Scalability Roadmap

For this scalability roadmap i decided to do something that shows the best things that can happen for my project. So of course I don't know if all of these are realistic in the future. And to put a bit of context, I'm still in the first phase of the development of my project.

Phase 1: Local Prototyping and Research

Goal: To develop the initial model rooted in place, tradition, and local materials.

Key Actors:

  • Local artisans (espadrille makers in Catalonia/South of France)

  • Anthropologists, historians of craft

  • Podiatrists

  • You as a hybrid designer-craftsperson-researcher

Skills & Knowledge:

  • Ethnographic research

  • Traditional shoe-making techniques

  • Foot morphology

Actions:

  • Document traditional espadrille-making with artisans

  • Scan diverse foot shapes for pattern development

  • Co-create first modular prototypes

  • Conduct walking and climate tests

Funding Sources: Local craft preservation grants, cultural institutions, university research funding

Phase 2: Building a Community of Practice

Goal: Make a transition from me as a solo designer to a collaborative community.

Key Actors:

  • Design students and educators

  • Local makerspaces, fablabs

  • Community members

Skills & Knowledge:

  • Community engagement

  • Digital fabrication tools

Actions:

  • Host a community workshops

  • Publish open-source toolkit online

  • Begin collecting user feedback

Funding Sources: Municipal funding (Barcelona), cultural foundations

Phase 3: Hybrid Profile Development & Network Building

Goal: Expand my professional identity and create a translocal network.

Key Actors:

  • Other designers around the world

  • Cultural and design networks

Skills & Knowledge:

  • Network building and collaboration

  • Cross cultural communication

Actions:

  • Partner with similar initiatives

  • Launch a decentralized footwear exchange (repository of designs)

  • Develop an online platform for sharing local adaptations with footwear

Funding Sources: European Union, fashion sustainability NGOs, EU innovation grants

Phase 4: Institutional Alliances & Policy Influence

Goal: Solidify long-term sustainability and institutional support.

Key Actors:

  • Universities and research institutions

  • Policy makers in sustainable manufacturing

Skills & Knowledge:

  • Policy advocacy and systems thinking

  • Long-term planning and evaluation

Actions:

  • Develop a research lab or initiative within an institution

  • Co-write papers or manifestos on de-standardised design

  • Scale the platform through institutional hubs

Funding Sources: National/Regional grants (Catalonia), institutional partnerships

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