Cinderel・la

Taking the tale of the cinderella as a reference, that a shoe is one of the most singular elements of design, anatomically speaking. This project aims to design a methodology not only to design an element that is compatible to the wearer, biologically speaking, as it is beneficial to its microenvironment. let alone the formal customisation of size and shape.

The shoe is one a hardworking elements of apparel, its is also the layer that frictions constantly with the external realm of the human anatomy. It handles the height of the wearer and the grip of the surface. It also is a deep concentration of heat, bacteria, funguses ad every other residue from the world we live in.

The initial process is mainly digital, from 3d drawing to printing, iteration after iteration. The positive of the shoe is transfered into a negative casting of silicone. As an archival element and a fidelity artifact between the project and the person it is designed form.

The formal shape took two aspects into account: Its biodegradability and compatibility with organic matter, and its appeal to the human eye.

The biodebradability and Compatability were explored with testing bioresins and composites, avoiding its contamination with polimers that would not only compromise it being composted as it would harm the microbiome of the feet.

As mamals, the human body sweats to cool off, but the origin of smell comes from diferent deviations from its behaviors, normally connected with the surface in direct touch with the section. Artificial fibers and composites set an unbalanced environment for the microbiome, leading to different skin conditions.

For this first prototype or proof of concept, and taking into account this year research of Narratives of a Symborg — focused specifically on designing in terms of the microenvironment instead on social or cultural codes — Scoby and gelatine are the key ingredients to these experiments. As a reflection of past cognitive orgies, the refining of recipes into desirable effected was essencial for the wellbeing of the artifacts. For instance, The scoby panels are a result of a pulp, from scraps out of a local production of kombucha. Investing in the circularity of matter. Later, different experiences with gelatine forms and flax fillings were tested are the core structure of the shoes, delivering two different settings for the palm of the foot.

Cristal Shoe in the making:

As the shape got defined, using fusion 360 and Bambu printer A1. the preparation for the casting took the following steps:

1. Insulating the PLA with epoxy resin. — As the PLA inacts the hardening of the silicone.

2. Prepare a container, leak proof and easy to unmold. — a reclaimed cardboard box showed to be efficient, as the box was cutted to use the least possible of silicone. to that the silicone is not wasted just to fill a perfect scare, the leftover were used to redefine the configuration of the cast.

2 Litters of silicone were used, for one shoe. This one has a 3 hour work time and 14 hours of drying. Blend the silicone with the activator half by half a litter. To make sure it is well blended. This casting process took one hour.

Now that we have a cast for future shoes and composite configurations. The first prototype is made with gelatine foam/resin as the base of the shoe.

The Base — Gelatine Foam/Resin Recipe from Fab Lab

This proportions are respective to one shoe:

Water: 952ml, boil it and mix the ingredients in the pan;

Gelatine: 714g;

Glicerine: 238g.

Before filling the mold, take 1/3. This will be for foam by blending it and adding 25g of soap. This softer foam, that with be in direct friction with the foot anatomy goes to a tray, fill it up to 1cm. The other 2/3 are ready to fill the mold of the shoe base.

after one week, they were uncasted, still mid-way of drying but already solid, looking like:

compiling them together in this half baked moment, also allows them to join them together.

Later seen in the final result, the foal was overlapped with a scoby sheet, soaked and cured in glycerin for active intervention in the palm of the feet.

This separation is important in case of contamination, the whole shoe will not be discarded when the upper part can be recovered.

The first case study of the Narrative was a SCOBY patch treatment for athletes foot, a 15 day, 15 minutes a day treatment. Showing concrete results of soothing the skin. Therefore, this shoe technology demonstrates how an artifact can be designed based on exclusive needs and priorized a full custom approach on a chemical and biological level. This shoe is not from cinderella because it only fits one person, but because after use it will become part of someones microbiome.

After exploring different reals of the skin, the face, the genitalia... Feet made perfect sense in other to cover specific conditions on each section and its daily constraints or necessities. And as the Cognitive Contribution Label suggests, this project is executed taking living experiences into account. Even tho the sample is 9 sizes smaller than me, its methodology will allow me to produce a based on demand production knowledge where someone is irrelevent when each measurement is made intentionally. from person to person, from the left foot to the right.

Technology Note

3d printing was used for passive development and multitasking.

No AI was used in the making of this project.

Crafting, hands on, lab work were the protagonists. Efficiency in computing time was important.