Daniel Cocking
About Daniel Cocking
Daniel Cocking serves as the Community Lead at Gravity Sketch since 2023 and has a diverse background in footwear innovation, having held positions at adidas and DBS Clothing. He founded Laceless Design in 2022 and has contributed significantly to several notable footwear projects.
Work at Gravity Sketch
Daniel Cocking has served as the Community Lead at Gravity Sketch since 2023. In this role, he focuses on building and nurturing the community around the company's innovative design tools. His responsibilities include engaging with users, facilitating discussions, and promoting collaboration among community members. Cocking's experience in community management is expected to enhance user engagement and foster a supportive environment for designers and creators.
Previous Experience in Footwear and Innovation
Prior to his current position, Cocking worked at DBS Clothing as Head of Footwear from 2020 to 2022. He also held multiple roles at adidas, including Innovation Manager for adidas Football from 2016 to 2017, and Senior Product Development Manager for adidas Team Sports from 2017 to 2019. His tenure at adidas included significant contributions to product development, including the creation of the adidas Ultraboost and the adizero 99 gram soccer cleat.
Education and Expertise
Daniel Cocking earned a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, where he studied from 2008 to 2012. His educational background provides a strong foundation in engineering principles, which he has applied throughout his career in product development and innovation within the footwear industry.
Founding Laceless Design
In 2022, Daniel Cocking founded Laceless Design, a venture that reflects his passion for creative work and product innovation. He also established the Laceless footwear community, which aims to connect individuals interested in laceless footwear design and development. This initiative showcases his commitment to fostering collaboration and creativity in the footwear industry.
Contributions to Footwear Innovation
Cocking has been instrumental in several key innovations during his career at adidas. He led the development of the FUTURECRAFT 3D, the world's first 3D printed performance cushioning midsole. Additionally, he played a significant role in the innovation of the first laceless tennis shoe, adidas Stycon. His work has had a lasting impact on performance footwear design.