I usually start with the function of designing shoes. First, I need to know what it is like, depending on whether people will wear them or for me. It also depends on how I feel at that moment. My design process usually requires me to see pictures and read descriptions of things first. It takes a while for me to understand those pictures or words better because I don’t have any visual sense. However, once the picture makes a little more sense in my mind, I can use all sorts of mixed media such as a ballpoint pen, colored pencil, spray paint, and so on to create the image again from scratch.
And when you start thinking about those elements you want to include in your design, do you use those as a stimulus or inspiration for an idea and then try to fit other ideas around them?
I always start with one idea. Then, I keep working on it until something comes up. I love shoes because I can easily find the meaning of my work through simple forms such as ‘shoes.’ It will be challenging to express all sorts of things such as ‘love,’ ‘hope’ and ‘fear’ through the form of a shoe because each viewer may see it differently depending on their own life experiences. But there’s no way around it – we need to confront our inner world and make sense out of it for us to know who we are. And I believe that the shoes help me to do that.
For example, I would like to express something complicated such as ‘the history of a nation’ with looks and colors. So instead of telling someone what it is all about, people can understand my message by simply looking at the shoes. There’s a chance they will think about it for a while and try to remember what kind of memories they have. Doesn’t it matter if there are any conclusions because each person has their thoughts – which is precisely why nobody can say anything without hesitation – You know? In other words, I believe that my work becomes ‘an art piece’ through your mind.
I want to design shoes. What resources should I look into?
I don’t think there are any particular resources to study. I’m sure that there are plenty of examples you can learn from if you research the internet. Don’t get stuck with one idea because it takes a while for our minds to ‘digest’ something new. The most important thing is whether or not you enjoy what you are doing, right? If you love what you are doing, then your mind will make sense of all sorts of random things based on what’s in your heart.
Which is the perfect tool for shoe designing?
I can’t think of the perfect tool. So I use whatever I have in my hands at that moment. For example, ballpoint pen, pencil crayon, brush pen, Prismacolor marker. And then spray paint when the painting is required.
What are some ‘basic’ things that you keep in mind while shoe designing?
Hmm, basic? That’s a difficult question because there are so many things! But if you want me to mention one thing, it would probably be ‘Love.’ You need to put love into everything you do. Everything will fall apart if there isn’t any love involved with what you are doing. If your passion is gone, then time stops for us even though we are still working with our hands. Everything will fall apart unless you start loving what you do again, right?
I want to design shoes that I love.
How much time does it take to complete one shoe design?
It depends on the size of the work and how complicated it is. If I can finish drawing within two days, then five hours a day should be enough. But if the line doesn’t turn out as expected or even when I’m feeling uninspired, then everything comes to a halt… It takes at least thirty hours to complete something big with all sorts of mixed media. Can anyone do that in thirty hours? Hmm… probably not! You need plenty of practice for that sort of thing – especially spray painting!
What is the most challenging part of shoe designing?
I always feel like I’m getting closer to completing something. But the problem is that once it’s finished, I start feeling both exhausted and empty at the same time. It just doesn’t feel right because some things are still left undone… This ’emptiness’ makes me want to go back to the beginning again so that it can become just a little bit more complete before finishing up.
It’s so complicated! But making shoes is difficult in general… So many people have told me this more than once, but they also said that my shoes look so good even though they are unfinished! They only think about what they see at first glance without considering all sorts of different things after wearing the shoe. They said that I’d done a better job than professional designers who have been working for over ten to twenty years… Yes, definitely! I will continue designing shoes since there is no other way but forward. Even if it takes thirty hours to complete something…
Who do you want to show your shoes to?
I keep wondering about this question as well… ‘who’ and not ‘how many people. In other words, I’m looking for someone who can understand my message through my work. This person should feel what’s in my mind by seeing the little details on the side of the shoes rather than just paying attention to what’s in front of them. I don’t want anyone to look at my work and think that I’m just doing something like everyone else because it makes me tired. Isn’t there even one person who will understand what’s in my mind? If I want to reach them, then I need to move forward little by little – step by step.
I’d appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on the reason behind making shoes for people with disabilities.
