The 85Aliens are 3D printed in TPU 85A, a soft, foam-like material chosen for its comfort and flexibility. Meant to be worn as a lifestyle shoe, yet designed to disturb the aesthetic conventions of the everyday.
Rather than designing for the market, this shoe was treated as an experiment, an opportunity to explore the creative potential of 3D printing while staying deeply self-inspired. Rooted in anatomical research and generative design, the final design is the result of mimicking organic forms using technology, while also an experiment on printing with soft TPU.
Bio Adelina Akhmetshina is a recent BFA graduate from the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design, where she spent her time focused on industrial and footwear design. She is currently conducting footwear research under the College of Engineering.
Her work centers function, aesthetics, and emerging fabrication technology.
Other prizes 2026 Candy R. Wei Prize for International Studies in Art and Design Recipient 2025 Michigan Fashion Media Summit (MFMS) - Fashion Forward Showcase, Finalist
