Li-Ning's No Heel Sneaker Concept Wins IF Design Award
Begging the question of whether or not the future of footwear will see a change from traditional silhouettes.
Li-Ning‘s latest footwear concept, the Dragonflight, is slated to receive the IF Design Award. Thinking outside of the traditional silhouette box, Li-Ning created a new running shoe concept without a heel.
The concept of the shoe sees a reduction of the weight in the midsole and improves the rebound performance, while also extending the life of the shoe. The Dragonflight is said to win the category of “Professional Concepts” and is currently in the process of becoming commercialized. Currently, no one has been worth this sneaker just yet.
According to the IF Design Foundation, the design of Dragonflight is unique while also ensuring, “acceleration efficiency and speed performance.” While foregoing the heel may not seem to be the initial choice for most shoe producers, the decision to do so is a “research-supported choice for propulsion optimization.” The foundation works to promote design and its social significance, receiving approximately 11,000 entries from 56 countries in 2023. This particular concept from Li-Ning saw carbon plates embedded into the shoe for propulsion. The midsole is engineered so that it gives off a “refreshing presentation of running shoe design.”
Li-Ning will be receiving the IF Design Award during the May 15 ceremony held at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin. The foundation will also be awarding other prizes under categories such as e interior architecture, user experience and branding. Head over to Grailed to cop more Li-Ning kicks.
In other footwear news, here is an official look at the Nike Air Max 1 Premium “Sanddrift.”
