OCAD U Industrial Design students wow judges at the Rocket Show

Sarah Eldershaw's project on display at GradEx. Photo by Christina Gapic.

Imagine if you could easily make your own shoes from a bespoke mail-order kit. That’s what Sarah Eldershaw (Industrial Design, 2014) is making possible with her start-up company Shoe String Assemblies, which she began as her thesis project earlier this year. Her project won six prizes at the 2014 Rocket Showhosted by the Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO) and held at the Design Exchange May 10 and 11.

Eldershaw wore a pair of her “moxfords” (i.e. a cross between oxfords and moccasins) throughout the event, which impressed the judges — and  a reporter from The Globe and Mail.  She plans to sell her customizable shoe kits online (likely through Etsy) and laser cut them to her customers’ unique design specifications. The kits are designed to make it relaxing and enjoyable to craft one’s own shoes. Creator-wearers stitch them together with the included needle and thread (and detailed instructions) and can even custom embroider them.

Eldershaw was one of six OCAD U students who picked up awards at the Rocket Show this year. Together, OCAD U students won more than half the prizes and awards, against competitors from Carleton University and Humber College. Other projects included consumer products, transportation concepts, healthcare innovations, furniture and sporting goods. 

OCAD U students who won or tied for prizes and awards this year include:
•    Sarah Eldershaw (six categories) 
•    Dayna Griffiths 
•    Magdalene Kan 
•    Jackie Kemp (two categories)
•    Valeria Stroukova (three categories)
•    Maximillian Wessman 

The Rocket show was founded in 2001 as an opportunity for ACIDO’s members to meet graduating designers in Ontario and celebrate their completion of undergraduate studies in Industrial Design.

Find out more

Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO

Complete list of winners