All in one cleat

A1 cleat, All-in-One cleat, built with a modular sole system that allows athletes to switch between different sport-specific outsoles.

Project for a mentors and muses course, where I met weekly with a senior to refine my design process. This 1-on-1 mentorship helped me bridge the gap between my freshman and sophomore years, focusing on professional workflows and project execution.

Problem and solution

Despite minimal differences, each sport insists on its own cleats—forcing parents to shell out hundreds on shoes that vary mainly by their studs. It’s a costly, repetitive hassle. A modular cleat with interchangeable soles offers a smarter, more affordable way to keep kids ready for every game.

A stack of five running shoes on a blurred outdoor track background.
A football coach giving instructions to a team during a huddle on the field, with players wearing helmets and jerseys.

Made up persona based around project

Name: Coach Mike Thompson

Occupation: Youth Sports Coach / Community Program Coordinator

Location: Small Town in Ohio

Family: Married, three kids (ages 8, 10, and 14), all active in sports

Background: Coach Mike has led youth leagues for over a decade and is deeply involved in his community, often helping kids whose families can’t afford gear. He’s seen how costly and limiting single-sport cleats are—especially for kids wanting to play multiple sports.

Pain Points:

  • Frustrated by the high cost of cleats for every sport

  • Sees talented kids miss out on playing because they lack proper equipment

  • Constantly looking for affordable gear solutions for his team

  • Limited resources and donations don’t go far when each sport needs different cleats and equipment

01. research

A black and white photo of a football game showing a player with a football running on the field while another player tries to catch up. The player with the football is wearing a helmet and jersey with the word 'LIONS' and has his hands on the ball. The other player is wearing a jersey with the words 'EAST CENTRAL' and the number 20. The background has a crowd watching the game.

youth involved in multiple sports

Multi-sport participation boosts skill development, reduces injury risk, and enhances athleticism. Research shows 70% of Division 1 athletes played multiple sports as kids, with 88% continuing in high school. The trend of youth specializing in one sport early on has become more common, but experts continue to advocate for the benefits of exploring multiple sports to build well-rounded athletic foundations.

Stud design

The design of cleat studs—shape, size, material, and placement—is crucial for performance and safety. These elements differ across sports, positions, and playing surfaces. Using the wrong cleats can lead to reduced traction, improper support, and even injuries due to mismatched movement patterns and playing surfaces.

Close-up of a white plastic object with a design resembling an angry cartoon face with furrowed brows and a scowl.

FOOTBALL

Close-up of the sole of a Nike athletic shoe with diagonal nike logo, black and white design.

BASEBALL

material

Close-up of a red and white Nike athletic shoe, focusing on the heel and sole with the Nike Fastfit logo.

TPU

Cleat materials impact performance based on sport, position, and surface. Mesh is light and breathable, ideal for speed but not durable. Kangaroo leather provides comfort and control but absorbs water and wears quickly. TPU offers a durable balance of support and flexibility, ideal for football, baseball, and turf.

Close-up of a new light blue Nike athletic shoe with a black Nike swoosh, wrapped in clear plastic.

MESH

A hybrid cleat design using TPU in high-stress zones and mesh in the upper boosts durability, support, and agility. This combo works well across different sports and surfaces, enhancing overall performance.

Close-up of a black Adidas soccer shoe with white stripes and a leather tongue labeled 'Adidas Copa Mundial' for soccer.

KANGAROO LEATHER

02. design

Mood Board

Collage of various athletic shoes, cleats, and sports footwear, including soccer cleats, running shoes, and skate shoes, with some shoes featuring futuristic designs and vivid colors.
Collection of sneaker design sketches, some with blue and black color schemes, showing different perspectives and construction details. Includes color palette swatches and annotations.

3D model created using Blender

Attachment Ideation

After evaluating various attachment methods, neodymium magnets were identified as the most effective solution due to their exceptional strength, small size, low cost, and ability to reduce overall cleat weight. When combined with a few screws, they create a secure, lightweight, and low-risk attachment system with minimal failure points.

A diagram showing the process of inserting a shoe insole into a shoe, with an arrow indicating placement.

SHOE ANOTOMY

Using TPU plastic (thermoplastic polyurethane) on the side of a cleat provides durable, flexible support that helps stabilize the foot during quick lateral movements, while reinforced support around the ankle, heel, and side of the foot is essential for injury prevention and maintaining balance under pressure; meanwhile, incorporating mesh in the upper areas of the shoe keeps the cleat lightweight and breathable, enhancing comfort and agility.

Diagram of a shoe with labeled parts including shoe mesh sock, side and back TPU support, built-in shoe sole attachment, baseball sole, and football sole.
Disassembled football shoe sole showing the top football sole, middle baseball sole, and built-in shoe attachment with magnets and screws.
Abstract graphic design with geometric shapes in red, white, and blue colors, featuring a central metallic textured band.
Close-up of a modern architectural structure with textured metallic surfaces and angular design elements in a monochromatic color scheme.
Two futuristic white sports shoes with colorful accents floating in midair on a white background.
Close-up of a metallic object with multiple shiny bolts or screws on a flat surface.

BASEBALL STUDS

Close-up of ultrasonic dental scaler with metal tip and adjustable controls.

FOOTBALL STUDS

Close-up of a skateboard deck with trucks and wheels assembled underneath, viewed from below at an angle.
Close-up of a kitchen appliance component with metal parts and a blue plastic cover.
Close-up of a football and a helmet on a textured surface, with a blurred background.
Close-up of a person wearing a white and yellow sports shoe with cleats, kicking a soccer ball on a rough surface, with a blurred background.
Close-up of a person wearing black athletic leggings and running shoes on a dark textured surface, with a sense of motion from the shoes.
A futuristic athletic shoe with a geometric red, white, and blue design, featuring a high-tech sole and sleek materials.