The Future Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Footwear Industry

With the increasing use of artificial intelligence in all areas of industrial production worldwide, the sectoral impacts have begun to be discussed. Although artificial intelligence is used at different levels across various sectors, its influence is increasingly evident over time. Countries and sectors that can adapt to these developments are expected to progress more rapidly. These advancements are of great significance, particularly in leather goods and footwear production. The importance and impact of artificial intelligence in shoe design bring numerous innovative changes to the sector and reveal a transformative process that shapes industrial product design. Here are some key points regarding the significance of artificial intelligence in this field:

Data Analysis: Artificial intelligence assists in analyzing large data sets to understand trends, customer preferences, and market dynamics. This enables designers to identify which types of shoes are more popular, addressing a significant challenge for manufacturers in gaining insights.

Improvement/Acceleration of the Design Process: AI allows designers to quickly evaluate different alternatives. This makes the design process more efficient and offers the possibility of rapid prototyping. Recently, time has become a vital factor for companies in production.

Customer Feedback: AI analyzes customer feedback to help understand which designs are gaining more attention. This information allows designers to continuously improve their products, making feedback a crucial process for designers.

Innovative Design Methods: AI-supported algorithms can facilitate the emergence of unusual and creative design styles. Designers can develop extraordinary products using these innovative approaches. The key process here is the AI software that provides the algorithms and can visualize the designs you imagine based on the prompts you define.

Market Analysis: Artificial intelligence helps brands strengthen their market positions by conducting competitor analysis. This information is critical for making strategic decisions, providing significant benefits for executives in determining the future of their companies.

Emotional Design: AI contributes to the development of aesthetically and emotionally appealing designs by analyzing consumers’ emotional responses. This has the potential to enhance brand loyalty and is used in the formation of a brand’s DNA and self-definition. It is one of the most important criteria for branding.

Social Media Interaction: AI analyzes social media data to help designers understand which styles are gaining interest. This enables them to design according to current trends, allowing manufacturers to quickly convert popular styles into products.

Education and Development: AI can offer training tools to help designers enhance their skills, allowing professionals in the sector to continuously progress. The use of these training tools should not be overlooked, as they bring new developments.

Global Access: AI helps designers better understand trends and demands in international markets, allowing brands to remain competitive on a global scale. This presents significant advantages, especially for exporters.

Material Selection: AI can select the most suitable materials for a specific design by analyzing material properties to determine the best combinations regarding performance, durability, and cost. The effects of artificial intelligence in production are not limited to these aspects. I expect AI designs to also lead advancements in material development. The limitations in the applicability of AI designs and material production could negatively affect shoe manufacturers’ perspectives on AI. It can be said that in the future, shoe component manufacturers will have to change their material production and product diversity due to AI designs.

In conclusion, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing shoe design by contributing to a more effective, faster, and user-centered design process. This integrated approach will enable brands to gain competitive advantages and support creative processes in the industry. AI has the potential to increase both the creative process and production efficiency in footwear design and manufacturing by analyzing customer data to enable personalized shoe designs. This will inevitably make the footwear and bag industry more dynamic and customer- focused. Ultimately, offering customized products based on customer preferences can enhance customer satisfaction. Artificial intelligence allows continuous improvements in the production process by analyzing customer feedback, resulting in products that better meet customer needs. Companies producing materials for the footwear sector will need to focus their AI designs on product requirements.

To emphasize the main point, I will try to summarize it briefly. In the near future, manufacturing companies in the sector will be asked by wholesale customers to produce shoe, slipper, and sandal models with different designs suitable for their country and region. I must mention that this process has already begun in some companies. This will lead to a shift towards a period where retail companies determine and have produced the models rather than the manufacturers designing them. A new process will emerge where firms capable of producing and developing AI designs will stand out.

Having discussed the sectoral effects of artificial intelligence, it is essential to acknowledge the benefits of AI in this article.

PROF. DR. AHMET UZUN

SELÇUK UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, HEAD OF THE FOOTWEAR DESIGN AND PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT