XD / Talking Shoe
Google Talking Shoe 1.0
Product Design & Physical Computing - The One Show Merit Award Winner
Shoes that actually talk back. Wearers received real-time encouragement, playful commentary, and the joy of seeing their movement spark conversations across social media. A Google and Adidas collaboration exploring what happens when maker movement aesthetics meet wearable technology. Featured across ABC News, CNET, TechCrunch, The Guardian.
Final Production Lineup
Design Process
Footwear Research
Prototyping & Iteration
Paper Prototype
Fabric Prototype
Hardware Placement
Technical Integration
About
The Challenge
Google partnered with Adidas to transform sneakers into connected objects that made movement personal and playful. The Talking Shoe needed to turn everyday activity into real-time voice feedback and social conversations. Our studio handled physical design and electronics, collaborating with YesYesNo.
The Solution
Working under Despina Papadopoulos' leadership, I shaped the concept through mood boards, paper prototypes, and material testing, integrating Google's colors into the Adidas design. Our small team included an electrical engineer who worked with vendors to embed Arduino boards, accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and Bluetooth into wearable form factors.
We delivered two user experiences: custom influencer shoes that let personalities share their energy with fans, and "sleeper" over-shoes that invited SXSW visitors to participate. Wearers heard real-time encouragement, watched their movements visualized on screens around the Google Playground, and saw their activity transform into social posts—turning observation into genuine participation.
The Impact
The project earned a Merit Award from The One Show and captured attention across ABC News, CNET, TechCrunch, The Guardian, Ad Age, and The Washington Post. The work demonstrated what connected objects could be years before wearables went mainstream—technology with personality that people actually wanted to interact with.
The real test came at SXSW itself, where the visitor "sleepers" endured thousands of festival-goers at the Google Playground.
My Role: Product Designer
Client: Google (via 72andSunny)
Partners: Adidas
Studio: Studio5050/Principled Design
Collaborators: YesYesNo (screens/visualization)
Year: 2013