{"id":322242,"date":"2013-08-12T15:14:08","date_gmt":"2013-08-12T20:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=322242"},"modified":"2018-05-15T02:07:37","modified_gmt":"2018-05-15T06:07:37","slug":"express-your-sole-shedrick-turner-talks-designing-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/express-your-sole-shedrick-turner-talks-designing-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Express Your Sole: Shedrick Turner Talks Designing Dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"
Shedrick Turner<\/strong> may not be a household name in sneaker circles, or even have a brand backing his work. Look for that to change soon. After catching his amazing sneaker renderings, we took the time to catch up with the young designer to discuss his start in sketching, his definition of design and how he sees the future of footwear. Learn all that in more in this Express Your Sole<\/em> interview. For a chance to have your sneaker art of any format showcased on Snkrs Day, use the hashtag #expressyoursole on Instagram and Twitter.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: For those unfamiliar with you and your work, please introduce yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> I am Kido Whippington, but my real name is Shedrick Wallace Turner, Jr. I am 19 years old and I am from Atlanta, GA. I attend Georgia State University and I am a creative visionary with a passion for footwear design, streetwear and pop culture.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: How long have you been into drawing?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been drawing my entire life. I have always used sketching as a form of expression, from drawing cartoons to animals and anything else around me that piqued my interest.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: When did you start drawing and rendering sneakers?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> I started drawing and rendering sneakers in my freshman year of college. Around November 2012 was when I really started to take things serious. Back in middle school when I was younger, I used to make mock-up colorways of Air Force 1s with different prints, but I never pursued design until November of last year. I always liked sneakers and had a lot of friends who rocked Fusions and Jordan 7s. For me it was different – Vans were my thing. Stores like Foot Locker, Champs and Finish Line were just too costly. See, I was blessed to have everything that I needed and have that drive to be the best when everyone doubted my talent and didn\u2019t recognize my potential. High school just wasn\u2019t my time. I wasn\u2019t with the in-crowd, but when I discovered that designing footwear could actually take me somewhere I held on to it like it was my last breath. There have been countless times where I would wake up at 8am and just sketch, write, study and innovate in some way until 1am the next morning. I wouldn\u2019t rest until I pushed every inch of my soul into my work, because that\u2019s what matters. The same remains true to this very day. I made a promise that I would try and do 21 years worth of work before I turn 21 and the one thing that keeps me in good spirits with designing is faith in pursuit of a dream.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Have you thought of pursing a career in footwear?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> Absolutely! Nike is a definite goal I have in mind. My good friend Frank from Wish really helped out with encouraging me to pursue an internship and networking with people who are in the same field of study. A lot of the people in Foot Locker in Underground ATL really took well to some of my work and a lot of them were asking if I planned on working in the field, but most definitely Nike, without a doubt. I even thought about doing freelance with other companies like Gourmet, CLAE and Supra. I\u2019m really excited to see where it takes me!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Snkrs Day: As someone who designs from the ground up, do you think that footwear is recycling too many old designs?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> You know it is really hard to say because innovating takes a lot of research and studying, so I\u2019d imagine that keeping yourself afloat as a company can become a challenge. I do respect the retros of sneakers, though, only because as a kid not having those things, it makes you happy to have that small little void filled of a childhood memory. I feel like as long as a story or some process is in order for your design then it\u2019s perfectly fine. Inspiration translates into a lot of ethers from simple to cosmic and they even intertwine. So even an existing design can always be improved no matter what the case may be. The only problem in that is, what do you change on an already amazing design far beyond a measure of engineering? What do you change? That\u2019s where the research comes in, to breakdown and assess the purpose in design which becomes harder and harder every step of the way. But the good news is it makes way for progress to develop and have the next generation to create as technology improves along with the world as a whole.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Balancing style and technology has long been a challenge. What approach do you take to your design to incorporate both?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> The best method for me is to look at existing products and translate those elements into different points of interest. I believe everyone sees things differently. So, in my mind, when I\u2019m sketching lateral views I think to myself, what can I do to enhance the performance and durability of this shoe? That\u2019s what opens the doors and turns that little light bulb on, because at that point you\u2019ve delved into a level of medium that shows your passion, your creativity, your curiosity and your drive to put out the best product possible. Tech packs, materials, lacing styles, window panes, canvas lining, all those things show your balance of strength in design. I\u2019ve had professors ask me what is design and I give them the same answer every time. I tell them that design is a principle of aesthetics, reasoning, and innovation. With those three factors, every concept comes full circle and into fruition.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Who inspires you as a designer?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> Mark Miner and Pharrell Williams for sure. Miner\u2019s Free Run Project is absolutely amazing, just by the way he designs and has a passion for running. The Free 5.0 is one of the most comfortable, form-fitting shoes in my opinion, and the 2.0 has a great upper design. Skateboard P, on the other hand, hits home with me. He really reminds me a lot of myself growing up, having a lot of ideas, being considered weird, all of that is me in a nutshell. He\u2019s very inspirational in his words and I like how humble he is even with all his success. Places and Spaces I\u2019ve Been<\/em> is great, because not only does it show his progress, but it also showcases the people that helped him to get to where he is. That takes a lot of heart because sometimes ‘thank you’ just doesn\u2019t express how grateful a person really is. It can mean a lot to a person when you step out and try to help others. But most importantly what I\u2019ve learned from him is don\u2019t be afraid to go after what you want because you can blueprint it and make it happen.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: What are some of the next steps you hope to take in the business?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> For now I want to focus on getting my name out there and finish school, for sure. Photoshop renderings are definitely next on the list. My friend T\u2019Challa from Pensole is incredible! I guess you could say that\u2019s the next short term goal in mind. But most importantly I want to make sure that my mode of humility remains constant at all times.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: What would you like to see for the future of footwear design?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shedrick Turner:<\/strong> Really good question. If I had to decide, I would say that I want to see more rendered sketches on paper. Photoshop is cool, and it does get the job done, but the substance is in the hands of an artist and designer. Nothing compares to a designer having a mental concept and being able to sketch it on paper right out of their brain. Drawing to this day is still the one of the best ways to communicate thoughts. Long live the pencil!<\/p>\n