Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of designing an article of footwear for manufacture. The article of footwear may include a plurality of shapes formed from a common shape family, with at least one of the plurality of shapes being based on distorting or morphing of key shapes within the common shape family. The plurality of shapes may be arranged within a morphing zone, optionally according to a shape path within the morphing zone. The shapes, in one embodiment, may be lugs or traction features of a sole assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing an upper of the footwear by additively depositing material to form a fabric element having a plurality of threads, and incorporating the fabric element into the footwear. The plurality of threads of the fabric element may form at least one texture. Additionally or alternatively, the fabric element may be manufactured with a shape that conforms to a 3-D contoured surface.