Student's sneaker design attracts Nike's attention

Chen Yun-chen, a student of the National Cheng Kung University majoring in Industrial Design, is negotiating a possible deal from Nike for his innovative “wear-resistant shoe sole” design. Chen developed this blueprint during his study as an exchange student at the College of Creative Studies in the U.S.

During his first semester, he was among the students that cooperated with Nike in a plan to design basketball sneakers.

After interviewing numerous basketball players on creating better sneakers, he realized one of their biggest concerns surrounded the durability of sneaker soles. Chen reported that when many basketball players engage in long periods of intense training, their sneaker soles wear out easily and frequently.

As soon as the sole wears out, the players need to replace their shoes with a brand-new pair.

This new “wear-resistant shoe sole” design incorporates the idea of an invisible sole hidden within the original shoe sole. Using an eraser as a model for the shoe sole, he rubbed the eraser from every possible angle for an entire week. During the process, he discovered that by implanting extra small holes within the sole, when the original sole wears out, the shoe can still retain its grip as the weathered surface of the sole will still be uneven, preventing the sneakers from skidding.

Moreover, as the shoe sole wears out, the Nike mark will appear on the rear of the sole. Chen hopes this mark can signify the perseverance of the players; the more they play, the more visible the Nike mark appears.

Chen is in the process of obtaining a patent for his design and will be formally negotiating a deal with Nike. It was reported that several sneaker-makers from China are also planning to fight over this unique design.

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