Speakers’ Corner gives you a preview of the voices you’ll hear at upcoming PI events, straight from the people shaping fashion and footwear.
In this edition, Scott Labbe, SVP - Product & Innovation at KEEN, shares his perspective on how footwear design is evolving — from modular construction and digital infrastructure to why solving real problems with intention matters more than chasing the latest innovation buzzword.
1. Biggest shift in footwear design or development over the past year?
The lines between maximal and minimal are blurring, not just visually, but structurally. We’re also finally moving beyond legacy cement construction, with growing momentum around direct injection, foaming systems, and modular builds that allow for lighter, cleaner, more purpose-built footwear.
2. What excites you most about the intersection of craft and technology?
Anything feels possible again. Technology is powerful when it solves real problems, not when it’s performative. What’s exciting is that simplicity and craft are back alongside advanced tools. The best work blends both.
3. One challenge in digital product creation that keeps you up at night?
The lack of a truly integrated system connecting concept, design intent, BOMs, and commercialization at scale. Tools exist for parts of this, but not yet a seamless, end-to-end solution.
4. What innovation will define the next five years of footwear?
Scalable ecosystems for the “customer of one”; customization, adaptability, and modularity delivered profitably.
5. Most underrated capability teams need today?
Failing fast and forward, courageously. Too many teams hesitate out of fear of being wrong or rocking the boat. Progress requires psychological safety.
6. One industry bottleneck you’d fix instantly?
Material lead times. They’re painfully long and slow innovation more than almost anything else.
7. Biggest misconception about digital design or 3D workflows?
That it’s just about pretty renders. Done right, digital workflows connect directly to real product, engineering, costing, and manufacturing. It’s infrastructure, not decoration.
8. How are sustainability and circularity influencing your work?
They’re core to everything I do, from PFAS-free requirements to eliminating solvents and cement-based processes. Direct injection and foaming systems are critical tools in building cleaner products with fewer compromises.
9. What does great collaboration look like across design, development, and manufacturing?
Early, honest, continuous involvement. The best outcomes happen when manufacturing and development are upstream partners, not downstream problem-solvers.
10. One lesson you wish you’d learned earlier?
Bring the team along from day one. Great ideas go nowhere if no one understands or owns them.
11. Will AI replace or empower footwear designers?
Empower. AI is a tool. The value comes from how humans frame the problem and make decisions with it.
12. Is the future more human-led or data-driven?
More data-driven, but without losing human judgment. Fan and consumer insights matter more than ever.
13. What’s overhyped in footwear innovation right now?
The word “innovation” itself. Solving real problems matters more than chasing arbitrary metrics.
14. Best example of digital tools improving creativity?
Rapid iteration tools that remove fear. When designers can test, break, and rebuild quickly, creativity expands.
15. One piece of advice for brands modernizing their development pipeline?
Don’t digitize broken processes. Fix the workflow first.
16. Favourite shoe of all time — and why?
Nike Free. It changed how people thought about natural motion and stripped-back performance.
17. Tool you couldn’t live without?
A pencil...fast, imperfect, and honest.
18. One word for where the industry’s heading next year?
Intentional.
19. Most inspiring project you’ve worked on recently?
UNEEK 360, a true rethink of modular construction at scale.
20. In 2026, great footwear design will be…
...purpose-built, materially honest, and emotionally resonant.
Scott will be opening Stride USA 2026 (9-10th March) with his keynote fireside chat on 'Scarcity, Speed & Sell-Outs: Inside KEEN’s Product Engine', sitting on the 'AI Guardrails, Gains & Growing Pains' panel, and hosting a lucky contingent of our event audience for a tour of the KEEN Maker Lab.
