Customized Footwear Selection by Height, Mesh, and Sole Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for customizing footwear lack the ability to efficiently allow users to select specific height, upper mesh spacing, and sole density variations, resulting in limited customization options and exclusivity in designs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a customization system that uses a computing platform to allow users to select from a variety of article types based on different heights, upper mesh spacing sizes, and sole densities, enabling the creation of customized footwear with specific characteristics through a graphical interface, while also implementing a system to ensure exclusivity by limiting production quantities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a computing platform with graphical interface is implemented to allow user selection of footwear characteristics, then customization options and user personalization are improved, but device complexity and system requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A computing platform with graphical interface acts as an intermediary between the user and the manufacturing system. The platform receives user selections for footwear characteristics (height, mesh spacing, sole density) and translates them into manufacturing instructions, thereby improving customization options while managing system complexity through a dedicated software layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables customization by allowing users to select from predefined ranges of parameters including height, upper mesh spacing size, and sole density. These parameter variations create distinct article types without requiring complete redesign of the manufacturing system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If production quantities are limited to maintain exclusivity of customized footwear, then product uniqueness and perceived value are improved, but productivity and total output decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different production quantity limits to different article types based on their customization characteristics. Highly customized articles with unique parameter combinations receive lower production limits to maintain exclusivity, while articles with more common characteristics can have higher production volumes, thereby balancing productivity with exclusivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple variable article characteristics with ranges of values are provided for selection, then customization precision and product differentiation are improved, but information processing requirements and user selection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The customization process is segmented into distinct characteristic categories (height, upper mesh spacing, sole density, etc.), each with its own set of selectable values. This segmentation allows the system to process information in manageable chunks rather than presenting all parameters simultaneously, reducing information overload while maintaining precise customization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method may include the steps of selecting a family of article types, selecting a customized article type, manufacturing an article of footwear with the customized article type and shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. The customized article type can be configured with a user selected characteristic. The method can also include limiting the number of article types displayed to a user at any time.