The design of soccer boots is the focus of this issue, coinciding with the 2006 World Cup. Even when fouled players writhe on the ground in close-up, stripes, swooshes, or wildcats on the boot soles inform us of their origin and manufacturer. Brightly colored, sculptural, and feather-light: with this World Cup, the soccer boot finally becomes a design object, intended to communicate strength, dynamism, and brand identity from every angle. Almost incidentally, improved cuts, new materials, and technical refinements contribute to getting the ball into the back of the net.

In this issue, form editor Karianne Fogelberg also presents another impressive sporting achievement: the design of ski helmets and protectors from the young brand Poc. Responsible for the stylistically convincing line is design manager Stefan Ytterorn, who has been awarded the Volvo Sports Design award and answers our questions in an interview.

May/June 2006, Verlag form, 106 pages, 23 × 29.8 cm, softcover, German/English edition