consulting portfolio
free innovation scan Are you interested to find out what you best opportunities for innovation are? Then let us conduct a free innovation scan! It only takes one day and some preparation time. We will ask you and your management team to fill out a questionnaire, then two of our expert consultants will come to your company for personal interviews and brainstorming sessions. You end the day with an innovation roadmap that shows quick wins and long-term opportunities. The scan is suitable for companies of all sizes, so for start-ups as well as established companies.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
timberland innovation scan We also do large scale innovation scans - these are not free though - involving multiple teams and departments. Over the years we have developed a highly effective method that combines blue sky thinking with realistic contraints and leads to an innovation timeline with clear goals that can actually be implemented. Innovation scans can also be organized around specific subject, like we did recently for Timberland’s HQ and innovation center. We can not talk about the subject - we work with strict NDAs - but the pictures show how engaged everyone is in the process and a glimpse of the timeline.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
atomlab robotic factory Atom is one of Italy’s leading footwear machinery manufacturers and recently they have set up a lab to test possibilities for robotic footwear production. They approached us because they were looking for an institute that knows how to design for automation. The Footwearists student Eva Klabalová graduated for them with an ongoing project for Atom that involves designing the workflow and footwear styles for a robotic production line that uses ABB’s Yumi robot and an Ultimaker 3D printing farm to create custom shoes that can be ordered on a virtual online platform.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
ultimaker beta testing We are one of the absolute pioneers in 3D printing for footwear, especially when it comes to flexible materials. This has led leading printing company Ultimaker to ask us to beta test their new machines. We can not actually show you those machines here, since they are not on the market yet, but we can show you how we are pushing the boundaries of 3D printing. We are printing shoes that are directly wearable, make 3D printed materials by printing directly on textiles and even over wearable technology. We also test print farming (manufacturing) applications.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
nimco 3d printing outsoles Nimco is one of Europe’s leading orthopedic footwear manufacturers. Recently they opened a new factory in Portugal and one of their goals is to start 3D printing outsoles for orthopedic footwear there. For this they have chosen to use The Footwearists’ unique talent development program, meaning that they sponsored an experienced student to carry out this project as part of our Professional Footwear Innovation program. Nimco chose Kat Scott, a designer with 3d printing experience who is now assisting to implement a 3d printing farm to print wearable orthopedic outsoles.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
vivo barefoot 3d printing Vivo Barefoot is a barefoot running brand owned by Clarks Footwear. They sponsored anthropology and biomechanics PhD student Catherine Willems with a project to determine why indigenous footwear with little or no support resulted in less injury than western footwear. The eventual goal was to apply the findings in the collection. We was approached to develop a 3D printed modern version of the classic Indian kolhapuri leather sandals. Footwearists graduate RenĂŠ Medel created an ingenious system that has the various parts click together without using any glue.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
wearable 3d printed shoes Every year for ‘Budget Day’ the Dutch ministers dress to impress. In 2015 we were asked to collaborate with TU Eindhoven in designing an outfit for Jet Bussemaker, the minister of Education. She wanted to show high tech expertise in her attire. So we scanned her feet and legs and 3d printed a high wedge that fitted her like a glove. Because we made the shoe in flexible material it cost more than 100 hours to print... per shoe! The project was a collaboration between Footwearists and Troy Nachtigall, Pauline van Dongen and Leonie Tenthof van Noorden of TU Eindhoven.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
illumi nightwalkers Two years ago we were approached by two businessmen with no experience in footwear yet a desire to create the most sophisticated led shoes ever. They had already developed a lighting system with an industrial designer and Footwearists student Leon Witherow - who is now a designer at Nike’s HQ in Portland - created the brand concept for his graduation, including designs, tech packs and a system to integrate the lighting and its operating system. Currently another alumnus, Eva Klabalovå, is finishing the final patterns and the shoes will be released in the coming year.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
emma circular safety shoe We are currently creating a fully circular safety shoe for Emma Safety Footwear, a renowned brand of safety footwear for a wide variety of industries that require different safety standards. Circular does not simply mean recyclable; it demands that all components are biodegradable or continually recyclable and easy to disassemble. And in this case the shoes also still need to meet all safety requirements. This is a long term project of several years and we can not reveal very much about it yet, but it will redefine how safety footwear is designed and manufactured.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
gst no-waste car seat Footwearists graduate Ruben Lekkerkerker is now working as one of our freelance consultants. For his graduation he developed the no-waste sneaker brand RUIT footwear. He designed the shoes starting from the pattern, creating panels like a puzzle, leaving no cutting waste at all. When GST Autoleather, the biggest car leather producer in the world, came to visit us, they saw his project and they were immediately inspired. In collaboration with Ruben and GST we are not trying to translate this concept to the car industry, creating a no-waste car seat.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
cat new target market We also consult on marketing and branding. CAT Footwear is a global footwear brand and part of Wolverine World Wide. We was asked to help reposition the brand in order to attract a more fashionable audience in Europe and the United States that would help improve the brand image. We analyzed the sales figures and the brand history and defined two related target groups, one for boots and one for streetwear/sneaker hybrids. We successfully suggested designs, store presentation and promotion options that took the brand heritage to a new level.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
ceen online rebranding
before rebranding
before rebranding
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
We also have a branch in China and we have come to know the Chinese domestic market very well. CEEN is a very popular online men’s brand, but like a typical Chinese brand they only sold a mish mash of items. We taught their team how to improve the brand image by helping them discover who their core consumers are, how to restructure their existing collection into clear style groups and how to present these in a visually attractive and consistent way that will eventually also be appealing to a western audience. It resulted in a 200% sales growth!
view 2 footwear forecasts The Footwearists creative director, Nicoline van Enter, is a worldrenowned footwear forecaster and she has been making forecasts for leading trend magazine View2 for several years now, and since a few years with made these with our team. Last year was the 10th anniversary of View2 and we have been involved since the very beginning. We is known for our broad perspective, translating developments in society, culture and technology to footwear, and this clearly shows in the work for View2. Recently we even added our own 3d printed shoe designs!
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
pantone colour forecast For a number of years we were asked to provide colour forecasts for the footwear industry by Pantone. We created seasonal stories and developed colour and material palettes with that, meant for a broad range of companies. This kind of work is no longer our core business, but because we have been involved in this kind of global fashion forecasting for many years, we can now translate innovative ideas and technologies to commercial products that are on trend.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
stahl roadmap to 2025 Stahl is the global expert in leather and performance coatings and dyes for the footwear, interior and automotive industries. The Footwearists perform all kinds of forecasting and R&D projects for them. For instance, we created a roadmap to 2025, showing what the most important long-term developments are for footwear, interior and automotive and how to anticipate on them. We can show you a few images from the presentation we gave, but we can not disclose the practical roadmap that stipulates which detailed actions Stahl should take.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
stahl forecast SS 2017 Stahl is the global expert in leather and performance coatings and dyes for the footwear, interior and automotive industries. We provide material forecasts for their performance coatings department, combining fashion information with functional and sustainable developments. Based upon this forecast their material designers develop new material coatings for the luxury fashion and sports performance segments. It is also used to help design the catalogue. Here you see some examples for Spring/Summer 2017, including the final catalogue.
the footwearists - innovation consulting projects
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