T3 Triathlon Blister Reduction Running Shoe
Why
Our team chose this capstone project because three of our members are runners, and some are even triathletes. We realized that while the market offered specialized footwear for marathon runners and cyclists, there was no true triathlon-specific running shoe available at the time. This gap inspired us to design a solution for triathletes who face unique challenges—especially blisters caused by moisture, heat, and friction during races.
What
We developed T3 and created the All Gain 1 (AG1), the first racing shoe designed specifically for triathlon. The AG1 combats blisters through features like heel ventilation, a midsole drainage system, and a 4D zonal knitted upper for breathability and comfort. Beyond footwear, our concept extended into an athlete-centered ecosystem including pre-purchase fitting analysis, blister prevention education, and community-building. The project covered the full product cycle—from ideation and consumer insight research to design, marketing strategy, financial modeling, and go-to-market planning—reflecting the structure of our master’s program.
How
We began by conducting consumer research through surveys, forums, and social listening to capture real pain points from triathletes. From there, we performed market sizing and competitor benchmarking to validate the opportunity. Using athlete insights, we iterated design concepts and incorporated advanced performance materials to create the AG1. Our marketing strategy included influencer validation, user-generated content, and building an engaged T3 community. Financial projections and distribution planning (via specialty run stores in key triathlon hubs) completed the go-to-market strategy. This end-to-end process demonstrated how a triathlon-first brand could successfully enter and scale in a competitive endurance footwear market
My Role
Visual design, color and material designs, packaging design, branding, and the main contact to our factory partner in Asia.
The T3 Team
The AG1 final product
The heat map from our consumer research survey highlights the areas where blisters most commonly occur.
Prototypes
Prototype
Color Designs
Packaging Design
