Aba-Shoe Last Redesign

An industry-wide complaint

In 2018 I was invited alongside other Nigerian makers, hardware developers and designers to collaborate and help solve pressing challenges within the Nigerian shoe-making industry.

One of the key challenges reported was itching on the heels of users of Nigerian-made shoes. Our research identified that one of the causes was the shoe-last design. We redesigned the shoe-last to better suit Nigerian foot anatomy and eliminate the discomfort.

After completing the project, I modelled these sneakers in Fusion 360 using the results from the shoe-last redesign. It was my first time modelling a shoe in Fusion 360, and I was pleased with the outcome.

Process

Research and problem identification

Conducted user interviews and market research to identify the specific pain points with existing shoe-last designs. Found that improper heel curvature was causing friction and irritation.

Anatomical analysis

Studied foot anatomy and pressure points to understand where adjustments were needed, focusing on heel contour and arch support.

Prototyping

Created multiple iterations of the shoe-last design, testing each version for comfort and manufacturability.

Final design

Developed a shoe-last that maintained structural integrity while providing better ergonomic support, eliminating the itching issue.