Step Forward, 3D‑Printed Shoes for a Better Future

Chris Wong
Nov 26, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

by Sean Ma

I started with a simple thought: why is it still so hard to get shoes that fit, don’t cost a lot, and don’t hurt the planet? Big factories use pricey molds, waste material, and make changing designs slow. 3D design and printing can be faster, use less, and fit people better. That’s what I’m trying to do here.

I’m still building prototypes and testing lots of filaments to find the right mix: flexible but strong, comfy but tough. Every print teaches me something new—how heat, speed, and layers change the feel, and how patterns can add support. It feels like engineering and art at the same time.

A Note on Purpose

This isn’t “tech for cool points.” It’s using simple tools—3D design and printers—to improve access. If a kid’s next pair can be made down the street, if a broken strap can be replaced in minutes, and if fit can be tuned without shipping delays, that’s real impact.

Follow Along I’ll keep posting weekly updates—wins, fails, settings, and files—as the shoes grow from rough prints to everyday gear. I’ll listen, tweak, and improve, one layer at a time. Let’s make every step count.

Background Story

Making shoes the old way costs a lot and makes a lot of trash, and many pairs still don’t fit the people who need them most. I kept thinking about families on tight budgets and kids who outgrow shoes fast. So I asked a different question: what if shoes were like files—easy to edit, easy to reprint, and made nearby when you need them? That idea became StepForward.

I want to design and 3D print shoes you can customize and adjust, using affordable, eco‑friendly materials. No giant machines or molds—just good ideas, time, and a printer. Each pair can match someone’s foot, and you can change size, comfort, or style with a few clicks.

Customizable: change size, arch support, tread, and midsole softness.
Adjustable: swap straps, insoles, or lattice parts without remaking the whole shoe.
Responsible: print local, cut waste, recycle scraps when possible.
Cost‑effective: no expensive molds, easy to test and improve.

Why 3D Printing?

Factories need a bunch of metal molds for every size and part. They’re expensive and get tossed later. With 3D printing, you just edit the file and print again. New shape? Softer sole? Bigger size? Click and go. It’s faster, cheaper, and better for the planet.

Why It Matters

Fit and dignity: shoes that fit mean comfort, health, and confidence.
Local making: print near the people who need them.
No mold lock‑in: change designs anytime without trashing old tools.
Rapid iteration: fix the file, not the factory.

Why 3D Printing vs. Factories

Molds are pricey and wasteful; every size can need its own.
After molding, fixes are hard. With printing, tweak and reprint the same day.
Local agility: one printer can help a neighborhood; a few can help a town.
Less waste: print only what you need and recycle mistakes when you can.

My Shoe Making Journey

Week 1

This week I learned how to measure a foot the right way—length, width, and depth. I read a bunch of articles so I could understand how feet actually work. Then I opened Autodesk Fusion and started designing the right shoe sole.

Getting the shape right took a while. I wanted the heel thicker than the forefoot. At first I tried using Fillet to do that (I thought it would be easy), but nope, that was wrong. So I made two offset planes, extruded them to different heights, and then used Fillet to make a smooth transition between them. That worked way better, but that took a while to be figured out.

I also learned about the medial arch. I used Press Pull to adjust the sole there so it feels comfy under the foot. The learning curve was steep, and I had to practice a lot to figure out which tools to use and how. I’m really happy because I learned so much this week!

Week 2

This week I worked on my slipper a ton. I made a full prototype with the sole, the strap, and the tread. I printed it in PLA because it’s fast and I just needed to see if it fits. The strap was the hardest part. My first strap was too narrow. I changed it and the second one was too tall. The third one finally fit right, so that felt awesome.

Making the strap took lots of tries. I tested different ways, and the best way was using three offset planes and a loft between them. Even that was a little tricky. After I got the shape, I wanted holes like Crocs. I used Emboss as a Cut to make one hole, drew a curve on the strap, and then used Pattern on Path to copy the holes along the curve. It failed a bunch of times, but I kept fixing things and it finally worked.

The tread on the sole was also not easy. At first I did an extrude cut and used a rectangular pattern to repeat it, but the cuts stayed straight up and down, which looked wrong. I did some research and learned to use the Draft tool to tilt the cut faces, and then I patterned that. Now the tread spreads out and looks like a Yeezy-style wave, which I really like.

To save time and filament, I printed the strap separately after I knew the sole fit. That way I could adjust faster. Lots of mistakes this week, but I learned a lot and ended with a strap that fits and a tread that looks cool.

Then I printed the whole slipper in TPU 85A. It’s taking forever because TPU prints super slow, but I want it to come out nice and squishy. I’m really hoping the shoe turns out awesome, and I can’t wait to try it on. I’ll update here soon. Stay tuned!

More update to come!!!

The Mission

These shoes aren’t for a shelf. The plan is to donate or sell them affordably to people who need them, especially where good shoes are rare. A single printer can open new options for a family. This is about being useful, kind, and sustainable.

A Step at a Time

Innovation isn’t always about bigger factories. Sometimes it’s about thinking smarter—designing better, wasting less, and caring more. I want these shoes to help someone walk farther and feel better, one step at a time.