Linlin Li

Do we wear shoes? Or do shoes wear us?

SHU uses footwear as the media to discover the relationship between shoes and us, which simulate the relationship between the outside world and our inner world. It explores the concept of who we really are through four topics - Regulation, Label, Constrain and Liberation

It raises questions about - What form us as us? Do social roles represent us? Are we constrained by ourselves? Who are we? Who do we really want to be?

Linlin Li is a Chinese industrial designer. Her work questions the norm in our everyday life and tells stories by creating new experiences and objects to make people think.

Her work focuses on the interaction between objects and people. Before studying Design Products at Royal College of Art, she studied interaction design and service design at Hunan University, China. Engaging in product design, art, experience design and craft, it pushes her to think in both creative and rational way. She is trying to add speculative value to commercial products to create objects that are touching and make people think.

- The Ninth International User Experience Design Award

Awarded the National Silver Medal (2/504),

the Best VR Prize,

Best Visualization Prize

- Silver A’ DESIGN AWARD(2020-2021)

SHU - Introduction Video,2021

SHU - Barefoot — When we were born, we don't know the norms, knowledge and regulation of this world which is barefoot. We can move freely but we can also easily get hurt.

SHU - Regulated — 'Shoes transform your body language and attitude.' – Christian Louboutin Footwear as training machine.

SHU - Labelled — ‘I spend most of my time wearing uncomfortable things, so for me, it’s all about trainers.’ – Cara Delevingne High heel shoes can't be used for leisures?

SHU - Constrain — ‘I would hate for someone to look at my shoes and say, “Oh my God! They look so comfortable!”‘ – Christian Louboutin Constrained by goals/value/roles/obssesion. Constrained by ourselves.

SHU - Liberation — So many shoes but only two feet. What do we actually need? What do we really want to be?

Do we wear shoes? Or do shoes wear us?

SHU uses footwear as the media to discover the relationship between shoes and us, which simulate the relationship between the outside world and our inner world. It explores the concept of who we really are through four topics - Regulation, Label, Constrain and Liberation.

It raises questions about - What form us as us? Do social roles represent us? Are we constrained by ourselves? Who are we? Who do we really want to be?