Bryan Oknyansky On What Shoes, Western and Oriental Architecture Have in Common

We are delighted to reach another milestone on the 17th May 2022 – when we publish our 30th episode. It’s been a wonderful journey so far and we are very happy to have a great guest to mark this special occasion.

“..When I give lectures, I ask the question, what’s the relationship between architecture and shoes, and I show a picture of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai…”

Bryan Oknyansky is an international award-winning product architect known for inventing pioneering products that have taken him around the world as a lecturer and speaker. With 15 years of experience in the architecture, product and footwear design industries, Bryan has worked for leading architecture and design firms in the US, UK and China and has been invited as Guest Lecturer at design schools in the US, UK, Russia and China.

Bryan talks to Henry McDonald about what shoes, western and oriental architecture have in common as well as many other important topics!

A lot of what I work on architecturally doesn’t land from outer space. It exists within a community that’s already there where people already live and work. The context is important. The townscape is important to forms. The kind of architectural decisions you make on what you believe would not only fit the client brief, but make something interesting and elevate the quality of the neighbourhood.

Bryan is able to bridge the gap between technology and design because of his unique specialty in using the latest robotic manufacturing technologies like 3D printing to reinvent the world around us one product at a time. Setting his sights on reinventing the footwear industry, Bryan founded Shoes By Bryan in 2012 – a London-based fashion and technology start-up pioneering mass-market 3D printed footwear unique to every single foot in the world while also looking, and feeling, great.

Being committed to visionary and technologically forward design, Bryan has picked up numerous awards including an American Institute of Architects Design Excellence Award, a Bernardo Footwear Sole Perspective Designer Award, and an Honorable Mention in the highly coveted Red Dot Product Design awards. As an internationally recognized thought leader in his field, Bryan’s award-winning works are regularly exhibited around the world in galleries and museums.

In addition to directing a ground-breaking footwear brand, Bryan is a visiting lecturer at Regent’s University London School of Fashion and Design and consults to individuals, businesses and communities to foster new generations of designers and manufacturers.

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

Follow Constructive Voices on:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Request a media pack: [email protected]