Press Release
Dino Stride Adaptive Sneakers by Eric Paskach Wins the A' Design Award in Social Design
Eric Paskach acknowledged for social design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Dino Stride Adaptive Sneakers by Eric Paskach, designed for Iowa State University of Science and Technology, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Social Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
More About Dino Stride Adaptive Sneakers
Dino Stride is an adaptive sneaker designed for young children who wear ankle-foot orthoses. The upper is made of a breathable mesh knit that reduces the heat built up between the foot and the orthosis. A deep sole gives space and support for the orthosis while keeping the usual height of a child's shoe. Side zippers let the front of the shoe fold open, so putting the shoe on and taking it off is quick and simple. Dinosaur details and a camouflage pattern add a playful character. The design supports comfort, fit and confidence during rehabilitation.
About Eric Paskach
Eric Paskach is an award-winning footwear designer and recent industrial design graduate from Iowa State University. Paskach takes a multidisciplinary approach to design, following his philosophy: nothing is off-limits. His journey into footwear stemmed from a desire to merge a love for fashion with the joy of problem-solving through design. Currently exploring 3D-printed footwear, Paskach strives to stay on the cutting edge of style and technology, creating innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Award Record
Eric Paskach is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Social Design Award
The A' Social Design Award is an international design competition recognizing excellence in social design by social impact designers and think-tanks worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to social designers, social brands, social manufacturers and social design professionals from all countries. Entries typically include community projects, social campaigns, public installations, educational programs, sustainable initiatives and healthcare solutions. Awarded social designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/social
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/167137
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/167137
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!167137
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/359120
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://tinyurl.com/ewv3uxt6
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Dino Stride Adaptive Sneakers
- Function
- Adaptive Sneakers
- Category
- Social Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Social Impact
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Silver, Dark Olive Green, Black and Chocolate
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Iowa State University of Science and Technology
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Eric Paskach
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #167137
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer Bjorn Iverson, 2024
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- 1 in 345 children are born with cerebral palsy. That is a huge number of children that not only need lower-limb orthotics, but special shoes as well. In the orthotics-friendly footwear market, there is a massive disconnect in communication leading to a final product that completely neglects the user's needs. Dino Stride solves these issues with an orthotics-friendly shoe that is functional, stylish, and fun, making orthotics more engaging for children, and aiding rehabilitation.
- Inspiration
- Children with disabilities are often disregarded in the world of design. Most equipment designed for these children is simply downscaled versions of technology made for adults. This practice neglects the fact that these users are children and that their wants and needs are far different from those of adults. Therefore, children with disabilities need products designed specifically for them. I was inspired to make a change in the orthotics-friendly footwear market which suffers from this exact problem.
- Research
- For Dino Stride, I conducted surveys and interviews of caregivers of children with lower-limb orthotics, empathic role-play of the child and orthotist, and studied research relating to gait, orthotics, and footwear for orthotics. The objective was to identify which issues were most prevalent for children with lower-limb orthotics. Style, fit, and width were the most prevalent issues. The surveys and interviews conducted provided the most critical insight for design decisions.
- Challenge
- The biggest challenge of this project was reshaping the shoe form to comfortably accommodate an orthotic without sacrificing the look and feel of a typical kids' shoe. Every child deserves to feel confident and included, so it was crucial to design something that blends in seamlessly with their peers' footwear. Through several iterations, the final design emerged, one that works comfortably with orthotics while prioritizing style, comfort, and the joy of simply being a kid.
- Realization and Technology
- Empathic design is an approach that brings critical insights into the design process. Throughout this project, I did not only gather data from interviews, surveys, and secondary research. Through firsthand experiences, I immersed myself in the world of those who rely on orthotic-friendly footwear. I understood their frustrations and felt their desire for something better. Every choice was driven by what I had learned, ensuring the final design truly serves the children who need it most.
- Operation and Interaction
- The upper is made of a breathable mesh knit to mitigate the heat generated from the foot against the orthotics. A deep sole provides space and support for the orthotics while maintaining the typical height of a kid's shoe. Side zippers allow the front of the shoe to fold open for fast and easy donning and doffing while wearing the orthotics. The dinosaur details and camo pattern add necessary character and fun to the shoe to help with acceptance of the orthotics and self-confidence.
- Project Duration and Location
- This project started in January 2024 and finished in May 2024. It was exhibited in Ames Iowa at Iowa State University in May 2024
- Specifications
- The physical model was designed for the average three to four-year-old boy using an ankle-foot orthosis to keep fit while wearing the orthotics a top priority. The shoe itself is approximately 100mm x 200mm x 125mm
- Keywords
- adaptive, shoes, orthotics, AFO, children, dinosaur, footwear, cerebral palsy, kids, friendly
