duck low

abstract:

one of the most costly aspects of footwear design is arguably tooling—particularly for midsoles and outsoles. for small brands, this often becomes the largest barrier to creating an original silhouette while maintaining feasibility in both cost and timeline. beyond development, brands must also prove that projected revenue can amortize a full size run of tools. without careful consideration, this risk can result in excess dead stock and tooling that cannot adapt as a brand’s design language evolves. the duck low project was born directly from this predicament. while additive manufacturing offers compelling alternatives to traditional tooling, a fully 3D-printed rubber shoe can often fall short in both design and fit. what draws me to footwear design is the challenge of creating harmony across materials with differing properties—each contributing something distinct. there is a place for all forms of manufacturing in my work, but the role of design is to identify the strengths of each method, weave them together thoughtfully, and anchor them in both function and story.

the inspiration:

amphibious function printed TPE panels wrap up outsole

scribbles:

low profile silhouette deep lugged outsole fading duck boot ridges

lugged for stomping:

the midsole is designed to be rugged and secure, enveloping the toe box of the upper. this provides all terrain options + ventilation.

the tooling:

this design is a play on the iconic ridges of the duck boot, while offering a sleek and modern adaptation. the ridges transition into smooth surfaces which symbolize the balance of old and new design languages.

sample prototype:

after a traditional tape up and pattern drafting, i selected a balance of durable and breathable materials. i also integrated flat printed tpe panels to tie the midsole and upper together texturally.

final sample:

the duck low is built on a 3D printed TPE cup-sole with directional lugs for extra traction. the upper features thick suede, TPE panels and nylon webbing, with a spacer-mesh liner. walking the edge between technical and comfortable, the duck low is a perfect choice for an impromptu afternoon hike or a rainy day stroll.

duck low inspiration collage of footwear, plants and ridged formsduck low shoe sketches with side, top and sole studiesduck low sole models showing tread and surface developmentduck low sample shown from top, side and angled viewsduck low prototype construction and on-foot photosduck low finished sample held to show upper, heel and outsole

process

duck low digital sole model with ridged edge detail
duck low dark cup-sole model, angled top view
duck low hand-held outsole showing deep directional lugs
duck low white upper mockup fitted into a black cup-sole
duck low upper mockup with drawn panel lines
duck low laced upper mockup with green loops and a black ridged sole
duck low prototype held outdoors beside a railing
duck low upper mockup and sole on a desk beside a ruler
duck low paper upper patterns arranged on orange backing
duck low sewing-machine workspace beneath a staircase
duck low prototype and pattern pieces on a workshop table
duck low stacked grey and black cup-soles with ridged toes
duck low black prototype toe detail with ridged sole and green webbing
duck low dark sample shoe held above a workbench
duck low upper, sole and assembled sample on a workbench
duck low shoe samples and construction supplies on a workshop table
duck low dark sample beside tape and tools on a workbench
duck low sample viewed from above, showing green webbing and laces
duck low dark sample with green webbing, side view on a workbench
duck low dark sample held upright, showing toe and lacing
duck low dark sample held in side view in a workshop
duck low dark sample at an angle on a workbench
duck low sample with white material protruding from its collar
duck low sample held to show green loops and a ridged toe
duck low dark sample held at a front three-quarter angle
duck low dark sample held against a plain wall
duck low hand-held sample showing upper panels and lugged sole
duck low black upper and green cup-sole during assembly
duck low green outsole held to show directional tread
duck low green ridged toe and black upper detail
duck low green outsole edge and lug detail
duck low green-soled sample held in side view
duck low green-soled sample held upright at an angle
duck low outsole pressed by hand to show its flexibility
duck low finished sample held at a front three-quarter angle