Onitsuka Tiger

Step into the heart of footwear innovation at PENSOLE Academy, a renowned institution in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2010 by industry luminary D’Wayne Edwards, PENSOLE boasts a legacy of impactful collaborations with iconic brands. Rooted in a mission to empower the footwear industry, PENSOLE's immersive "learn by doing" curriculum, coupled with a distinguished faculty and extensive partnerships, forms a nexus of innovation and education. Since 2014, PENSOLE and Foot Locker have fostered a deep partnership, culminating in the annual "Fueling the Future of Footwear" master class design competition. This collaborative effort underscores a shared commitment to shaping the future leaders of design and business in the dynamic field of footwear. Join us in this journey where innovation converges with education, forging the path forward in the realm of footwear.

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Problem

The "Fueling the Future of Footwear" competition presents a design challenge for 18 participating students from Pensole Academy. The central objective is to secure approval and production opportunities for their designs by industry giants Asics and Foot Locker. The participants are divided into six teams, each consisting of three members, tasked with the dual challenge of redesigning the Asics Gel Lyte III and creating an original design. The competition is rigorously evaluated across various dimensions, including design, engineering, materials, and business planning. The selection of the winning team, crucial for securing the production and approval of the designs, is be carried out by a panel of representatives spanning different sectors within the footwear industry. This esteemed panel includes professionals from both Foot Locker and Asics. To acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding achievements in the competition, the triumphant team is awarded a $12,000 scholarship. The overarching problem addressed by this design project is how to successfully navigate and excel in a multifaceted competition, ensuring not only design innovation but also alignment with industry standards for approval and production.

Solution

In addressing the design project for the upcoming ASICS product release, our solution revolves around embracing the brand mantra, "Sound mind, sound body." The narrative unfolds around the immersive convergence of conflicting tides, symbolizing the harmonious union of mind and body. My design theme conveys the idea that optimal performance emerges when the mind and body achieve equilibrium, exceeding expectations. This synergy is depicted through a thoughtfully curated palette of colors, materials, and finishes that evoke a sense of balance, resilience, and vitality. The footwear designs reflect this theme by seamlessly incorporating performance-enhancing features alongside aesthetic elements aligned with the ASICS philosophy. Each color concept visually represents the harmonious fusion of contrasting elements, emphasizing that the right mindset, position, and sneaker converge to enhance performance. In summary, my design solution is a meticulously crafted theme that aligns both visually and conceptually with ASICS' core values. Through a deliberate selection of colors, materials, and finishes, our aim is to bring to life the narrative of harmonizing conflicting tides, symbolizing the empowering unity of mind and body, and ultimately elevating the overall product release. This finally led to winning the 2nd prize in the design competiton emerging out of 6 teams.

Problem

The "Fueling the Future of Footwear" competition presents a design challenge for 18 participating students from Pensole Academy. The central objective is to secure approval and production opportunities for their designs by industry giants Asics and Foot Locker. The participants are divided into six teams, each consisting of three members, tasked with the dual challenge of redesigning the Asics Gel Lyte III and creating an original design. The competition is rigorously evaluated across various dimensions, including design, engineering, materials, and business planning. The selection of the winning team, crucial for securing the production and approval of the designs, is be carried out by a panel of representatives spanning different sectors within the footwear industry. This esteemed panel includes professionals from both Foot Locker and Asics. To acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding achievements in the competition, the triumphant team is awarded a $12,000 scholarship. The overarching problem addressed by this design project is how to successfully navigate and excel in a multifaceted competition, ensuring not only design innovation but also alignment with industry standards for approval and production.

Solution

In addressing the design project for the upcoming ASICS product release, our solution revolves around embracing the brand mantra, "Sound mind, sound body." The narrative unfolds around the immersive convergence of conflicting tides, symbolizing the harmonious union of mind and body. My design theme conveys the idea that optimal performance emerges when the mind and body achieve equilibrium, exceeding expectations. This synergy is depicted through a thoughtfully curated palette of colors, materials, and finishes that evoke a sense of balance, resilience, and vitality. The footwear designs reflect this theme by seamlessly incorporating performance-enhancing features alongside aesthetic elements aligned with the ASICS philosophy. Each color concept visually represents the harmonious fusion of contrasting elements, emphasizing that the right mindset, position, and sneaker converge to enhance performance. In summary, my design solution is a meticulously crafted theme that aligns both visually and conceptually with ASICS' core values. Through a deliberate selection of colors, materials, and finishes, our aim is to bring to life the narrative of harmonizing conflicting tides, symbolizing the empowering unity of mind and body, and ultimately elevating the overall product release. This finally led to winning the 2nd prize in the design competiton emerging out of 6 teams.

Problem

The "Fueling the Future of Footwear" competition presents a design challenge for 18 participating students from Pensole Academy. The central objective is to secure approval and production opportunities for their designs by industry giants Asics and Foot Locker. The participants are divided into six teams, each consisting of three members, tasked with the dual challenge of redesigning the Asics Gel Lyte III and creating an original design. The competition is rigorously evaluated across various dimensions, including design, engineering, materials, and business planning. The selection of the winning team, crucial for securing the production and approval of the designs, is be carried out by a panel of representatives spanning different sectors within the footwear industry. This esteemed panel includes professionals from both Foot Locker and Asics. To acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding achievements in the competition, the triumphant team is awarded a $12,000 scholarship. The overarching problem addressed by this design project is how to successfully navigate and excel in a multifaceted competition, ensuring not only design innovation but also alignment with industry standards for approval and production.

Solution

In addressing the design project for the upcoming ASICS product release, our solution revolves around embracing the brand mantra, "Sound mind, sound body." The narrative unfolds around the immersive convergence of conflicting tides, symbolizing the harmonious union of mind and body. My design theme conveys the idea that optimal performance emerges when the mind and body achieve equilibrium, exceeding expectations. This synergy is depicted through a thoughtfully curated palette of colors, materials, and finishes that evoke a sense of balance, resilience, and vitality. The footwear designs reflect this theme by seamlessly incorporating performance-enhancing features alongside aesthetic elements aligned with the ASICS philosophy. Each color concept visually represents the harmonious fusion of contrasting elements, emphasizing that the right mindset, position, and sneaker converge to enhance performance. In summary, my design solution is a meticulously crafted theme that aligns both visually and conceptually with ASICS' core values. Through a deliberate selection of colors, materials, and finishes, our aim is to bring to life the narrative of harmonizing conflicting tides, symbolizing the empowering unity of mind and body, and ultimately elevating the overall product release. This finally led to winning the 2nd prize in the design competiton emerging out of 6 teams.

Problem

The "Fueling the Future of Footwear" competition presents a design challenge for 18 participating students from Pensole Academy. The central objective is to secure approval and production opportunities for their designs by industry giants Asics and Foot Locker. The participants are divided into six teams, each consisting of three members, tasked with the dual challenge of redesigning the Asics Gel Lyte III and creating an original design. The competition is rigorously evaluated across various dimensions, including design, engineering, materials, and business planning. The selection of the winning team, crucial for securing the production and approval of the designs, is be carried out by a panel of representatives spanning different sectors within the footwear industry. This esteemed panel includes professionals from both Foot Locker and Asics. To acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding achievements in the competition, the triumphant team is awarded a $12,000 scholarship. The overarching problem addressed by this design project is how to successfully navigate and excel in a multifaceted competition, ensuring not only design innovation but also alignment with industry standards for approval and production.

Solution

In addressing the design project for the upcoming ASICS product release, our solution revolves around embracing the brand mantra, "Sound mind, sound body." The narrative unfolds around the immersive convergence of conflicting tides, symbolizing the harmonious union of mind and body. My design theme conveys the idea that optimal performance emerges when the mind and body achieve equilibrium, exceeding expectations. This synergy is depicted through a thoughtfully curated palette of colors, materials, and finishes that evoke a sense of balance, resilience, and vitality. The footwear designs reflect this theme by seamlessly incorporating performance-enhancing features alongside aesthetic elements aligned with the ASICS philosophy. Each color concept visually represents the harmonious fusion of contrasting elements, emphasizing that the right mindset, position, and sneaker converge to enhance performance. In summary, my design solution is a meticulously crafted theme that aligns both visually and conceptually with ASICS' core values. Through a deliberate selection of colors, materials, and finishes, our aim is to bring to life the narrative of harmonizing conflicting tides, symbolizing the empowering unity of mind and body, and ultimately elevating the overall product release. This finally led to winning the 2nd prize in the design competiton emerging out of 6 teams.