Product Design Trends within the Footwear Industry: A Review

Computer technology influences the capability to enhance the functionality of manufacturing and product design technologies. Innovations in computational design and digital manufacturing empower designers and manufacturers to create novel representations and algorithms for designing, analyzing, and planning the production of highly complicated products achievable through state-of-the-art technology. Various principles, including computational physics, geometric reasoning, and automated spatial planning, enable engineers to generate entirely new categories of products in the footwear industry. This study aims to review the methods and tools that have been published in the literature for the last twenty years, and provide a better understanding of the parameters, tools, and controls that contribute to the design and manufacturing processes of shoes. The main focus is on highlighting the product design-related trends within the footwear industry. A structured framework becomes apparent in the literature through the grouping and presentation of information. This framework facilitates drawing conclusions about the trends and existing needs derived from in-depth research in the field of footwear. Additionally, it reveals the upcoming methods and tools that will contribute to the enhancement and development of this emerging and promising industry sector. In conclusion, the categorization limitation within the footwear industry could serve as the foundation for exploring key areas to be analyzed further in other industries, for instance, in furniture, clothing, and packaging.