top of page

My Experience at a Mile in My Shoes


ree

I recently had the opportunity to attend the “A Mile in My Shoes Empathy Project” at NYU John A. Paulson Center at 181 Mercer Street, New York. The exhibit featured around 15–20 pairs of shoes, each belonging to a different person with a unique story. The concept was simple yet deeply moving - you walk in, pick a pair of shoes that speaks to you, try them on, and listen to the story of their previous owner. The entire exhibit was built inside a shoe-shaped box, and honestly, that first impression stayed with me. The setup was made entirely out of cardboard like material. Being inside a literal shoebox and surrounded by stories of people whose shoes you were about to step into made the metaphor come alive. It was a beautiful depiction of what it means to truly be in someone else’s shoes.


I picked up a pair that belonged to someone named Victoria. At first, I didn’t think much about it because I had no idea who she was. The organizer handed me a headset, and I scanned a QR code attached to the shoe, which led me to a voice recording of her story. As soon as I put on the headset and started listening, something shifted. Victoria’s voice filled my ears, and with every word, I felt a growing connection. She spoke about her life, about losing both her husband and daughter in an accident — the same one that caused her to lose her leg. As I sat there wearing her shoes, hearing her voice tremble as she relived her loss, I could feel her pain. It wasn’t just listening anymore; it was feeling. I realized I was physically and emotionally stepping into her world.


This is what embodied cognition truly means. It’s the idea that our understanding and emotions aren’t just shaped by thoughts but by our bodily experiences too (Wilson, 2002). For ex., using hand gestures while speaking, we remember information better when we physically act it out, or feel emotionally warmer when we’re literally in a warm environment. The museum did a great job in using the embodied cognition theory and putting it to life. The physical act of wearing Victoria’s shoes deepened my emotional connection to her story. It was as if the boundary between me and her momentarily blurred. 


As a UX designer, empathy is something I constantly think about — understanding users, feeling what they feel, and designing for their needs. But this experience took that to another level. It showed me how powerful embodiment can be in creating genuine human understanding. The exhibit didn’t just tell stories; it made you live them, even for a few minutes.


The project made me realize that empathy isn’t just about listening or imagining, it’s about feeling through presence, through shared space, and through other’s experience. And sometimes, something as simple as wearing someone’s shoes can make you understand their world more deeply.



References (APA format)




bottom of page