Lululemon Shoe Concept

Hey everyone! For a while now, I've been itching to stretch my creative muscles in a slightly different direction and explore some new techniques outside my usual Unreal Engine workflows. Inspired by a recent stroll past a Lululemon store – their clean aesthetic and product design really caught my eye – I decided to dive into the world of apparel, specifically conceptualizing a unique running sneaker for them.
My journey began with traditional 2D concept sketches, laying the groundwork for the design language I envisioned. From there, I transitioned into the familiar territory of 3ds Max. Instead of tackling the shoe as a monolithic mesh, I opted for a modular approach. Breaking it down into individual components made it significantly easier to sculpt intricate details and, crucially, streamlined the UV unwrapping process in preparation for texturing.
Once the modeling and UVs were locked down, it was time to bring the asset to life in Substance Painter. Drawing inspiration from various online apparel designs and Lululemon's signature color palettes, I meticulously crafted unique textures that felt both contemporary and aligned with their brand identity. To ensure a crisp and professional touch, I even ventured into Illustrator to recreate the Lululemon logo and accompanying text as high-resolution vector decals.
The final stage involved bringing everything into my comfort zone: Unreal Engine. Here, I wasn't just aiming for a static render. I wanted to experiment with UE5's exciting new motion design tools to create a dynamic, almost motion media-esque reveal. My vision was to emulate the unveiling of a premium apparel item. I played with lighting to initially spotlight the sneaker, followed by a subtle reveal of the iconic Lululemon logo on the backdrop – intentionally out of focus, playing on brand recognition even in the periphery.
The final renders were then passed into After Effects for some subtle compositing and color adjustments. To complete the presentation, I added some dynamic video editing and last-minute animated graphics in Premiere Pro.
To truly break down the entire process, from initial inspiration to final animation, I've also put together a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. You can find that here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ab7bqY0Bw65xjufXA35o_aPk3w3Pk2gn/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115739207521999834653&rtpof=true&sd=true
This project was a fantastic departure from my usual work. It pushed me outside my comfort zone in terms of design thinking and technical execution, and honestly, I feel like I've gained a valuable new perspective as a result. Definitely looking forward to exploring more creative avenues like this in the future!