Gabby Escobar
Designer +Work
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Résumé
The Signature
Innovation Footwear Concept, RunningThis academic project is independent of New Balance. All ideas and designs are for educational purposes only and do not represent the company’s views, products, or affiliations.
The Brief:
Develop a footwear innovation concept positioned to disrupt the supershoe market that will debut at the LA 28 Olympic Marathon.
This footwear concept is inspired by elite triathlete Alex Yee and is tailored to reflect his unique running style, personal ethos, and athletic rituals. Through an in-depth analysis of his biomechanics, background, and performance mindset, the design emphasizes precision fit and targeted energy return to deliver a high-performance solution that aligns with his needs on race day.
Refined fit in every stride
The Signature is an innovation concept designed specifically for Alex Yee’s distinctive running style. Its lever system delivers micro-adjusted heel fit throughout each phase of the gait cycle, channeling energy from midfoot touchdown into elastic propulsion at toe-off.What would traditionally be separated into an upper and midsole is instead unified into an integrated structure that moves in sync with the torsional motion of the foot. The bottom structure remains detached from the upper, except at the heel and forefoot. This allows elastic energy to build and release in the forefoot while enabling natural sway and freedom of movement.
This design intentionally supports Alex’s inward pronation, offering both biomechanical alignment and dynamic performance.
How it works :
Primary Colorway and Materials:
Athlete Colorway:
Victory Royale
When Alex Yee is not training as a world-class athlete, he spends his pastime on Fortnite. This colorway highlights this fun fact from his personal life that many would not expect.
Global Independent Colorway:
Techno Chrome
Alex Yee is a triathlete, and taking on the marathon is no small feat, especially when competing against lifetime runners. This colorway tells the story of a comeback. He steps onto the start line quiet and overlooked. But by the end, he’s crossing the finish line in flying colors—literally.
According to WGSN, material trends for 2028 forecast a rise in multi-optic materials. This colorway leverages advanced technologies that respond to body heat, pushing the trend further. The result is a product that transforms uniquely with each runner and each wear. The material turns the act of running into a personal feedback loop, helping athletes gain deeper insight into their own biology as it reflects their effort.
Behind the Signature:
What’s more cocky than having your own signature on your footwear?
Alex has built a reputation for his confident and sometimes polarizing persona. A photo of his “cold” celebration winning Supertri Boston stirred up controversy. He’s young, fiery, and unafraid to rile up a crowd. But he doesn’t just talk. He delivers. His performances speak louder than the headlines.
Project Process
Research: Multi-sport Mind
What does precision footwear look like for a world-class multisport athlete who is competing in an event for an extreme single-sport event at the highest competition level?
Assessment of current footwear choices:
What works and what doesn’t? What are his preferences in fit/feel?
How has his multi-sport background influenced his unique form?
Alex’s swimming background enables him to have flexible ankles and flopping feet. This is likely a strong factor for his inward pronation but, his ankles are strong enough to maintain this.
This ideation is inspired by the form and function of a spring. The form follows the path water travels around the feet while kicking that transforms downward power into forward movement.
A strong ankle lockout adds power into the toe off like a rigid plate. His biking has contributed to a quad-dominant running form which becomes more noticeable with fatigue.
Develop an internal pedal within the footwear to dampen the energy loss on impact by improving foot turnover.
Ideating/Sketching:
A selection of sketches, studies, and mockups from the early ideation process.
Construction:
Over the course of 14 weeks, I progressed from hand sketches to digital renderings and eventually to 3D modeling. All modeling was done in Rhino, with early prototypes printed in PLA. The final full-scale model was produced using binder jet 3D printing. Unexpectedly, the material resisted all forms of spray paint, so the solution was to hand-paint it using wall paint.
Before this process, I had no knowledge of footwear construction beyond what I had learned from my background as a runner. This brought a unique opportunity within the innovative brief to work without limits and challenge footwear fundamentals in the process.
hello@gabbyescobar.com
+1 408 677-8339
Currently in Pasadena, CA
Résumé
2025, MFA
Graphic Design at
ArtCenter College
of Design
2023, BA
Speculative Design at UC San Diego
Illustrator
InDesign
Photoshop
Lightroom
Rhino
Keyshot
SolidWorks