adidas miCoach Core Skills
For the launch of the adidas flagship store during the Beijing Olympics, we developed miCoach Core Skills - a groundbreaking retail experience blending sports science with interactive technology. Designed to align with adidas' commitment to science-led performance, the project bridged the gap between in-store physical testing and the miCoach wearable technology integrated into their footwear.
In collaboration with adidas, Judge Gill, Start Creative, Engage Production, and sports scientists from Freiburg University, we engineered a system that allowed customers to benchmark their balance, speed, and explosive force against elite athletes. Following its success in Beijing, the project was rolled out to flagship stores in Berlin and Paris.
In-store leaderboards and 360° reflex zones fostered a competitive atmosphere and high-energy visual entertainment. Meanwhile, personalised reports and online training plans established a long-term engagement model, incentivising users to return to the store to track their athletic improvement over time and hopefully buy some merch!
Promotional Video
Approach
We integrated laboratory-grade force platforms into a fully autonomous, self-service kiosk. Custom software was engineered to automatically detect user states and activities - sensing exactly when a user stepped onto the platform and identifying their movements in real-time. This allowed us to convert complex force vectors into instant, intuitive bio-feedback that anyone could understand without a scientific background or expert supervision.
We developed the bespoke application using C# .NET and WPF, providing the native hardware access required for real-time sensor integration and high-performance biomechanics data rendering. This architecture overcame the hardware sandbox limitations and multi-threading constraints of then-standard technologies like Adobe Flash.
The WPF framework enabled a rich UI through XAML, seamlessly integrating video, vector graphics, and complex animations. Using Microsoft Expression Blend allowed us to offer the creative agency a familiar, design-centric workflow - ensuring their creative vision was fully realised while we managed the underlying backend logic and hardware interfaces.
My Role
Technical Lead (MIE Medical)- Architecture Design: Defined system architecture, data structures, and technology choices-including the .NET/WPF stack selection and sensor data acquisition pipeline.
- Hardware Strategy: Managed sourcing and end-to-end integration of specialised precision biometric sensors (force platforms).
- Software Engineering: Led development team and rigorous testing of the C#/.NET application.
- Kiosk Hardening: Implemented security protocols and OS hardening to ensure stability and robust performance in a high-traffic retail environment.
- Physical Build: Assisted prototyping and physical installation on-site in flagship stores (Beijing, Berlin, Paris).
Technology Stack
Gallery
Key Measurements
- Balance - Centre of Pressure (CoP)
- Stability - Length of Path (LoP)
- Jump Height / Explosive Power
- Speed
- Fatigue
Notable Highlights
- Integration with adidas miCoach ecosystem
- Retail-first bringing sports science to consumers
- Over 19k users in-store in the first year
- Real-time analysis and bio-feedback
adidas and miCoach are registered trademarks of adidas AG. Select media assets provided courtesy of Start Creative. The D&AD logo is a registered trademark of Design and Art Direction. All rights reserved.
