The Edward ScissorShoe

Celia Hidell and Leah Grealish

Celia Hidell's Brief:

A pair of shoes that enable the user to manually adjust their height by pulling the bottom sole of their attachable shoe to enable the scissor lift to be used as a step stool feature to "step-up" and "step-down" to any available height when desired. 

Every day, people with dwarfism are struggling all around the world to reach inconveniently placed things both in public places, and in their own homes. Not only is it incredibly frustrating to not be able to reach things that other people can effortlessly, but people with dwarfism also suffer from disrespectful actions and hurtful comments. But what are they supposed to do; carry around a step stool all the time? Constantly ask strangers to get things for them? No, They are just as self-sufficient as everyone around them, and want to be able to carry out their daily activities independently, and with ease. The Edward ScissorShoe is a fashionable series of connected shoe soles that strap on to the user's everyday shoes. Its main feature is an adjustable scissor lift, enabling the shoe to expand and contract when desired. 

The Edward ScissorShoe contains six layers in total. These include (from bottom to top); A laser-cut base sole with three laser-cut adjustable locking hook mechanisms for the bolt on the scissor lift to slide through (these mechanisms contain four potential heights that can easily be adjusted to the user's needs as many, or as few, times as necessary); A 3-D printed layer that surrounds the sole of the shoe and is tall enough to cover the scissor lift and adjustable locking hook mechanisms when they are fully collapsed; A laser-cut scissor lift that is durably constructed and held together by a bolt and four nuts; Another laser-cut sole that mirrors the bottom sole and has a similar mechanism, the main difference being that this one allows the scissor lift to fully slide, and does not hook, in order to allow the maximum amount of potential collapsibility; A second 3-D printed layer that has clips that lock onto the actual sole of the user's shoe to ensure extra stability; And finally, two straps with buckles that keep the user's shoe from slipping around while they are walking . 

Leah Grealish's Brief:

A shoe attachment that enables the user to adjust their height by moving the scissor lifts which give the desirable height of the user.

Dwarfism affects an estimated 30,000 people in the U.S. and more than 650,00 in the world.  People with this medical condition are at most 4'10" tall and have much difficulty with completing everyday tasks.  Often people with dwarfism have trouble reaching anything two feet above their heads.  The most common places where people with dwarfism struggle are any type of store, gas stations, driving cars, reaching for door knobs and being able to see what they are cooking.  The Edward ScissorShoe allows people with dwarfism to become 1 foot taller, making daily burdens barely a struggle.   

The Edward ScissorShoe includes six layers.  The 1st layer (bottom) is a laser-cut sole (wood) with laser-cut adjustable locks for the bolt through the scissor lift to slide through; A 3-D printed (plastic) layer that borders the sole of the attachment; A (wooden) laser-cut scissor lift that is held together by a bolt which is constructed in a way in which it is durable enough to support the users body; A (wooden) laser-cut sole that is very similar to the base sole, but the distinction is that this one allows the scissor lift to fully fold; Another 3-D printed layer that holds onto the users foot in the heel and four other side parts of the foot which allows the user to have full stability when walking; Two (cloth) straps with buckles that keep the users foot attached to the mechanism.