The idea that AI will be making real footwear that you as a consumer can wear in reality seemed far from a possibility a couple years ago, yet it is now here. We were exploring the idea of developing this project months back and first began by doing research on all the various AI designed footwear projects that hit mainstream culture.
Commercial Viability Was Always The Mission
We specifically had one major thought in mind, did any of these AI designed shoes become commercially viable, part of mainstream discourse, and something that was in the the realm of affordability for the average consumer to purchase and wear. After an extensive search, we were unable to find this so set out to build the future of AI designed footwear!
It started with an idea from Yosef Weiss, brother of Syntilay CEO, Ben Weiss, who when spending time with Ben mentioned how AI and shoes should be going together much more and haven't yet, so suggested Ben should make that happen. Once Ben heard the idea, he thought it was great, but needed to understand what exactly that meant. AI shoes were closer to becoming a reality.
Conceptual Vs Reality Is A Big Difference
AI shoes sounded like a nice idea conceptually, but it needed to be an idea we could implement at Syntilay and bring to consumers worldwide. So Ben ideated, what if we can make a shoe designed with AI? As having a shoe that you can wear made by AI was not something currently known about in the footwear space.
So the idea was born, the way to implement the idea was identified, but the plan to go from idea to consumer oriented commercial product needed to be figured out. Fortunately, Ben has a well respected business podcast, LegendsNLeaders, that he had Cornelius Schmitt, CEO of Zellerfeld shoe factory, on as a guest. Ben first found out about Zellerfeld's capabilities to 3D print shoes from Devin, a friend, a couple years back. Devin helped to incubate the idea and was clearly very passionate about how 3D printing shoes was truly possible and ready for consumers.
Networking Is An Essential Skill For Entrepreneurs
After Cornelius and Ben chatted on the episode, they continued to keep in touch. When the idea from Yosef, Ben's brother, came about Ben knew the best option to make an incredible AI design that would visually be stunning was to do it 3D printed and Cornelius and team would be a great way to do so. Cornelius agreed and through him and our designer Kedar, who specializes in AI shoe design, we were able to create the Xplorer model.
A Breakthrough Is Born
What we learned about how AI will disrupt design from developing the breakthrough first AI designed commercially available slide shoe, is truly exciting! We witnessed how fast we were able to get to the sketch portion of the process, and weren't taking as much time in the ideating phase, due to the AI image generation work with Midjourney. This saved weeks of time and enabled us to have the level of detail desired very clear from the beginning. Not having to spend time in the design room perfecting that after it is made, we were one major step ahead.
When it came time to take the sketch and make it into a 3D model for it to ultimately be customized and ready for 3D printing, that process happened by a simple generation via AI. We gave Vizcom AI the sketch and it made a 3D model, like that. Saving much time by hand for a designer to do traditionally. And the model was very representative of our yacht and spaceship combination shape that we desired, as the original concept art was very refined.
The Designer Relationship With AI Will Change
A designer can go by hand and make all the pattern and texture work look good and stand out on your shoe. We instead had an AI model run simulations of different patterns and iterated through them to find the best one. After, our designer Kedar Benjamin customized the final pattern simulation, we had to make the shoe fit with Zellerfeld's 3D printing capabilities and all was complete.
AI shoe design is very different from the traditional process. This is likely the fastest way to make a shoe in the world and the most affordable too. The process to 3D print shoes is more expensive than traditional, but it can come down over time. As we have seen with the previous manners in which technological innovation has disrupted fashion, if a manner to make shoes, clothing, and more is faster and lower cost by a substantial margin, the industry will shift towards that.
The Future Of Footwear Is Bright
At Syntilay, we just proved that true, and knowing the above, this is going to become the manner in which footwear, apparel, and more are made. Faster and lower cost always wins in business. This doesn't mean the designer will go away, humans appreciate the human design element, but they will need to work alongside AI. AI shoes are a reality now and AI fashion is coming rapidly, there will be many industry wide changes.
We have been fortunate to have this incredible breakthrough featured on the front page of USA Today with interviews done with Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, Fox Business, and so many more wonderful outlets that want to share this disruption. AI is going to change footwear forever and we are going to lead the revolution!
Comentarios