F1: Unlocking Footwear Fit with Big data
DECEMBER 8 - 10:30 - 13:30
@Distrito digital, alicante
instructor: ales jurca
In this workshop, Ales Jurca will open the hood on the world’s richest dataset of over 36 million 3D foot scans connected to purchases. Participants will learn:
- How Volumental’s data is built and analyzed in collaboration with global retailers and brands
- The analytical methods developed over two decades of research
- Key insights into foot shapes, toe-box design, and fit across regions and brands.
- Practical ways footwear companies can use this knowledge to design better-fitting shoes for their markets.
Attendees will leave with a data-driven understanding of how consumer foot shape translates into footwear design choices—and how to leverage these insights to reduce returns, boost comfort, and build lasting customer loyalty.
About your instructor:
Ales Jurca, VP of Footwear Research at Volumental, has spent over 20 years pioneering the use of 3D foot scanning to improve footwear design. He’s been the main author or co-author of more than 10 scientific journal and conference papers on foot shapes and footwear fit. His landmark Nature - Scientific Reports paper on 1.2 million foot scans is one of the most widely cited works in the field, and his insights are used by leading brands including Adidas, Mizuno, Hoka, ON, Skechers, and Red Wing.
F2: Building a Custom Last with SubD
DECEMBER 8 - 15:30 - 19:30
@Distrito digital, alicante
instructor: rene medel
The second workshop of the day is a perfect match: starting from the foot scan you made in the morning, you will learn a fast and logical workflow to create a personalized last, so you can make a well fitting shoe.
If you simply shape a shoe design around the scan without adjustments, chances are that you still have an ill-fitting shoe that your foot slips out of.
In this workshop you will work with the subD modeling functions of Rhino 8. Ideally you already have a basic understanding of Rhino and you will need to have the software installed. You will be working on your own laptop (Mac or PC) and you will need a mouse.
Attendees will leave with a (3D-printable) digital last that is made to their foot scan and they will have the knowledge to repeat that same process for other customers. This is an ideal course for shoe designers, as well as orthopaedic shoemakers.
About your instructor:
René Medel combines his expert knowledge of innovative digital footwear manufacturing with decades of experience in computational design. You will not find a more knowledgeable and patient instructor on this particular subject, so take this chance while it is available. This workshop is in-person, not online, so everyone can get a lot of individual attention. This workshop is in English, but René is bilingual and happy to answer questions in Spanish.
DECEMBER 9 - 12 - 10:00 - 18:00
@footwearology lab, alicante
instructor: lorenzo masini
In the next four days we will teach you how to use your custom shoe last to make a modular shoe that you can customize in both aesthetics and functionality. For instance, you can determine where you want the shoe to be stiffer for support, where it should be more bouncy for extra cushioning and how each part will look in terms of volume and texture.
You will do that with our very own Grasshopper master, Lorenzo Masini. This workshop will show you a bunch of different Grasshopper definitions and how to combine them for the result you have in mind.
You will leave with a fully 3D-printable shoe, customized for you, and the knowledge of how to create parametric systems for footwear customization that can be suitable for both sports, fashion and medical footwear.
You will need to have Rhino 8 installed. This course is at intermediate level, since it requires a basic level of knowledge of both Rhino and Grasshopper. This is a masterclass for digital designers that want to take their parametric design skills to a higher level.
About your instructor:
Lorenzo Masini is our most senior instructor in computational design, specializing in generative design systems using Grasshopper. He has a broad background in a variety of fields, from interior and industrial design to footwear, including a masters degree in robotic manufacturing, so he will approach shoe design in a holistic way, looking at both aesthetics, functionality and fabrication.
