BAREFOOT HERO: A BIOMECHANICS WORKSHOP ON GAIT, GROUND SURFACES AND FOOTWEAR
Students project (2018) United Kingdom / Belgium During a two-day workshop at Liverpool University, students from Fashion KASK, Gent and MA Footwear London College of Fashion explored the relationship between gait and surface. After learning about the biomechanics of feet and footwear at the Gait Lab in Liverpool, the students translated their knowledge into the design of a floor tile of choice with a corresponding outer sole. They explored here is the relationship between form and function in a conceptual way. From a biomechanical point of view, good proprioception is needed as input for the body to adjust to different positions and surfaces, and to control balance and stability.
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The results include tiles: —That massage the feet. —That show a hot stone foot artefact. —That produce sounds. —That invite the user to leave traces. —That evoke urban play. —As a tool to stretch arches inspired by dancers. —As mats of waste material with a cleaning device. The project is a collaboration between Fashion Department KASK, School of Arts, Gent (Catherine Willems), MA Footwear London College of Fashion (Eelko Moorer), and the University of Liverpool (Kristiaan D’Août, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences).
3. THE EXHIBITION