Press Release
Weaver Therapeutic Shoes by Pear and Mulberry Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design
Pear and Mulberry honored for generative, algorithmic, parametric and ai-assisted design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design category for Weaver Therapeutic Shoes by Pear and Mulberry. 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 scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
More About Weaver Therapeutic Shoes
Weaver is a therapeutic shoe designed for children aged 8 to 14. The shoe is developed through 3D scanning, pressure mapping and parametric modeling, so each pair matches the shape of one child's feet. The entire shoe is 3D printed in a single recyclable thermoplastic polyurethane, which reduces manufacturing complexity and waste. The print-knit upper follows textile knitting structures and combines directional flexibility with stability, so shoelaces are not needed. The zoned sole distributes pressure and helps relieve foot pain.
About Pear and Mulberry
PEAR & MULBERRY is a multidisciplinary creative studio specializing in the intersection of design, technology, and cultural narratives. Drawing from expertise in computational design, digital fabrication, and visual storytelling, the studio develops cross-genre projects spanning physical products, digital experiences, and conceptual research. Its work has been featured in international exhibitions, academic publications, and collaborative initiatives with institutions across design, art, and science. Through an iterative and research-driven approach, the studio contributes to dialogues around emerging aesthetics, sustainable futures, and inclusive design methodologies.
Award Record
Pear and Mulberry is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design Award
The A' Generative Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good generative designs from leading creators and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to generative designers, algorithmic design professionals, ai-assisted design experts and parametric designers from all countries. Entries typically include algorithmic artworks, parametric architectures, generative graphics, ai-assisted illustrations, computational sculptures and procedural patterns. Awarded generative designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/generative
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/170962
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/170962
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!170962
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/366846
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
- Weaver Therapeutic Shoes
- Function
- Therapeutic Shoes
- Category
- Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design
- Discipline
- Design Strategy
- Industry
- Innovation and Design Industry
- Colors
- Silver, Light Gray, Gainsboro, Dim Gray and Dark Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Pear and Mulberry
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #170962
Credits
- Image Credits
- PEAR & MULBERRY
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This project is a pioneering therapeutic shoe system that leverages computational design and 3D printing to provide personalized foot care for children aged 8-14. Unlike conventional shoes, We|aver+ integrates parametric modeling, pressure mapping, and material anisotropy to create a tailored support-comfort balance. Its print-knit TPU upper mimics textile knitting structures while offering directional flexibility and stability, eliminating shoelaces and enhancing fit.
- Inspiration
- It was inspired by the structural properties of hollow-loose knitting, commonly seen in textiles and chainmail, which achieve varying stiffness and stretch in different directions. This paradox of support and flexibility guided our parametric approach, where 3D scanning and computational optimization enabled customized footcare solutions.
- Research
- We conducted design-driven research to develop personalized pediatric footwear. Objectives included optimizing support-flexibility balance, sustainable fabrication, and medical efficacy. Methodologies included 3D scanning, pressure mapping, and parametric modeling, analyzed using DOE simulations and material stress tests. Results showed that print-knit TPU structures improve directional stability, while zoned soles provide customized pain relief. Insights highlight the potential of data-driven footwear design in clinical applications.
- Challenge
- The biggest challenge was reconciling flexibility with structural support in a single-material, 3D-printed design. Overcoming material constraints, we engineered a knit-inspired TPU upper that adapts dynamically. Additionally, ensuring cost-effectiveness and sustainability for growing children’s feet required computational efficiency and recyclable materials. The project pushes the boundaries of generative design in medical footwear, merging biomechanics, AI-assisted customization, and additive manufacturing.
- Realization and Technology
- It is produced using 3D scanning, pressure mapping, and parametric modeling to generate individualized shoe designs. The entire shoe is 3D printed in a single material (recyclable TPU), reducing manufacturing complexity and waste. By utilizing Grasshopper plug-ins (Kangaroo, Weaverbird, Mesh+, LunchBox) and DOE optimization, we fine-tune element thickness, porosity, and structural orientation for each foot’s unique needs.
- Operation and Interaction
- The shoes are personalized through foot scanning and pressure analysis, generating a custom design optimized for foot health. The print-knit TPU upper adapts snugly, eliminating the need for shoelaces, while the dynamic sole customizes zoning softness to relieve pressure-induced pain. Over time, the parametric bottom grid wear pattern helps monitor gait and diagnose foot pathologies.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, with fabrication conducted at Harvard FabLab. The next phase involves IRB-approved user testing and material research collaboration with 3D printing start-ups in Boston.
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 230mm x 85mm x 135mm Material: Recyclable TPU Fabrication: Full-body 3D printing with integrated print-knit upper and zoned cushioning sole Design Parameters: Gait-adaptive sole structure, anisotropic flexibility, localized pressure distribution
- Keywords
- therapeutic footwear, 3D printed shoes, parametric design, pediatric foot care, computational design, sustainable footwear, pressure mapping, AI-assisted design
