Transcendence
a platform shoe design to be worn at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards by artist Jen Stark. Jen Stark designed the 2015 MTV VMA’s original animations and artwork for the stage and promotional material.
Jen Stark
is an artist that conceptualizes visual systems through 2D and 3D visual abstractions. The platform of Transcendence will be based off the optical illusions Stark creates in her pieces.
Inspiration
The platform will be high enough to leave room for an intricate design. The colors will be vivid and bright.
The upper will be a boot. The boot will be made out of clear vinyl as to be customizable by toe nail polish or sock choice.
The clear vinyl boot will be secured around the foot with straps. The number of straps depends on height of the boot and thickness of the straps. The platform design will transform as you move around the shoe, therefore the experience is different from every angle.
Boot Construction
The boot was patterned using tape and paper on a last. The paper patterns were traced onto felt, cut out, and sewn together. Then the patterns were scanned into illustrator, edited with the necessary changes, and thread paths were added. The new patterns were printed on paper and sewn together to test construction.
Patterning
The final boot pattern included 3 clear straps that were secured through additional fastening loops on the outer side. Decorative stitching was added onto the side patterns to break up the clear vinyl. Once the sides were sewn with the strap attachments, they are sewn together along the back. The heel piece is then added. The last part to be attached is the tongue/front, giving the pieces their 3D shape.
Clear Vinyl Upper
The vinyl was marked up with dry erase markers using the illustrator patterns. The dry erase marker ink wiped away easily and was vital to placement of the thread paths. Wrapping the vinyl proved to be a challenge, it had to be heated with a heat gun. Then the base was hot glued into bristol and the last was removed.
Platform Construction
The platform was first carved out of purple foam using the heated wire to get the basic form. Paper was taped to the side of the foam to model the curves of the platform against the shoe last. Then the final platform was made out of obomodulan 6 inch green foam and shaped using the ban saw. The sole, arch, and outer design will be made using EVA foam that is added to the final form.
The sole of the platform was made from colored EVA foam sheets that were cut on alternating angles to give the appearance of a triangular grip. The top of the obo was stacked with EVA to elevate the heel and arch of the sole. Then it was spray painted green to match the interior sole of the boot.
Platform Design
The design of the platform was based off Jen Starks 3D installations. Beginning at the heel the design starts as curvy wavelike forms and morphs into sharper angles at the front of the toes. The design was drawn on EVA Foam with sharpies. The outline was traced by hand using a projector and then colored. Then the finished design was wrapped around the Obomodulan platform block.
