Description:

STRYDE was developed in response to the influx of patients at hospitals due to the current global pandemic, and how this has impacted nurses by increasing their shift hours greatly with minimal breaks. The aim of this project was to develop a deeper understanding around what nurses require from their footwear, and how footwear can be designed to bridge comfort and functionality. Current design issues among footwear used by nurses include exposed lacing systems & non-waterproof materiality, causing the issue of unwanted fluids seeping into the footwear. Having insufficient support for specific foot profiles can also lead to musculoskeletal complications.

STRYDE is a personalised performance shoe for nurses, designed and made to significantly improve comfort and functionality for nurses working in hospital environments. With the hidden magnetic FIDLOCK lacing system I developed underneath a semi-permeable GORE-TEX membrane layer, this presents an easy to clean fluid-proof exterior. The multi-directional grip provides sufficient traction in messy situations, which helps prevent the user from potential injury. Nurses are also able to scan their own foot arch with their phone, which is used to manufacture a personal 3D printed insert, providing fully supportive shoes out of the box for their 12+ hour shifts.

STRYDE is designed to complement nurses busy lifestyle by providing a product that can keep up with a nurse's daily tasks, who roughly walk the length of a marathon per week (55,000 steps). STRYDE's design features are inspired directly from insights gained through the involvement of nurses and the specific problems they encounter with their footwear while at work. With the midsole and outsole being injected moulded post-consumer recycled EVA compound rubber, alongside the 3D printed TPU arch insert, and the recyclable composite toe cap, STRYDE provides a footwear solution for nurses that improves functionality, comfort and is sustainably conscious.

Research that I conducted found that footwear plays an essential role in nurses' comfort. The design features of STRYDE that have been driven by user experience/characteristic insight and research include: An anti-bacterial liner to prevent odour and sweat. A magnetic FIDLOCK fastener for easy accessibility. A GORE-TEX shield for an easy to wipe fluid-proof surface. A reinforced toe area protects nurses from trolley wheels and falling medical equipment. A split sole design to reduce the overall weight of the shoe. 3D scanned personal arch support. Multi-directional traction for slippery situations. Through my own research, nurses have suggested there to be more "style" and "choices of colour", as nurses wear the same scrubs every shift. As footwear is one of the only items of clothing nurses have control over, some like to use their footwear style and colour to express their personality. As part of the STRYDE system, nurses are able to individually customise the colour of every component to suit their personal taste. Developed alongside 70 nurses who gave regular input and feedback, I was able to produce a product which aligned directly within nurses wants and needs when it comes to their footwear and environment.