Modular shoes for refugee camps
Nomad shoes adjust to four different sizes by sliding off the heel and choosing the appropriate lot. This simplifies the distribution process within refugee camps and provides a more desirable alternative to donated shoes.
The recyclable packaging can be used to measure the owner’s feet to ensure the correct fit, eliminating confusion between UK and EU sizes.
Role
Researcher/ Industrial Designer
Final project for
BA Industrial Design, Loughborough University
Date
2017
Understanding the problem
After reading articles about the migrant crisis and conditions in Calais refugee camps, I learned that there was a real problem with the quality of footwear of those living in migrant camps. The average journey the migrants had made before arriving in the camp was 50 days, and many only had worn or broken shoes or flip-flops.
I contacted volunteers from the British Red Cross and Help Refugees to find out more. I learned they were collecting donated shoes, but these were time-consuming to distribute as they had to assess whether they were of good enough quality at a distribution hub, then each migrant had to try them on to make sure they fit. There was often a disparity between UK and EU sizes, so queues for donated shoes were often long and if there weren't enough or they weren't the correct size, this caused tension between the migrants and the volunteers. Black size 8 trainers were the most popular.
I mapped out the interactions of both the migrant receiving shoes, and the volunteer distributing shoes (above). There were 5 points at which the migrants and volunteers interacted, and the back and fourth of trying on shoes to find the correct fit meant these interactions were often tense.
I then mapped out an ideal scenario, where if the volunteer were able to give the migrant a pair of shoes that fitted the first time, they would have a simpler process and a less stressful experience. The first interaction would be giving the shoes out, and the second would be collecting the recyclable packaging.
Defining the brief
Adjustable
The shoe should adjust from a UK 7-10, with 8 being the most popular size. It should be assembled by the wearer in situ to fit their own feet.
Affordable
If they are to be purchased by charities to distribute to those in need, the shoes must be as cheap as possible.
Desirable
Many of the migrants in refugee camps are there because they have fled physical danger in their home countries. Receiving donated shoes can feel demeaning so I wanted to design something they would feel comfortable wearing
Durable and weatherproof
Conditions in the camp can be wet, muddy and cold, so should use materials that are insulating and easy to clean
Learning how to make shoes
I didn't have any prior experience in footwear design, so I visited the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University, where experts working with Adidas gave me advice on where to start and lent me a last around which I could mould the upper of the shoe. They also gave me some sample shoes that I deconstructed to learn how shoe soles are formed. The experts were a great help and gave their feedback and guidance throughout my design process to make sure the shoe was feasible.
I consulted a textile expert and we decided that the most robust way of attaching the upper to the sole was with adhesives, which meant that the upper had to expand and contract with the different sole sizes.
Prototype, Test, 3D Print
I designed and tested numerous prototypes made from cardboard, foam, laser-cut plastic and deconstructed old shoes until I had a solution that was viable. The sole had to be strong enough to hold the weight of the wearer, be flexible in the middle to allow for the bending of the shoe, and also house the size adjustment mechanism.
I modelled the components in CAD and then 3D printed them. While the main sole components would be made from foam if this were to be manufactured commercially, I used plastic for this model as it was easier to source.
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