Brief: Sneaker design project for the Demix brand in the Fashion+Sport category.
Achievements: The project was completed as part of a term assignment, which led to a paid internship offer at Sportsmaster LLC.
As a result, I participated in the development of the following sneakers (SS26): Athlex Pure Flow and Demix Stronger Core.
Problem:
- Most sneakers on the market are either geared toward athletic performance at the expense of style, or they emphasize eye-catching design while sacrificing comfort—making it difficult to find a model that is both comfortable for your feet and suitable for various occasions.
Marta, 27, lives in a major city and works as a content manager: her day is a succession of meetings, walking routes between offices, coffee breaks on the go, and sudden weekend trips out of town.
For Marta, footwear is about balance: it is critically important that her sneakers are lightweight and comfortable; she is unwilling to sacrifice comfort for style, but she also doesn’t want to wear a «just sporty» pair.
Marta values understated aesthetics. When choosing, she looks for that fine line—sneakers that look modern, emphasize her individuality, yet remain a calm, confident foundation for her overall look.
Solution:* Design sneakers for DEMIX that feature a thoughtful, technological fit and soft cushioning to ensure lightness and comfort throughout the day. The design’s versatility is enhanced by concise, nature-inspired motifs (interpreted in patterns and details) and a restrained color palette.
Idea:
- The concept is built on contrast: tenderness within brutalist constructivism, fragility against a rigid structure. At its core is precise anatomical design and a soft gait—the design recreates the sensation of barefoot running. The outsoles are rendered in an outdoor-hiking style, providing reliable traction and expanding usage scenarios.
Inspiration is drawn from the graphic elements of nature—branches, stones, vines, leaf structures, and bird flight trajectories become the basis for unique patterns on the sneaker’s surface, thus forming the model’s customized aesthetic.
tags
*White classicism and its gradations / Versatility / Compositional graphic quality in bindings
Sketching
#FFFFFF — a sneaker design for the Demix brand, inspired by the white color code—symbolizing purity and versatility.
✢
The gentle, light hue of the sneakers, transformed into a rigid, constructivist form, creates a hyper-modern aesthetic that unites contradictions and contrasts.
These sneakers symbolize tenderness and strength in a single design, where soft lines harmonize perfectly with sharp forms.
07.2024–10.2024 / INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER / INTERN
SPARTMASTER LLC, MOSCOW
FOOTWEAR DESIGN AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT
Participation in the release of the Performance group sneakers (SS26):
Final model developments during the internship
Competencies:* Research and development of the visual design language for the Sportmaster group’s brands: Demix, Athlex
* Market analysis and trend board creation
* Development of concepts and design for new models
* CMF — Working with Pantone
* Creation of photorealistic product sketches and renders
* Development of technical documentation (Tech Pack) for new shoe models