POP. Postproduction, based in Hamburg, Germany created this humorous and mildly disturbing depiction of shoes with teeth, entitled Running Gag.
Running Gag plays on our human ability to seemingly see faces in virtually anything, known as Pareidolia. It’s what causes us to see faces in hills, cars, clouds and electrical outlets, and in the case here, shoes. Here the opening where we insert our feet is made to look like a wide mouth, with the addition of teeth enhancing this sensation. The different teeth styles (braces, chipped and gap teeth) as well as the different shoe styles help to give each one their own personality.
Personally I’m not sure if I’ll be able to look at my shoes the same way again.
Grinning Anthropomorphic Shoes
The Running Gag Series Give Shoes Their Own Unique Smile
Trend Themes
1. Pareidolia in Design - Exploring the use of pareidolia in design to create humorous and engaging products.
2. Personification of Objects - Tapping into the human tendency to see faces in inanimate objects for creative and marketable purposes.
3. Disruptive Shoe Marketing - Creating unique shoe designs that incorporate unexpected elements, like teeth, to capture consumer attention and create a memorable brand image.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Innovations in shoe design that incorporate unconventional elements like teeth for a distinctive aesthetic and marketing edge.
2. Graphic Design - Exploring the use of pareidolia in graphic design to create visually engaging and memorable compositions.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Implementing creative marketing tactics that utilize humor and unexpected elements to grab consumer attention and differentiate brands in competitive markets.