Shoe Design Challenge workshop
The aim of this Challenge Workshop that was held on 13-14 July, facilitated by Helen Hamlyn Centre's Julia Cassim, was to design a portfolio of stylish formal shoes. The workshop aimed to raise awareness of key issues for Arthritis Research UK (who commissioned the workshop) among shoe manufacturers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that effects women three times more than men. The condition causes pain, swelling and inflammation in the joints. All the joints and muscles in the foot can be affected. There is a gradual collapse of the arch, the toes become contracted. Bunions are common amongst elderly rheumatoid arthritic patients.
As a result, footwear is a problem for many women living with rheumatoid arthritis. They complain of the stigmatising design of shoes aimed only at functional needs. These shoes are comfortable but unstylish and do not take account of their desire for stylish footwear.
The workshop was documented as a film and involved nine shoes designers, many of whom are Royal College of Art alumni, orthotists and podiatrists and three design partners with RA.
The workshop was a further collaboration between Senior Research Fellow Julia Cassim, Dr Lynne Goodacre of the School of Public Health and Clinical Sciences and Fiona Candy of The Northern School of Design at the University of Central Lancashire, where the workshop took place.
