In a world where technology and AI are taking over, some brands know exactly how to use it to their advantage. Saucony is one of them. Luca Ciccone, the Director of Product Engineering at Saucony, is a true fan, you could even say a bit of a nerd, when it comes to technology, and I mean that in the best way possible.
In this Sneakerjagers exclusive, Ciccone talks about how the brand has embraced cutting-edge technologies to bring back the beloved Saucony Matrix in collaboration with Artec Studio, and why he sees creativity and technology not as rivals, but as partners.
Get to know Luca Ciccone
I meet Luca Ciccone, who is based in Boston, over Google Meet. Because of the time difference, it’s an early start for him, but since he’s a morning person and usually up around 4 AM, I don’t feel too guilty.
Ciccone has been with Saucony for a while now and is currently the Director of Product Engineering. His work can be seen across Saucony’s entire catalog, from lifestyle silhouettes to the running shoes the brand is best known for. “I oversee how our footwear comes together, making sure we stay true to innovation while respecting our heritage,” he explains.
Ciccone’s responsibilities span the whole company, a challenge he embraces. “What’s so exciting is that Saucony gives me the freedom to ask, what’s next in footwear? How can we help athletes perform better? That’s where I’m constantly exploring new materials, advanced simulation tools, 3D scanning, anything that can push performance forward.”
Relaunching the Matrix
One of Ciccone’s recent projects has been reviving the Matrix. Originally introduced in the early 2000s, it was one of Saucony’s most progressive sneaker designs. “The Matrix is fascinating because it represents a moment when Saucony was experimenting,” Ciccone says.
For Ciccone, it remains one of the best sneaker designs out there, though he admits he may be biased. One of the reasons is that the sneaker tells a funny love story. “What many people don’t realize is that the heel features Chinese lettering, which is actually the name of our former Chief Product Officer Brian Moore’s wife. It was a factory mistake, but it ended up becoming part of the shoe’s identity.”
Despite that “imperfection,” which I personally find rather charming, the Matrix is still, even 25 years after its debut, a fan favourite among sneaker enthusiasts. Enough to warrant a comeback, though bringing it back was more challenging than it sounds.
Artec Studio and its 3D Technologies
When bringing back a sneaker through reverse engineering, a process where something tangible, like a shoe, is converted back into a digital state, you need a solid silhouette to start with. “The problem was, we didn’t have a good sample of the Matrix,” Ciccone says. “The only one in our archive was 25 years old, cut up, and too fragile to work with.”
That’s where Artec Studio came in. Using its latest handheld 3D scanner, the Artec Spider II, the Matrix was brought back to life, at least virtually.
“When we were exploring a Matrix reissue, we went into the archives to 3D scan the shoe,” Ciccone explains while showing me some of the 3D prints. “The process revealed all its unique details, the asymmetric panels, the chunky midsole. Scanning allowed us to bring models back exactly as they were, without interpretation errors.”
Beyond accuracy, scanning also preserved fragile samples and sped up the process by creating what Ciccone calls a “digital twin.” “Footwear is a 3D product,” he says. “Each sneaker we design has a digital twin that shows us exactly how it’s built, with an accuracy of 0.05 millimeters.”
Traditionally, designing or reverse-engineering a sneaker could take up to six months of drawing, sculpting, and sending prototypes back and forth. “With the Spider II, we managed to do it in about a month. We basically cut the timeline down by almost 90% compared to before,” Ciccone says.
Creativity vs. Technology
An impressive accomplishment. Still, with technology now such a big part of design, one question lingers: in a world that’s increasingly digital and moving faster than ever, is the human touch at risk? Or is this truly a love story between creativity and technology?
When I asked Ciccone, he was quick to respond. For him, the two are deeply connected.
“Technology is a tool. It helps us be more precise, more efficient. People get scared of it because they don’t understand the tools, that’s part of the issue. At Saucony, 3D printing, scanning, AI, they’re all just part of our toolbox. But creativity, human intuition, and storytelling are what make the product resonate.”
According to Ciccone, the challenge lies in balancing both facets. “Shoes are an emotional product. I always say, any time you’re creating a shoe, you have to make sure you’re tapping into human emotion.”
Here, he mentions the recent Metagirl x Saucony collaboration: “Looking at the shell on the heel, we realized what 3D-printing technologies could do. But the first prototype was sculpted by Metagirl herself. Again, human touch is what made that sneaker unique, technology is what made it practical.”
Leading in Innovation
With the Spider II, Saucony is sitting on a goldmine. Beyond reviving models like the Matrix, the technology opens up new doors. “I like to say Saucony is an innovation brand that happens to make footwear,” Ciccone says with a grin. “We take innovation very seriously, to the point where we lead with it.”
Looking at the 3D prints, I can’t help but agree. In a world where technology is playing a bigger role in footwear, Saucony seems to have the right tools and the right people to translate it into future collections.
From bringing back OGs like the Matrix to pushing their performance line forward, technology is guiding Saucony every step of the way. At the end of the day, Saucony’s story is one of curiosity, creativity, and innovation.
What’s Next?
When I ask Ciccone what’s next, he’s optimistic. “We’ll keep exploring this intersection, honoring our archives while pushing forward with innovation. People love the nostalgia of models like the Matrix and ProGrid, but they also expect us to surprise them with something new. That’s the balance we’re chasing.”
Though Ciccone can’t reveal too many details about upcoming projects, his enthusiasm is contagious. “We have some innovative foams in performance models that are going to absolutely disrupt the running shoe industry. Stay tuned.”
In the meantime, we can look forward to the Matrix re-release. Thanks to modern technology, it remains almost identical to its predecessor from decades ago. With a few subtle improvements “under the hood,” as Ciccone puts it, you won’t see the difference, you’ll only feel it.
Got to hand it to technology.
