DUOLIFT
3D Printing Research & Industrial Design
August, 2023
DUOLIFT gym shoes feature a special 3D printed lattice (2.5D X-Cell) in the sole. By rotating the lattice, they switch from a soft-soled running shoe to a hard-soled weightlifting shoe. This dual functionality removes the need for two pairs of shoes at the gym and encourages non-professional trainers to use weightlifting shoes more often.
The Rapidly Growing Fitness Industry
The Fitness industry in the United States has boomed in recent years as more and more consumers are investing in their health. The fitness industry is driven by gym memberships.
In 2015 55.3 million Americans had a gym membership and in 2019 that number is 64.2 million. This equates to about 19% of the U.S. population having a gym membership.
Huge Demand for Physical Activity
US consumers spend more on physical activity than any other country in the world—$265 billion. Specifically, Americans spent $30.6 billion on gyms and $37.5 billion on fitness equipment.
Given the growth in the number of people involved in strength training, and the increase in the amount of money people are spending on exercise equipment, more and more people are trying weightlifting shoes now.
Interview:
High Idle Rate of Weightlifting Shoes
Although over 60% of the people in the gyms I regularly visit have purchased weightlifting shoes, none of them are using weightlifting shoes now. I interviewed three of them about this issue.
In order to solve current problem of weightlifting shoe, I was thinking, why can't we combine running shoes and weightlifting shoes into one?
Ideation & Structural Test Prototypes
How to Combine Weightlifting Shoes and Running Shoes?
3D Printing Lattice in My Design
I found that 3D printing lattice can show different softness in different directions. Simply put, a solid object can appear soft after being rotated 90 degrees. Using this feature of lattice, I further optimized my design based on D.Blade.
In order to find the most suitable material, structure and parameters for the lattice, I made six more pairs of prototype shoes.
With these six prototype shoes, I started the experiment of the sole with lattice...
Experiment Processes
Complex Usage Environment Experiment
To further optimize the prototype shoe #5, I had two experimenters wear the shoes and then go to the gym in their normal way. After the experiment, they gave me three points of improvement.
Experience in the Factory
In order to better learn the structure of the shoe, as well as to make the final prototype, I went towards the factory in Putian and started to learn how to make shoes. Eventually, with the help of the workers, I finished a pair of prototypes of my shoes.
Final Concept
Storyboard
What Flaws Do Experts See in My Prototype?
Designed By
Ge Wu
2022-2023
Special Thanks
Prof. Bryce Beamer
Andy Lin (Sneaker Construction and Materials Consultant)
Carlos Chen (Fitness respondents)
Tingfen Zhu (Fitness respondents)
Chukai Lu (Fitness respondents)
Max Shi (Prototype Tester)
Tianqi Xu (Prototype Tester)
***Special Declaration***
This project was originally an 2022 ID Junior ID Studio I (IDDE 301) group assignment (Team Member: Dylan Scarpato, Johnny Zhen, Yichen Wu).
The initial idea for the project (combining a weightlifting shoe with a running shoe using 3D printing) and the name of the project "DUOLIFT" (excluding the logo) came from the group assignment mentioned above.
All content displayed on this page (including but not limited to preliminary research, interviews, sketching, structural research & production, initial prototyping, initial prototype testing, final prototyping, and CAD & rendering) has been completely redone or created by Ge Wu, and does not include any content created by any of the above team members.