Designers
Designers
Designers
Glass Slipper
A Design Research Approach to Scaling Orthopedic Preventive Care
Key Words
Designers
Sierra Kim-Tran
SUMMARY
What solution exists to bridge the gap between the medical field and the commercial industry when it comes to protecting foot health? Orthopedic health is one of the most neglected aspects of daily wellness routines, though humans rely on their feet for movement, expression, and everyday activities. As people age, foot pain becomes more and more prevalent- preventative measures are often invasive or inefficient and clunky. How can we bring health awareness to a highly personal and unique aspect of the human body, and how do we optimize foot-sizing processes in order to ensure greater comfort?
challenge
Chronic foot pain is widespread, with an estimated 60–70% of people wearing improperly sized shoes—one of the leading drivers of long-term discomfort. Although footwear is a consumer choice, the industry still relies on a one-number sizing system that ignores individual anatomy, forcing consumers to compromise fit and comfort.
Outcome
Glass Slipper is both an app and a public health intervention designed to improve long-term foot health by modernizing the shoe-sizing process. Using camera-based scanning, it creates a personalized foot profile and translates it into ideal size and style recommendations across online and in-store retailers. By streamlining shoe-fitting, Glass Slipper empowers users with greater agency, accuracy, and confidence in protecting their foot health over time.
MEET THE Designers:
Sierra Kim-Tran