Design of Football Shoes - Essay Example

Table of Contents: ……………………………………………………..3 Introduction……………………………………………………4 Stakeholders of the Design……………………………………5 Context of the Design…………………………………………..6 Material Matters………………………………………………..7 Conclusion………………………………………………………8 References………………………………………………………9 Appendix………………………………………………………..10 List of illustrations Abstract: Football is a popular game in the world, and it is a multi-billion industry. Players are important stakeholders in this industry, and they require the necessary tools to help them in playing efficiently and effectively. Football shoes are important materials that can be used by players, and it would determine their efficiency in the field. Designers therefore have a mandate of coming up with shoes that reflects the needs of these players. This can only be achieved through the design of high quality shoes. This paper talks extensively on the bid by the researcher to design high quality shoes, for the palyers. Design of Football Shoes: Introduction: The products to be designed are soccer shoes. These shoes are also called cleats, and they are items of footwear, which are always worn, when people are playing football. There are a variety of designs for these shoes, and some have studs on their outside sole, for purposes of gripping the grass pitches, where football is played. From a very humble and simple beginning, football boots have a long history, and currently, they are subjected to development, research, marketing and a lot of sponsorships. Furthermore, the development, manufacture and sale of soccer shoes is a luxurious global industry, and this is mainly because of the popularity of soccer, amongst the various nations in the world (Gifford, 19). Furthermore, various companies such as Nike, Adidas, have sought to popularize their products through sponsorship deals that normally amount to millions of dollars. This is just an indication of how much money can be made through the design and manufacture of soccer shoes. This is because these companies could not spend millions of dollars in marketing campaigns, if the market for these shoes was very low. In marketing these shoes, these companies normally use famous and highly successful footballers such as David Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo, Lionell Messi, etc. (Rand, 13). Based on the popularity of these shoes, the designer would therefore want to design a football shoe that can be played on the grass. These shoes should have the capability of maintaining a firm grip on the grass, and on the feet of the player. Furthermore, because of the evolving nature of football, these shoes should be very light, to enable the players have the capability of running very fast, on the pitch. On this basis, the focus of this design should be on creating a shoe that is flexible, and light, which would give the player a better control of his speed, and a good kicking power (Reilly, 33). Furthermore, the boots will have to be protective in nature. This means that the materials used for making the boots should be strong, and long lasting. These materials should have the capability of protecting the player from injuries that he may get while making the runs. One of the major features of these shoes would be the availability of studs, at their lower soles. The major aim of these studies is to give a player a firm grip, while stepping on the grass, or the football pitch (Rand, 19). However, the major difference between these studs and that of other shoes is the ability of a player to adjust the studs of his shoes, to fit in, with his desires or need. Because of the emergence of new technologies, it is now possible for players to choose the kind of studs or design they want. An example is the 3D technology. Furthermore, these shoes will basically be made of leather (Murdock, 27). Leather is a very strong material, and it has the capability of lasting for a long period of time. This means that the shoes under consideration would last for a long period of time. The Stakeholders of the Design: There are a number of stakeholders in this project. One of the major beneficiaries of these shoes are the players themselves. The football players will directly benefit from these products, because they are designed to be played by the footballers (Reilly, 33). There are a number of benefits that these players will derive from using these shoes. One of the benefits that they will get is that it would enable them to run swiftly. These shoes will be light, and comfortable. Furthermore, they will have cleats, enabling the football players to have a firm grip on the ground, during the time in which they are making some runs, in the football pitch. This is beneficial to the players, as it would give them an advantage over their rivals, who are using flat shoes, which sometimes can be slippery. Furthermore, players will also benefit from these shoes, because they will have a chance of deciding the features that their shoes should have. This is because the designers will use 3D technology, to allow players to choose the size of the cleats, the spacing, and their shapes. Through this action, the players will have a chance of participating in the design of the shoes; hence they would feel an ownership of the final product. It is important to understand that because of the expensive nature of these shoes, the target groups of players are the professional and elite footballers. This is because they are playing in competitive leagues, and hence they would require high quality shoes, that have a firm grip, and which can improve their speed, so that they may have an advantage over their competitors. Other important stakeholders are the suppliers of leather materials. It is important to explain that without their supplies, the design and development of these shoes will not be a success. The designer will not only depend on the suppliers of leather materials, but also of paints, and steel for purposes of painting the products, and developing cleats, based on the customer’s preferences. Paints are also important because the players will have preference on the colour they want, and hence the designer will have to put all these factors into consideration. Other important people who will interact with this product are the marketers. Marketers will play an important role in popularizing the product; hence they are very important people, who can ensure the success of this product. As a designer, I would have assistants. These are people, who will have the responsibility of assisting me, in each design process, and hence they are important stakeholders in this process or project (Chermayeff and Thomas, 39). Finally, other important stakeholders of this project are the rival companies or designers. This includes designers such as Adidas, and Nike. They are interested in the design of these shoes, mainly because they would want to preserve their market share, and hence any product that is a threat to them, they have to analyse it, and come up with measures aimed at neutralizing the threat under consideration. The Context of the Design: The production of this design is basically for purposes of making profits, while satisfying the needs of players. This is in respective to the accessibility of high quality football shoes, that can protect them, and which are also light. Light shoes will help in improving their speed. Based on this purpose, while designing the shoes, the researcher will have to carry out a research, on the various gaps, that exists in regard to the quality of the shoes. This research is important, mainly because the designer will know if there are any competing products, and the features to put into the shoes, so that they may be better than their perceived competitors. Carrying out a research will also help the designer to identify the best target group. These are people who will most likely benefit from the shoe products. It is important to explain that these shoes are not for all footballers. This is because they won’t be cheap, and the designer intends to sell them at a very high price. Furthermore, it is important to explain that the suppliers will play a great role, in determining the prices of this design. This is because the prices of their supply, and availability of the products, will have an impact on the overall price of the finished products. Another important issue to consider while designing these shoes is the ethical issues (Kauffer and Brian, 21). One important ethical issue to observe, is coming up with an original design, and not copying the design of others, and modifying it without their approval. Another important ethical consideration will be coming up with a product that reflects the needs of the market, or the players under consideration. It is important to explain that the design of these shoes will be unique, in that players will have a role to play, in choosing the final product. This would be made possible through the 3D technology that would enable its clients to choose the type of shoes they want (Chermayeff and Thomas, 29). The designer will therefore be forced to produce this shoe, without compromising the nature of his designs. A moral issue that the designer will consider is how to give back to the society. Out of every shoe sold, the designer intends to give 100 dollars to scholarship programs, so that they can support the poor, and the vulnerable within the community. This is an aspect of social responsibility, and most organizations are always engaging in it. This is mainly because customers normally want to do business with an organization that engages in moral activities, and the ones that give back to the society. Furthermore, football is a game that is very popular within the community. Coming up with products that will help in improving this sport is a welcomed idea, that will benefit the sportsmen, and the spectators. Material Matters: The major technology to be used for the design of these shoes is the 3D technology. Through this technology, the designer intends to use a mathematical model, for purposes of generating cellular structures that can be modified on the production of shoes. It is important to explain that the 3D technology has gained prominence, as a method of designing shoes. This method is used by large companies such as Adidas, Nike, and other prominent designers such as Francis Bitonti (Keen, 41). Another important issue that will be considered while designing these shoes is the sustainability of the sources of raw materials. These shoes will be developed and manufactured by using pure leather. However, because of the high competition within the industry, the suppliers of leather materials have a high level of power, over the designers and producers of these shoe products (Keen, 43). This therefore means that they would charge a high value for their products, and this will in turn affect the prices of the products, and their quality. As a designer, I would need high quality leather products; hence, there will be a need of paying too much money, to acquire them. However, other designers will also need these materials; hence they will be limited in supply. To be safe, there will be a need of acquiring too much of these resources, and storing them, for purposes of using them, when the supply is low (Chermayeff and Thomas, 33). This will further protect the designer, from the high costs of these materials, which normally comes because of low supply. Furthermore, buying these products in large scale will help the designer, mainly because he will get them at a discounted price. Because of the difficulty in getting leather materials, the designer will advocate for the recycling of these shoes, once they end their useful life. The designer will encourage players or people possessing these shoes to return them, so that he may re-design them, and improve on their quality. Through this action, the designer believes that he will manage to save on the environment, and to cut on the costs of designing and producing new shoe products (Kauffer and Brian, 26). Conclusion: These soccer shoes that have to be designed will be unique, and this is because players will have the opportunity of choosing the size and space of studs or cleats that will be found on their lower soles. Furthermore, the designer intends to manufacture and develop these shoes with the use of the 3D technology. This is a new technological innovation that enables designers to develop high quality shoes, which can be modified, to the preference or taste of a customer. This means that the customer plays an important role in the design and development of the shoes product. Another major advantage of these shoes is that they are light, and durable. This means that the football player will have the ability of running fast, and they are guaranteed of the safety of their feet. In the current soccer industry, a player who can run fast is highly valued, and their talents are sought after by various football managers. Based on these facts, these shoes will play a great role in the promotion of football. Works Cited: Chermayeff, Ivan, and Thomas H. Geismar. Designing. New York: Graphis, 2003. Print. Gifford, Clive. Football. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010. Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Kauffer, E. McKnight, and Brian Webb. Design. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors Club, 2007. Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Keen, Peter G. W. From Bits to Pieces: Exploiting the Practical Business Innovation Opportunities of 3D Printing. Fairfax Station, Va.: Business Futures, 2013. Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Murdock, Kelly. Lightwave 3D 8 Revealed. Boston, MA: Thomson/Course Technology PTR, 2005. Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Rand, Jonathan. "Run It! and Lets Get the Hell out of Here!": The 100 Best Plays in Pro Football History. Guilford, Conn.: Lyons, 2007. Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Reilly, Thomas. Science and Football V the Proceedings of the Fifth World Congress on Science and Football. London: Routledge, 2005. Print. Appendix: List of illustrations: Football: This is a popular game played in the world, and it is a multi-billion business, with a lot of stakeholders in it. Soccer Shoes: These are shoes that are used for playing football. 3D technology: This is a technological innovation that can be used for purposes of designing materials in a three dimensional manner. Suppliers: These are people responsible for providing materials that can be used for purposes of the design of the shoes. Leather: This is a product that is derived from animals. It is always the skin of animals, and it can be used in the manufacture of shoes. Read More