

Cover
Me
A low cost shoe cover built to traverse through urban blizzards
1MILLION
Americans injured from slipping on ice during the winter (2016 National Center of Injury Prevention and Control)
$34BILLION
annually in hospital bills , physical, therapy and medication in the US
800,000
Hospitalized from slipping on ice in 2016

ICED OUT
In large cities, snow and black ice lead to people falling. Most people in urban cities only own a few shoes. Boots are expensive and are only used during snowy seasons. How might we equip our existing shoes for the urban blizzard?

What's Out There?
Looking for existing solutions and what they were lacking. Overboots gave upper protection and sole wraps helped with traction. There was no solution for both protection of the shoe and increase of traction.


Scenario Search
Exploring scenarios that are unique in urban blizzards. Finding the opportunities for improvement in safety that would be appropriate for these scenarios.

Get the Slip
Choosing to design for the unique scenario slipping on black ice because it being the most common cause for injury in snowy situations
How might we walk on black ice with our existing shoes?

Flex points
Finding the heel, toe joints, and anterior side of the foot to be weak points that would require extra security in a shoe

First Steps
Exploring how to make a shoe fit in another shoe within. I also had to keep the materials low cost while keeping the user’s feet warm and dry.




Tight Details
Deciding keep a sleek minimal boot so the user would want to wear the boot more often. Less pieces also create less weak points. Keeping fastening minimal so the user stays stable but not struggle to put on the overshoe.



Single piece upper to reduce cost and maximizing durability




Too loose
neon color bars for visibility



Pull chord to tighten midfoot and ankle

Single strap to tighten midfoot and heel

Quick release buckle with whistle to lock in heel

Neste RE
Choosing to make the upper out of Neste RE for a polypropylene weave and rope laces because the recycled plastic will serve as a more sustainable source than virgin plastic. Neste RE provides up to 60% reduced carbon footprint while also making the upper entirely recyclable. After long term use of their plastics in IKEA tote bags, the materials have proved to be proficient be waterproof and warm.
Locks onto ankles and shins
Tightens on back and front



Learning Blender, Rhino and Grasshopper to create a traction pattern that can break through thin black ice as well as be co-molded onto the sole.


Co-molded metal studs to break into black ice
Grooves to allow water to flow out and for flexible grip
midsection cut out to reduce material and provide flexibility

Injection molded rubber with
Zero heel to toe drop to provide maximum underfoot feel


Single piece Neste RE polypropylene weave upper for warmth and dryness held together by a zig zag stitch as the the only weakpoint
Wide opening for ease of entry and room to tighten on ankles
Adjustable heel cup lock with emergency whistle
