Magnetic Shoe Display

For my final project, I plan to make a magnetic shoe display. When looking for inspiration on what’s already out there, all I could find was this or some slight variation of this

The aesthetic of this magnetic shoe display can be described as modern, minimalist, and futuristic. The sleek black frame with an illuminated inner edge creates a clean and contemporary look. The floating effect of the shoe gives it a high-tech, almost futuristic appeal, making it feel like a premium display piece. What’s cool about this is that I have a lot of creative freedom when adapting a project like this to different aesthetics. The floating aspect of the design adds a futuristic look and feel, so I think it would be cool to do with a more retro, industrial, or maybe even wood aesthetic, mixing more basic rudimentary aesthetics with a futuristic function. I feel I could emulate these aesthetics just by changing the material of the base without changing the shape. Making the U-shape of the base a different material would change the aesthetic. However, I would also like to experiment with the shape of the base, making it more jagged or fluid, or if I want to stick to the basic geometry and mix up the material.

[2] sketches of base designs

Here, I sketched a few different base designs. The top left is a more fluid design with maybe a topography aesthetic with a layered heat map, while the one next to it is more rigid and geometric. The bottom right is supposed to be a pipe design with an industrial aesthetic, but I feel a solid base would look better than a framed one. Along with the shape and material of the base, I’ve thought about how I can use the lighting to change the aesthetic. If I used LED like most products, I could go along with the minimalist, futuristic, luxury aesthetic. Or I could use something like an Edison bulb to give it a vintage look and, again, the industrial aesthetic. The problem with a bulb like that is it’s a bulb and not an led strip that can be integrated into the base. My thought would be to place it below the shoe.

[3] Edison Light bulb and display sketch

The combination of shape, material, lighting, and finish gives me a lot of room to tailor the design to different aesthetics. I feel there are a lot of different directions I can go and simple changes I can make that can differentiate or enhance the aesthetic. Whether I go for a polished, futuristic design, a rugged industrial look, or something unexpected, the core function of the display remains the same—it’s just about how I present it. As I play around with the design, I’m excited and curious to see how it will develop and change

Sources

[1] Best Suppliers. “Luxury Style 360° Rotation Magnetic Floating Shoe Rotating Display Stand.” Best Suppliers, https://www.bestsuppliers.com/products/pjdq24guhaoh/luxury-style-360-rotation-magnetic-floating-shoe-rotating-display-stand-magnetic-levitation-acrylic. Accessed March 6, 2025.

[3] 1000Bulbs. “PLTS-12101 – LED T8 U-Bend Tube Light.” 1000Bulbs, https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/221161/PLTS-12101.html. Accessed March 6, 2025.