**Children’s Dream School Shoes Brought to Life by Designers in Whimsical Illustrations**
Buying a new pair of school shoes is a familiar rite of passage at the end of every summer, though not typically a favourite activity for parents or children. This year, however, school shoe shopping has taken a playful turn, as professional designers have partnered with children to visualise what their dream school shoe would look like—resulting in a series of truly imaginative artworks.
Inspired by the inventive minds of children aged six to eleven, these illustrations reveal a vibrant range of features and styles that go far beyond the conservative black leather lace-ups of previous generations. Bold ideas include soles embedded with pulsing disco lights, laces that change colour in response to the wearer’s mood, and even ingenious secret compartments crafted for storing snacks or sweets.
These fantastical concepts emerged from a recent survey of 1,000 primary-age children, which uncovered not only a wealth of creativity but also some practical concerns. Remarkably, 46% of those polled said they would love shoes with built-in trackers, presumably to help both child and parent avoid the perennial “lost shoe” scenario. Cameras to capture fun moments with friends were the second most sought-after addition, topping the wish list for 44% of children.
Speed was also a key theme, with just over half of respondents hoping for shoes that grant them the swiftness of a cheetah. Just under half confessed they would love teleportation powers in their footwear—a telling sign of the ways in which technology and fantasy weave together in the minds of today’s children.
Subtlety was rarely the order of the day: springs for higher jumps appealed to 38% of children, and 37% fancied wheels, perhaps channeling their inner roller-skater for the school run. Additional features suggested included voice-controlled laces, which could make tying shoes a thing of the past, and magnetic fastenings that snap shut effortlessly.
When it comes to appearance, the responses were as varied as the personalities of the children involved. While 31% clung to the idea of the traditional black shoe—often a requirement in school uniform policies—many girls suggested embellishments such as floral motifs and celestial star patterns, hoping to inject a bit of personal sparkle. Many boys, meanwhile, expressed preference for shoes in a standout single colour, while others proposed camouflage prints or other bold decorations. Over half of both girls and boys felt certain their ideal shoe would outshine anything currently stocked in the shops.
For two in three children, looking fashionable plays a significant part in their choices, though comfort remains their top priority—echoed by the 80% who ranked it above all else. Parents seem to agree, prioritising comfort but also taking into account durability and material quality, especially given the wear and tear of active school life.
The annual challenge of buying school footwear is something parents consistently rank as an unenviable task. Findings suggest that half consider it the most stressful part of getting ready for the school year. However, a notable proportion—nearly 50%—allow their children considerable influence in the purchasing decision, balancing adult perspectives on quality and value with the child’s desire for self-expression.
Simon Wilson, managing director at Deichmann, the company behind the survey and commissioning of the illustrations, praised the ingenuity of children, noting that while some suggestions seemed fanciful, others displayed unexpected practicality. “It’s important to celebrate the creativity children bring,” Wilson remarked, adding that their ideas “have been a joy to see realised in the new artwork.”
As families begin to prepare for the coming term, the research highlights not only the importance of the right fit and function, but also the value of imagination and personal style. For both retailers and families alike, the lesson may well be that there’s more to school shoes than meets the eye—and perhaps, with a little openness to innovation, shopping for them need not be such a dreaded task after all.