Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, however with time they’ve now turned into style statements, a representation of our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits! However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes! From Nike-inspired minimal trendy shoes to watercolor sneakers – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Averted Vision

Defined by its cushioned design and minimalist profile, Averted Vision is practical and trendy. The cushioned soles take up around half of the shoe’s side profiles, providing ample bounce for playing without gravity. Conceptualized without shoelaces, Averted Vision could benefit from textile technology to form-fit around the wearer’s feet for a snug, comfy fit. The silhouette of the shoe seems to be inspired by designs of today, like Yeezy Foam Runners and Boosts. These days, it sometimes feels like we’re a stone’s throw away from life on Mars, so it’s not surprising that designers tapped into the future are influenced by the trends of today.

2. The Watercolor Sneakers

Controlled organic forms and patterns inspired the Watercolor Sneakers. The designer mentioned this pair was an exercise on surface modeling, visualization, and CMF exploration. It’s only a concept, but we want the design to go into production and the sneaker market. The pair is no Nike or Adidas, but the brand can consider the design. It doesn’t feature any shoelace as it’s a slip-on. The upper appears to be something similar to the Charles Birshaw Modular Mule. There is a separate tongue, but the shoe collars are like Nike’s Flyknit.

3. UV-Zhu’s Collection

Has the designer UV-Zhu gone overboard with the footwear? You’d be forgiven to think in the affirmative. To put things in the designer’s perspective, UV-Zhu is seasoned in toiling with everyday objects to ‘fashion’ them in outlooks that aren’t everyday fashion. And this is aptly reflected in the footwear collection at hand. The silhouettes with puffy soles and spongy uppers may just have you gliding in them the moment you happen to step in, but would you?

4. The Feebees Sock Sneakers

The Feebees Sock Sneakers are considered sustainable now because they take advantage of a recycling system that turns old shoes into new ones. However, the journey to the final version hasn’t been easy as there have been several stages of development. Here comes the adult version from the original sock shoes for the kids—finally arriving after a decade. The Feebees Sock Sneakers can improve your running position. It can also help with your balance and maintain the elasticity of your calves. The sneakers are mainly for running, but they are also ideal for outdoor activities, walking, workout, or everyday use. Each pair gives you the feeling of barefoot walking, which has a lot of benefits.

5. The Stela Basic

This pair is set in black but looks more like charcoal. There’s a bit of matte finish for a bit of elegance. However, the entire design of the pair makes the shoes more decorative. It’s more for making a statement than for comfort. The Black Monolith in space inspired SCRY founder Zixiong Wei. You can’t miss the futuristic vibe as it’s something you can imagine floating in space. Someday, when the earthlings can visit Mars or whatever planet, the Stela Basic can be the pair you bring. You may not need comfortable shoes there because you may be floating, but at least you can be stylish for it.

6. NASA-inspired football shoes

Wouldn’t you want to see a Messi vs Ronaldo match-up on the moon to settle who’s the GOAT once and for all? Sure, they would either be wearing space suits or be literally flying around while trying to kick the ball, but wouldn’t that be fun to watch? Well since that is still pretty far into the future (we might get Ronaldo and Messi’s children playing by that time), having a space-themed and futuristic design for football cleats is the next best thing. The question on the designer’s mind is what if NASA started making football boots. What he came up with are futuristic-looking designs inspired by the moon and space but are also minimalistic in their aesthetic. It uses basic colors like white, blue, red, and silver, adding an outer space sheen to the boots.

7. The Poseidon

Designed as a part of the #lacelesschallenge organized by Laceless Design, the Poseidon takes inspiration from the ocean and the variety of creatures that live in it, and expresses the language of the marine in the form of a lifestyle sneaker. In borrowing from the ocean’s vast library of visual inspiration, the Poseidon does look otherworldly, almost like it’s from a different planet altogether.

8. Earth Moc

Designed as a passion project, Daniel Shirkey’s Earth Moc was created as a potential recovery shoe for hikers. Shirley’s prime objective was to figure out how one single material could fulfill every aspect of a shoe’s experience from its flexibility to comfort while giving your feet the support they need after a tough hike. Shirley’s design even comes with treads on its underside that additionally allow you to do some light hiking, giving the right amount of traction required on moderately uneven surfaces and dirt paths.

9. The Rainforest Walk

The Rainforest Walk is a pair of sneakers that lets you enjoy walking in a more natural way, like walking in a rainforest. The design has been imagined to compliment the natural functions of the body. The style of the shoes follows the pattern and visuals from a natural source. The idea of walking barefoot isn’t the only reason for the design. It mimics the natural form of the foot of muscles—like the roots of a tree crawling along with the earth. The shoe starts with a custom anatomical build and is then covered with different patterns that appear to be hugging the foot.

10. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes

Once you’ve set foot on Mars, it may be nice to wear something cool and durable like the 38%_2101 Running Shoes for MARS. The pair is based on the Y-3 running shoes and looks very futuristic. The designer decided to go for the Y-3 because the brand has a futuristic vision. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars appear to be out of this world, but the pair is also something we can still wear on Earth. The designer’s process included several other inspirations like aerospace equipment and minimal color units and a few items with sharp shapes.

The post Innovative + inventive sneaker designs that are the future of footwear first appeared on Yanko Design.

Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, however with time they’ve now turned into style statements, a representation of our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits! However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes! From a Nike Bubble Max concept sneakers to 3D printed sneakers that will leave you feeling like Bigfoot – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Nike Bubble Max

From the Nike Air Max series, sneakerheads may someday start their Nike Bubble Max collection. Of course, it still is a concept but like most unique designs from the brand, this will sell. But then again, the same pair will be hated by people with trypophobia (fear of clusters of bumps or holes). The image renders show an upper with a dotted pattern that looks and we’re guessing feels like scales. It could be something similar to what was used on the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 “Grinch” Protro. The large Swoosh with Bubble Max written on the side appears to be painted. The tongue area simply shows a split in the middle where the sock liner is exposed. The liner extends above the ankle, giving a high-top illusion. When it comes to real function, walking on the Nike Bubble Max may feel like you’re walking on the clouds.

2. The Cryptide Sneaker

The Cryptide Sneaker was designed by Stephan Henrich for Sintratec. The German architect and designer came up with a pair of full 3D shoes meant to be laser sintered with a flexible TPE material. Using a Sintratec S2 System 3D printer, the shoes were formed and printed. The Cryptide features a sole with an open design. The designer said it was made possible by SLS production (Selective Laser Sintering) and a material called Sintratec TPE elastomer. Simply put, SLS is additive manufacturing that takes advantage of a laser to sinter particles into a more solid 3D structure. Henrich and Sintratec worked together to bring the sneaker design into reality.

3. The Parametriks Print 001 sneaker

The Parametriks Print 001 sneaker makes clever use of design and material sciences to create a sneaker that’s comfortable, stylish, and easy to manufacture. Sort of like how crocks just use one material that’s injection-molded into the shape of a shoe, the Print 001 relies on 3D printing to fabricate its design… which was arrived at by using parametric algorithms. The shoe/sneaker uses a rather intriguing triangular mesh matrix that warps right around the wearer’s foot, fitting it perfectly thanks to the shoe’s bespoke design. Made from TPU, the shoe is about as flexible as a pair of Crocs, while looking infinitely cooler and offering a level of breathability and flexibility that’s unmatched.

4. Conceptual Tesla football shoes

Former designer at Nike and Adidas, Hussain Almossawi, found himself asking a question. As a Tesla enthusiast, what if the company with its resources, creativity, and incredibly wealthy CEO, decided to go beyond sports cars and design sports apparel instead? The conceptual Tesla Football Shoes combine Hussain’s love for football and for the Tesla brand into one positively radiant pair of performance sportswear. The shoes come in pristine white, with electroluminescent fabric woven into the sides and back, creating bright lines on the side, leading to a glowing, pulsating Tesla logo at the back. Moreover, the studs on the base of the shoes glow too, making them look exceptional in the dark but even more so when you’re dribbling away with the ball, creating one of the most beautiful light streaks as you run!

5. Nike Air Force 1 with removable swoosh carabiner

This Air Force 1 Low comes with a removable Swoosh-shaped carabiner fastened over the rubber Swoosh on its lateral. The interesting catch here, for an outdoorsy in you, is that the carabiner is of no more use than being used as a keychain hanging from a loop of your jeans. The metal EDC on the Swoosh is removable, but the labeling on it suggests, it can only bear a kg of weight (roughly 2 pounds). So, if you were thinking of strapping out a carabiner from your shoe and begin your excursion on a vertical rock, turn back!

6. The Razer Cariuma Sneakers

The Razer Cariuma Sneakers’ upper and lining are made of organic cotton canvas. The sole uses a slip-resistant natural rubber. You can choose from either the black or white insole. For added comfort, the insole features memory foam and mamona oil bio-based cork insert which is a signature Cariuma feature. The shoelaces on either the low or high version are made with recycled plastic, passing through those debossed metal aglets. Like most pairs from Cariuma, the sneakers’ construction is handmade vulcanized with a fully stitched outsole.

7. The Hana Sneakers

Inspired by the 90s with references to the navy look, the sustainable shoes express the ironic and dynamic style of ID.EIGHT. The contrast between the upper in white recycled polyester and the AppleSkin details in shades of red and blue create a mix of contemporary and light colors. They use four materials derived from apples, grapes, seeds, and pineapples. Piñatex , made with the waste leaves of pineapple grown in the Philippines; Vegea , obtained from the bio-polymerization of marc in Italy; AppleSkin , obtained from the bio-polymerization of apple peels and cores always in Italy. It features lycra and recycled mesh for inserts on the upper, sole, laces, and the label is also made of recycled materials.

8. Monumental Mallow

When American fashion designer Matthew M. Williams joined Givenchy as its Creative Director in June 2020, he started introducing different designs that appear futuristic. The most popular from a recent collection is the Monumental Mallow which now comes in all red. The red sneaker is ready in two iterations: matte and glossy. The slip-on sneakers look sleek and simple in matte, giving off a subtle and minimal look. The glossy variant, on the other hand, looks shocking and loud.

9. Element O

Element 0 is altering how shoes are designed and manufactured by making sustainability just as important as comfort. This means re-engineering the shoe’s materials in a way that benefits your feet as well as the environment. Element 0’s sneakers sport a unisex design built from both naturally sourced as well as recycled materials (the company is even transparent about where and how they source their materials). The shoes rest on an outsole that’s made from rubber as well as recycled cork, quite literally putting a spring in your step; while an insole crafted from a combination of wool, corn-fiber, wood, and natural latex gives your foot a comfortable surface to rest on that’s also water-absorbent and anti-odor.

10. Adidas Air Jordans

Designer Thomas Le decided to take a stab at creating conceptual Adidas Air Jordans. The Adidas Air Jordans sport a very contemporary space-inspired aesthetic, tipping their hat not only at the progress we’ve made with space travel over the past few years but also sort of giving a nod to Jordan’s 1996 film Space Jam. Built with the classic Boost outsoles and their bubbly texture, the Adidas Air Jordans outsoles extend all the way to the back of the heel. The lifestyle sneaker also opts for a laceless design, with elastic fasteners on each side, along with an outer body that’s been knit to hug your feet for a secure fit. They’ve been rendered in three colors, for now… an astronaut-ish white, a space-gray, and a coral-white-black combination that feels like a contemporary take on the original Air Jordans color scheme.

The post Futuristic footwear designed to give you the ultimate fashionably ergonomic design first appeared on Yanko Design.