#6) PEAK Basketball Design Concept

Designer: Titus Ares

Shoe name: PEAK LOOT (Lights Out OverTime)

Design description: The inspiration and motivation behind the PEAK LOOT was the transition from performance to casual, and containing it within the same shoe.

With interchangeable insoles, the PEAK LOOT can provide high-performance cushioning during the intense games and workouts, and moments later, provide a soft, gel-infused ride for the nights when you’re the last one in the gym, shooting 500 jump shots and 1000 free throws. The PEAK LOOT acknowledges that performance-type cushioning may not always be what is wanted, and that sometimes, a gentler and more comfortable ride is needed.

The sockliner drops right into a hollowed out midsole, which is made of recycled rubber. It is held in place by nubs, which protrude from the sockliner and are aligned with holes in the midsole. The performance-based sockliner is comprised of a combination of stiff EVA and PU, with a layer of memory foam on top, while the comfort sockliner is made of a softer EVA and a layer of gel-based liner on top. The color of the nubs, which can be seen from outside the shoe, will indicate what type of ride you have inside the shoe. The red nubs indicate the performance-based sockliner is being used, and the blue nubs, which glow in the dark, are meant to represent the “cool down” part of the day.

In addition to an interchangeable sockliner system, the PEAK LOOT also provides a custom system of support through Cordura straps which wrap up and around from under the foot and hold it in place at key locations. At the heel, the straps can be adjusted via a Velcro strap. The straps provide a lock-down and tied-in feel, and also act as structural integrity for an otherwise minimalistic upper.

In order to keep the shoe light, the upper is made from a combination of materials layered together to help create something light, stable and breathable. The external layer is made of light spacer mesh. Underneath the spacer mesh is a layer of moisture wicking material that also acts as padding. The forefoot is made of tumbled leather, which is meant to protect the toes from impact. At the rear of the shoe, hidden in between the spacer mesh and moisture wicking material, is a plastic heel counter to keep cup the foot and keep it secured.

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Design feedback by Brett Golliff:

Titus had very good sketches and great exploration. The strongest portion of his design was his material usage. He was one of the few designers to really describe what he was thinking in that area.

To me what is lacking is the aesthetic. It is very literal and doesn’t seem current, the styling just isn’t as progressive as the technology he is trying to create. I understand the functionality of the lines but I think they could have been achieved in a much more unique way. I actually think the transparent view you show on page two is much more compelling then the final outcome.

Design feedback by Trung Tran:

I like how the straps come out through the upper and cinches everything around the foot. Titus also visually expressed that by blocking the straps and parts of the midsole with the same color. He did a good job of thinking about materials and exploring ways to physically lock the midsoles with the shell. What is that hole in the inner bootie? It seems out of place and redundant because there already is a pull tab.

The reasoning behind the comfort insole is somewhat thin. I can appreciate the versatility of having different midsoles, but I can’t justify the need for one midsole to go all out in and another one to do light shooting. Would a player, really take off his shoes after practice, switch midsoles and go back to shoot free throws? Having a midsole for casual and one for performance is a not a bad idea, but the way he expressed it and justified it was a bit confusing.