After researching "Enclothed Cognition" of people with disability, I aimed to design against the current problematic product range from 3 angles: accessibility, smartness, and fashionability.
By employing SMA springs that's shapable in room temperature but contract to coiled form in 70°C, I created a hand-free closure mechanism through iterations of prototypes.
A charging mat activates DOOR, pulling down the heel counter with heated SMA springs to ensure ease of foot entry and exit, whereas stepping out of the mat cools down the SMA springs to allow counterforce to perform closure.
