Your Space’s Sole Savior
Perch
Project Brief
Athletes often struggle with bulky shoe racks that lack functionality and don't fit their dynamic lifestyles. A space-efficient, small-profile rack is needed to keep footwear organized and integrate seamlessly with frequent moves and busy routines.
5 Weeks
The NIKE Way
Nobody designs products quite like Nike. They offer a dynamic yet sleek design that truly captures the essence of athletic performance. Nike’s design language combines bold aesthetics with innovative functionality, making it easy for anyone to appreciate and use their products effectively.
Of U.S. households, rent their homes, reflecting a significant portion of the population living in rental properties.
Of the global athletic footwear market is held by Nike, yet no shoe rack exists that meets the needs of space-efficient, active lifestyles.
Is the average ownership for sports and leisure workers, highlighting the need for effective and organized storage solutions.
U.S. college students are frequently on the move, emphasizing the demand for practical, portable solutions.
Meet Kevin
Kevin was always on the move, juggling intense training sessions and a busy schedule while frequently shifting between dorms. He needed a shoe rack that was space-efficient and had a small profile to fit his dynamic lifestyle. Most racks he found were either too bulky or lacked the functionality he needed, making it difficult to keep his athletic footwear organized. Kevin often wished for a sleek, practical solution that seamlessly integrated with his fast-paced life and transient living situation.
Aesthetic Inspiration
Iconic
Bold
Minimalist
Identifying Issues
Standard racks may not accommodate a wide variety of shoe sizes or types, such as specialized athletic footwear or larger sizes.
Limited Capacity
Traditional racks may not always blend well with modern or minimalist decor, which can be a concern for people who value sleek and stylish living spaces.
Design Aestetics
Large Profile
Many traditional racks are large and take up significant floor space, which can be problematic in smaller or multi-use areas.
CAD Ideation
Pros
Height (41 in)
Thickness (1.25 in)
Depth (12 in)
Flat and sturdy base
Gather, process, and laminate all pieces
Protyping
Final prototype
Cons
Too much empty space
Measurements not properly lined up
Incorrect leveling
Pine Wood
Glue up
Underglow lighting
Final Model
Final model
Pencil stop
White Oak
Pros: Durability, Aesthetic
Cons: Cost, Workability
Wood Choice
Maple
Pros: Durability, Aesthetic
Cons: Cost, Workability
Poplar
Pros: Cost, Workability
Cons: Softness, Durability
Pine
Pros: Cost, Workability
Cons: Softness, Knotting
Walnut
Pros: Durability, Aesthetic
Cons: Cost, Availability
Outside Recources
Speedball Inda Ink
Perch uses Speedball Super Black India Ink for the darkest black coat.
Motion Activated Lighting
Perch uses motion-activated closet lights for a more interactive design.
“Shoe-Stackers”
Perch uses shoe stackers for further efficiency in shoe storage.
Purchase, cut down, join, and plane all wood.
Join shelves to the spine
Join the spine and base.
Final Process
Gather and label wood by part.
Use a router to round the edges
Remove each shelf and prepare to sand off any excess glue
Sand the spine
Plane excess material.
Cut each shelf end down to fix any potential shifting in gluing process
Laminate and glue shelves.
Paint each part with ink
Add under glow lighting
Perch
Your Space’s Sole Savior
