What are you trying to advocate that is not represented or often ignored? Why is that important to you?
I wanted to advocate migration issues through my personal experience moving between America and Korea. Even though my family voluntary chose to move around frequently, for me, it felt like a forced migration since I simply had to follow them. I was too young to make my own decisions. I wanted to reflect this personal experience to today’s migration issues such as the refugee crisis and immigration. By comparing myself to the people of such issues, I want to portray what it is like to not have a permanent home and how people find "comfort" within their journeys.
I wanted to advocate migration issues through my personal experience moving between America and Korea. Even though my family voluntary chose to move around frequently, for me, it felt like a forced migration since I simply had to follow them. I was too young to make my own decisions. I wanted to reflect this personal experience to today’s migration issues such as the refugee crisis and immigration. By comparing myself to the people of such issues, I want to portray what it is like to not have a permanent home and how people find "comfort" within their journeys.
Initial Idea Sketches and Drafts
Have you considered color / pattern / textile applications and its purpose for the shoes and your idea?
Footprints I created unique patterns for the footprints. I wanted to incorporate the idea of shuffling “back and forth” in between countries and when we walk with our two feet.
Cardboard The structure of the slippers made of cardboard are stiff and strong. I wanted to make them look like armor in a way to emphasize the challenges migrants go through.
Cardboard The structure of the slippers made of cardboard are stiff and strong. I wanted to make them look like armor in a way to emphasize the challenges migrants go through.
Progress Work
What technique and material process are you doing to use in order for the shoes to be constructional sound and interesting?
Catalog Pages When applying the catalog pages, I cut them into strips for abstraction. I did not want to be direct about my message.
Bubble Wraps I used bubble wrap for the interior’s surface of the slippers. The wraps keep the shoe more comfortable compared to the stiff exterior made of cardboard covered in catalog pages and a layers of gel gesso.
Shoe Box
How have you considered the material? Is the material inspired by the everyday?
I was planning to use a different material (non-wood based) for the interior of the slippers. I chose bubble wrap instead of wool and fabric to emphasize its ubiquitousness. The delicateness and protective character of the bubble wraps represent the migrants and how they confront transitions.
What does the design of your shoe communicate to the public?
The name reflects migration issues through my personal experience. I was able to relate to the unstable emotions of going “back and forth” and not having a permanent "home." Yet, at the same time, I also realized how my migration was voluntary and privileged. Comparing myself to the people going through these experiences inspired me to advocate immigration issues through the design of my shoe. By creating slippers - a symbol of "comfort" - with representational materials, I communicate the challenging circumstances that migrants have to face.
The name reflects migration issues through my personal experience. I was able to relate to the unstable emotions of going “back and forth” and not having a permanent "home." Yet, at the same time, I also realized how my migration was voluntary and privileged. Comparing myself to the people going through these experiences inspired me to advocate immigration issues through the design of my shoe. By creating slippers - a symbol of "comfort" - with representational materials, I communicate the challenging circumstances that migrants have to face.
Have you purposefully created design elements in order to successfully communicate visually?
To communicate specifically my personal experiences, I designed unique footprints of the places I have lived the longest in: Irvine, Seoul, Leesburg, and Daejeon. Adding the interactive element of physically walking in these slippers, I expressed how I have been moving “back and forth.”
The catalog pages of groceries and furniture represents home. By abstracting these pages, I created an unstable pattern, reflecting the emotions of those of forced migration, not being able to have these things that make home "home."
To communicate specifically my personal experiences, I designed unique footprints of the places I have lived the longest in: Irvine, Seoul, Leesburg, and Daejeon. Adding the interactive element of physically walking in these slippers, I expressed how I have been moving “back and forth.”
The catalog pages of groceries and furniture represents home. By abstracting these pages, I created an unstable pattern, reflecting the emotions of those of forced migration, not being able to have these things that make home "home."
How does the cultural or historical aspect of your shoes activate the argument of or question you have today?
Slippers have been a symbol of "home" and "comfort," specifically in the Western world. In Korea, where I originally come from, people do not wear slippers at home. Yet, after going through many changes, my family became inseparable from them. Likewise, we have been accepting different culture and adapting them as part of our own. Personally, slippers now represent migration. The fact that these “foreign” objects became a symbol of "home" for me reflects the transitions I been going through. Adding upon this concept on a personal level, I attempted to question people about their "homes" and raise awareness of migration issues around the world.
Slippers have been a symbol of "home" and "comfort," specifically in the Western world. In Korea, where I originally come from, people do not wear slippers at home. Yet, after going through many changes, my family became inseparable from them. Likewise, we have been accepting different culture and adapting them as part of our own. Personally, slippers now represent migration. The fact that these “foreign” objects became a symbol of "home" for me reflects the transitions I been going through. Adding upon this concept on a personal level, I attempted to question people about their "homes" and raise awareness of migration issues around the world.
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