MIAMI Shoe Museum - MIAMI vibes 4.0 English

Welcome to MIAMI vibes 4.0: AI Footwear Design Challenge

Designing for the New Space Age

Welcome to MIAMI vibes 4.0: AI Footwear Design Challenge, an international initiative by the MIAMI Shoe Museum exploring the evolving intersections of footwear design, cultural heritage, technological innovation, artificial intelligence, and the future of human movement.

Designed as a platform for experimentation, research, and creative dialogue, MIAMI vibes brings together designers, artists, technologists, students, and creative thinkers from around the world to explore how emerging tools and historical inspiration can shape the future of footwear design.

Building on the success of previous editions, MIAMI vibes 1.0 (2024), which premiered at MICAM Milan in Italy, MIAMI vibes 2.0 (2025), presented in Miami during the Dancing Shoes exhibition celebrating the centennial of legendary Cuban-American performer Celia Cruz and her iconic cantilever-style shoe, and MIAMI vibes 3.0 (June 2026), inspired by “250 Years of the United States: Designed in Motion (1776–2026),” the initiative continues to transform footwear into a medium of movement, identity, innovation, and cultural expression.

Each edition of MIAMI vibes begins with inspiration discovered within THE SHOE VAULT, the collection and research platform of the MIAMI Shoe Museum. Historical footwear serves as the starting point for a new creative conversation, connecting ideas from the past with the possibilities of the future.

MIAMI vibes 4.0

“Designing for the New Space Age”

For decades, space has inspired humanity's imagination. The original Space Age influenced some of the most visionary designers of the twentieth century, who challenged convention through futuristic silhouettes, innovative materials, technology, and new ideas about how people could live and express themselves.

Today, humanity is entering a new era of exploration. Advances in artificial intelligence, technology, and space innovation are expanding our understanding of what is possible and inspiring new questions about how we will live, move, and express ourselves in the future.

What will the future look like beneath our feet?

Your interpretation may be functional or conceptual, wearable or visionary. It may explore fashion, performance, sustainability, advanced materials, future lifestyles, new environments, human exploration, or entirely new ways of experiencing movement.

Inspired by history. Designed for tomorrow.

Recognition & Winner's Award

Your vision could shape the future of footwear design.

Selected works from MIAMI vibes 4.0: AI Footwear Design Challenge will be featured in the global digital exhibition Designing for the New Space Age, considered for inclusion in the inaugural MSM Design Lab Index, and presented at the Museu do Calçado – Shoe Museum in Portugal in December 2026.

The MIAMI vibes 4.0 Winning Design receives:

Official Winner Certificate from MIAMI Shoe Museum™

One-on-One Jury Consultation with a member of the international jury

Global Recognition through MIAMI vibes 4.0 and MSM - THE SHOE VAULT platforms

International Museum Presentation in Portugal

APPLY NOW

Eligibility:

Applicants must be 18 years or older to participate in the Professional and Emerging Creators categories.

Participants aged 13–17 must apply under the Youth Category and participate under the supervision and authorization of a parent, legal guardian, teacher, or other authorized adult representative.

Participants may apply individually. Each application must include one design proposal and the applicable application fee. Applicants may submit up to two design proposals, with a separate application and fee required for each submission.

A non-refundable submission fee per design proposal is required at checkout. We will not consider applications submitted without payment of the fee.

1. Concept Proposal

Submit a detailed concept proposal explaining:

The design philosophy and inspiration behind your footwear concept.
How AI is incorporated into your creative process.
Any specific design challenges, questions, or opportunities addressed through the use of AI.

2. Design Presentation Video

Present your design proposal in a maximum 2-minute video.

The video should clearly communicate your concept, design, and creative vision.

If the video is presented in a language other than English, English subtitles are required.

3. Digital Renderings / Prototypes

Submit digital 2D or 3D renderings and/or prototypes of your design. AI-generated or AI-assisted elements may be included.

Your submission must include at least four of the following six views:

Top View — Plan View
Side View — Lateral and Medial
Front View
Rear View — Heel View
Bottom View — Outsole View
3/4 View — Isometric View

Please optimize files for easy viewing and ensure that submitted materials can be accessed and viewed directly without requiring large-file downloads.

4. Google Drive Submission Folder

Participants must provide a link to a Google Drive folder containing all required judging materials.

The folder should contain only the materials specifically requested in these Submission Requirements and should be organized clearly for review.

Please ensure that all links and files are accessible to the competition team without requiring additional permission requests.

5. Originality & Rights

Participants must confirm that their submission is their original creative work or that they have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, permissions, and authorizations for any third-party materials incorporated into the submission.

By submitting an entry, participants represent that, to the best of their knowledge, their submission does not infringe or violate the intellectual property or other rights of any third party and has not been knowingly copied or plagiarized from another source.

Participants remain responsible for the content of their submission, including any AI-generated or AI-assisted elements.

Jury Panel

MIAMI Vibes 4.0 brings together an exceptional international jury of designers, innovators, industry leaders, and cultural visionaries shaping the future of footwear and creative technology.

Drawing from expertise across footwear, fashion, sport, AI, digital design, sustainability, and cultural innovation, the jury will challenge participants to go beyond aesthetics, to imagine what footwear can become in the New Space Age.

Submissions will be evaluated on Creativity & Originality, Movement & Sport, Sustainability, AI & Technological Innovation, Functionality, and Storytelling & Concept.

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