Designer Spotlight | Joey Khamis: Redefining the Future of Footwear Design

In today's footwear design industry, the integration of technology and creativity is leading the trends of the future. Many designers are actively exploring virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing technology to break through the limitations of traditional design. Among them, Joey Khamis stands out as an emerging footwear designer who fully utilizes these advanced technologies to redefine the future of shoe design.

Educational Background and Career Beginnings

Joey Khamis graduated from Purdue University, majoring in industrial design. During his time at university, he actively participated in various design projects and interned at well-known brands such as Columbia Sportswear and New Balance, gaining valuable design experience.

Innovative Contributions at Reebok

After graduating, Joey joined Reebok and contributed to several key projects. Among them, he collaborated with pop star Cardi B to design the Cardi B x Reebok Classic Leather shoe, successfully integrating fashion elements into sportswear design, which gained wide market and consumer recognition.

Founding the MLLN Brand and the Application of 3D Printing Technology

In late 2021, Joey Khamis co-founded MLLN with four other co-founders, including designers and experts in cryptocurrency. The company, a digital design firm, focuses on revolutionizing the footwear industry through the use of advanced technologies like virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. MLLN aims to push the boundaries of digital design and sustainable manufacturing within the footwear industry.

As part of their innovation, MLLN collaborated with the 3D printing studio Zellerfeld to produce custom shoes, offering personalized designs and precise size matching. This collaboration is not just about customization but also emphasizes sustainability by encouraging customers to recycle old shoes for material reuse, supporting the concept of a circular economy.

In addition to its 3D printing innovations, MLLN introduced the MLLNPass collection. This collection, designed by Khamis and co-founder Finn Rush-Taylor, incorporates unique sneaker designs that use Zellerfeld’s 3D printing technology to provide custom fits based on each customer’s foot measurements. Each pair within the collection is linked to an NFT, offering customers access to exclusive digital benefits, such as lifetime membership and early access to future releases. This approach positions MLLN at the forefront of integrating digital design, sustainable production, and personalized footwear, challenging traditional manufacturing methods and paving the way for a new era in the sneaker industry.

The Hezi Slide

While MLLNPass highlights the merging of digital assets with physical footwear, Joey's next significant project, the Hezi Shoe, takes personalized design to another level. Introduced in late 2024, the Hezi Shoe is inspired by a fusion of past and future aesthetics, drawing influence from surrealist art. Khamis aimed to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, utilizing virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing to create a custom-fit shoe that balances durability and flexibility.

Design Inspiration and Features

The Hezi Shoe draws inspiration from basketball footwear but is designed for versatility beyond the court. Crafted from a TPU material that mimics foam, the shoe offers exceptional comfort. Its structure balances durability with flexibility, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. Leveraging 3D printing technology, customers can obtain a custom fit by scanning their feet and tailoring the shoe to their exact size.

Development Process

Utilizing VR software, Khamis creates 3D models of the Hezi Shoe, streamlining the transition from concept to physical product. This process enhances the efficiency and precision of the design workflow.

Design Exploration at Khamis Studio

In 2024, Joey founded Khamis Studio, focusing on the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. He uses virtual reality tools such as Gravity Sketch to conduct 3D design, improving the efficiency and precision of the design process. During the design process, Joey draws inspiration from nature, such as the textures of dart frogs and cacti, creating unique design elements. He incorporates these elements into the texture and structure of the shoes, reflecting respect for nature and attention to detail.

Design Process and Team Collaboration

At Khamis Studio, Joey adopts a design process based on virtual reality. He starts by sketching in Procreate, then imports the sketches into Gravity Sketch to build 3D wireframe models in a virtual environment. This approach allows him to design around a virtual last and explore shapes and proportions in the early stages. Collaboration with team members has become more efficient, with cross-regional cooperation becoming possible, and the design review and feedback process is more intuitive and immersive.

Looking to the Future

Joey Khamis's design journey fully reflects the deep integration of technological innovation and design art. He applies virtual reality and 3D printing technology to footwear design, breaking through traditional design boundaries and bringing new perspectives to the industry. With the introduction of the Hezi Slide, he continues to push the boundaries of custom-fit footwear, blending functionality and style. As technology advances, we have reason to believe that Joey will continue to lead the innovative trend in footwear design, bringing even more surprises to consumers in the future.