Would never want to buy a so called multi purpose shoe. Takes all the fun out of going shoe shopping!
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Linda

11 years ago

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How can this be possible when the arch of the shoe needs to adjust to customers foot? This doesn't look comfortable to me. I personally wouldn't buy it. I want variety.
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mariela

11 years ago

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UGLY! How can you be concerned with looks (wearing high heels) and still pick an ugly adjustable one? Terrible taste in my opinion...
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Sanna

11 years ago

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How high heel must be heel turn right?
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mike

11 years ago

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he took this idea from Sophie Cox look here http://www.gizmag.com/go/2534/
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Layla

12 years ago

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I love this...I had to check the date wasn't April 1st...why has it taken so long to make this?, I think its great. How Much?
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Morgan

12 years ago

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I also designed this last year for my senior studio course. The only difference is that my shoe converted from a sneaker to a high heel.
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brunel

12 years ago

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yes this is very close to an Audi award winning design by a female design student at Brunel university 3 years ago while i was studying there, she was the year above me.... i guess it's maybe a zeitgeist thing?
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awilliam

12 years ago

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I thought another designer has done something similar...
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anthony

12 years ago

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I designed this two years ago!!1
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Mary Fitzgerald

12 years ago

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This looks great!! Where can I buy a pair?
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