// Protecting the vitality and mobility of those Aging in Place
Spring 2020*
Sōl aims to empower those aging in place by providing a footwear solution as stable as it is easy, as comfortable as it is capable, and as appropriate as it is stylish.
Sōl is making slippers that don’t slip-
because aging in place shouldn’t mean staying in place.
Pitchdeck Presentation + Final Concept Overview
This project is the outcome of a research oriented design class aimed at designing for death. It was our responsibility to familiarize ourselves with the subject, trends surrounding it, and trends beyond it. We were asked to get personal. I gravitated towards the activity decline some people experience in old age, seeing accessibility to footwear a hinderance.
The final design pictured above features a multitude of innovative concepts designed to improve the safety and performance of slippers. Starting with the front toe cap, multiple materials are used with specific properties designed to mitigate specific problems in navigating homes and elsewhere. An extended rubber toe guard provides grip and toe protection. An inner semi-rigid and frictionless plastic piece adds more protection and allows the foot to slide in potential tripping scenarios when walking up stairs, hence the lack of friction. Hidden beneath the translucent rubber and plastic is an LED light activated by tapping your toes in order to provide better visibility during night activity. Moving on to the sole, supportive wings of EVA foam imbedded with semi-rigid plastic cup the heel and begin to support the back of the heel. However, they remain flexible and with a large gap in the back to allow the foot to slide into the shoe as it would with any other slipper. To ensure the foot stays secured, a flex groove has been positioned just behind the ball of the foot so that the slipper does not create blisters or remove itself from the heel. Looking above the sole, the upper is designed in two pieces to ensure there is no friction and that anti-microbial fabric is in contact with all areas of the foot. The two pieces also have Velcro between them, allowing for proper adjustment of the fit. The outermost fabric has a flex groove towards the front of the foot to accommodate for foot swelling, wider feet, or orthopedic inserts. Which brings me to my last feature, inserts! This is the first and only true sleeper that features insole inserts, the likes of which can be customized and specified at the time of purchase. If you have doctor-prescribed orthopedic inserts, or prefer a different pair, you can also remove the existing insoles and put your own in. This is also great for maintaining clean shoes and extending the life of your slippers.
Final focus exploration
Complete Project Documentation
*This project was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of it was done remotely in quarantine with less resources and capabilities than I typically would have.