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designer artist opsimath

Haymitch

St Stephen

El Camino, 2025

El Camino started as a shoe design project that has evolved to include some new technological experiments like 3D shoe printing, bio-manufacturing, and novel material recycling.

Putting about 7-8 miles per day on these bad boys every morning. So far they’re holding up just great. The lugs are quite tall, so they definitely perform best on the trails, preferably going up and down hill to maximize the benefits. They look junky-as, but learning a lot in them.

Putting about 7-8 miles per day on these bad boys every morning. So far they’re holding up just great. The lugs are quite tall, so they definitely perform best on the trails, preferably going up and down hill to maximize the benefits. They look junky-as, but learning a lot in them.

After a bunch of exploration with 3D printing, I switched gears to play around with hand making some one-of-one pairs. The first prototypes are far from perfect but I have been walking 8ish miles in them everyday for about a month now. The man bike tred does so much for tread, grip, and comfort. It throws the center of gravity off a bit, but I’m getting a lot of good info. If I can figure out a good pattern, I’m hoping to go to the local Trek bike shop and see if they have recycled tires I can take off their hands.

After a bunch of exploration with 3D printing, I switched gears to play around with hand making some one-of-one pairs. The first prototypes are far from perfect but I have been walking 8ish miles in them everyday for about a month now. The man bike tred does so much for tread, grip, and comfort. It throws the center of gravity off a bit, but I’m getting a lot of good info. If I can figure out a good pattern, I’m hoping to go to the local Trek bike shop and see if they have recycled tires I can take off their hands.

Timelapse of prototype printing with the Center for Medical Innovation at the U of U

Timelapse of prototype printing with the Center for Medical Innovation at the U of U

Trimming the prints from CMI. The overall size was too small. The supports printed on the inside were a bit of a chaotic mess. And the sole feels less than solid with the gyroid infill. But it’s super fun to have a physically printed model in hand to learn from and mess around with.

Trimming the prints from CMI. The overall size was too small. The supports printed on the inside were a bit of a chaotic mess. And the sole feels less than solid with the gyroid infill. But it’s super fun to have a physically printed model in hand to learn from and mess around with.

Playing around with some toe spacers to see what they feel like. One of the main inspiration for this project is to see if we can create a shoe that celebrates the natural wonders and abilities of the naked foot. Rehabbing after decades of modern shoes tales time though. Hopefully this will inform the design of our wide toe box.

Playing around with some toe spacers to see what they feel like. One of the main inspiration for this project is to see if we can create a shoe that celebrates the natural wonders and abilities of the naked foot. Rehabbing after decades of modern shoes tales time though. Hopefully this will inform the design of our wide toe box.

We’re all just cruising each other home.

We’re all just cruising each other home.

At home printing to glean whatever insights we could before punching the button with the commercial printer.

At home printing to glean whatever insights we could before punching the button with the commercial printer.

Figuring out print orientation

We’ve learned loads of things on this journey. When we first started sketching shoe silhouettes, we weren’t thinking of 3D printing. Now we are trying to sort out the support materials for printing overhangs, minimize costs of materials needed, and find printers large enough to print pairs at once.

Figuring out print orientation

We’ve learned loads of things on this journey. When we first started sketching shoe silhouettes, we weren’t thinking of 3D printing. Now we are trying to sort out the support materials for printing overhangs, minimize costs of materials needed, and find printers large enough to print pairs at once.

La Primera

the first model

La Primera

the first model

The Chakana, a.k.a. the Andean Cross

The 3D modeler we are working with in Argentina threw this symbol on the latest render without us telling him to. So we decided to keep it 🤘 Its symbolic meaning is ultimately unknown. The word means “bridge” in the Quechua language, and the shape is reminiscent of the mesoamerican pyramids.

The Chakana, a.k.a. the Andean Cross

The 3D modeler we are working with in Argentina threw this symbol on the latest render without us telling him to. So we decided to keep it 🤘 Its symbolic meaning is ultimately unknown. The word means “bridge” in the Quechua language, and the shape is reminiscent of the mesoamerican pyramids.

Sorting the three stripes issues. New version on top.

Sorting the three stripes issues. New version on top.

The search for color inspo for the first prototypes

Utah is rich in lichen, some of which is thousands of years old according to the national park service website. Finding the right TPU for printing in these same colors will be a challenge.

The search for color inspo for the first prototypes

Utah is rich in lichen, some of which is thousands of years old according to the national park service website. Finding the right TPU for printing in these same colors will be a challenge.

Started the final silhouette refinements for the first prototype model. What do you think?

For us it was feeling too Adidas-y. So we started reworking the three strip motif

Started the final silhouette refinements for the first prototype model. What do you think?

For us it was feeling too Adidas-y. So we started reworking the three strip motif

Trying some lug variations

Lugs are common feature of modern trails shoes. But these felt more like cleats or football boots than running shoes

Trying some lug variations

Lugs are common feature of modern trails shoes. But these felt more like cleats or football boots than running shoes

Making tweaks

Making tweaks

Dove into 3D modeling

Found a designer in Argentina to help

Dove into 3D modeling

Found a designer in Argentina to help

Started trying to sketch my own design.

Like thousands of creators before me, the struggle to find the thing I want to exist is motivating me to try and make it myself.

After seeing what 3D print tech is capable of, the shoe-making process can go from several years down to several months. And TPU seems to promise the possibility of a fully recyclable shoe.

Started trying to sketch my own design.

Like thousands of creators before me, the struggle to find the thing I want to exist is motivating me to try and make it myself.

After seeing what 3D print tech is capable of, the shoe-making process can go from several years down to several months. And TPU seems to promise the possibility of a fully recyclable shoe.

Messing around with different cushioning materials. Cork. Sawdust. Glue. Even reached out to a mushroom manufacturer @ecovative Wondering if there might be way to create a replaceable sole from natural materials, minimizing waste from uppers. Or possibly grow an entire shoe from mycelium. A group in California sent me a 3D printed model that is really interesting…

Messing around with different cushioning materials. Cork. Sawdust. Glue. Even reached out to a mushroom manufacturer @ecovative Wondering if there might be way to create a replaceable sole from natural materials, minimizing waste from uppers. Or possibly grow an entire shoe from mycelium. A group in California sent me a 3D printed model that is really interesting…

Messing around with different cushioning materials. Cork. Sawdust. Glue. Even reached out to a mushroom manufacturer @ecovative

Wondering if there might be way to create a replaceable sole from natural materials, minimizing waste from uppers. Or possibly grow an entire shoe from mycelium…

Messing around with different cushioning materials. Cork. Sawdust. Glue. Even reached out to a mushroom manufacturer @ecovative

Wondering if there might be way to create a replaceable sole from natural materials, minimizing waste from uppers. Or possibly grow an entire shoe from mycelium…

Crocs have been great for road running, but not for the trails. The Crosslite EVA is too squishy, and therefore susceptible to punctures. I tried to reinforce the sole with some spare cork but it didn’t adhere very well. Run testing to follow.

I’m really thinking about creating my own shoe at this point, which would essentially function like a trail-worthy croc.

Crocs have been great for road running, but not for the trails. The Crosslite EVA is too squishy, and therefore susceptible to punctures. I tried to reinforce the sole with some spare cork but it didn’t adhere very well. Run testing to follow.

I’m really thinking about creating my own shoe at this point, which would essentially function like a trail-worthy croc.

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