Designed by Tomorrow: How Syntilay Is Disrupting Footwear with AI and 3D Printing

FXPO Interview with Founder Ben Weiss:

Few are pushing boundaries like Ben Weiss, the founder of Syntilay, a company merging AI design and 3D printing to reshape how shoes are made, who gets to make them, and what’s possible when technology meets culture.

We sat down with Ben to uncover the vision behind Syntilay and explore how the brand is democratizing shoe creation for a new generation of creatives.

The Origin of Syntilay: A Name That Sparks

Derived from the word scintillate, meaning to shine or sparkle, Syntilay represents more than just a brand. “We want people to feel like they can be great in any direction,” Ben shares. “Greatness isn’t confined to athletes anymore - creators, streamers, performers - they all deserve a shot at self-expression through footwear.”

This philosophy is embedded into everything Syntilay does: giving anyone the power to walk in the shoes of the people who inspire them, literally.

The Problem: Footwear’s Traditional Barriers

Ben paints a clear picture of the problem Syntilay set out to solve: “It costs a million dollars and 18 months to launch a traditional shoe. That excludes nearly everyone outside elite athletes.” Most influencers or creatives might have huge followings but never get access to footwear as a canvas. “We saw creators selling hats, hoodies, even toys,but never shoes. We wanted to change that.”

Rather than replicate the old model, Ben and his team built a new one from the ground up, leveraging AI and 3D printing to reduce cost, time, and risk. The result? A new path where creators can launch a shoe in as little as 2-3 months.

70% AI. 100% Disruption.

Syntilay’s design process combines human creativity with AI-generated iterations. “We use AI for textures, concepts, and even 3D modeling. One of our upcoming sneakers is 95% AI-generated, the most automated shoe design in history,” Ben says proudly.

The brand’s debut slide design is a striking blend of a yacht and a spaceship - sleek, futuristic, yet grounded in wearable form. “Every pair is custom-fit to you. It’s not just design innovation, it’s personal.”

From Jordan to Yeezy to YouTubers

Ben believes we’re witnessing the third wave of footwear influence. “First, it was athletes - think Jordan. Then it was artists - like Ye. Now it’s content creators. The next evolution will be everyday people designing through no-code tools, just like Canva changed graphic design.”

Syntilay isn’t just chasing trends - it’s building infrastructure for that future. “We’re not tweaking colors of an existing silhouette. We’re co-creating original forms from scratch, unlocking a new era of footwear storytelling.”

What’s Next: The Moon, Literally?

Ben hints at what’s coming: sneakers designed with near-total AI automation, explorations into space-themed concepts, and even interstellar experimentation. But the vision stays grounded in people: “We want anyone - streamers, dancers, models, fans - to design and wear shoes that express who they are.”

With industry legends like Reebok founder Joe Foster on Syntilay’s board, and a creative team obsessed with rapid iteration, the company is moving fast. “We can drop six new silhouettes in the time it takes a big brand to release one.”

Designed by Tomorrow

More than a slogan, Designed by Tomorrow is Syntilay’s blueprint. “It means designing the future today for the people and ideas shaping tomorrow,” Ben explains. “Whether that’s AI-generated forms, creators owning their aesthetic, or fans stepping into one-of-one pieces of culture - we’re building what’s next.”

At FXPO, we celebrate exactly this kind of forward momentum. Syntilay isn’t just designing shoes: they’re designing new standards. And we’re here for it.

This FXPO Interview was conducted by Nader Alkhabbaz, as part of our ongoing spotlight series on the future of footwear.