A shoe designer is a designer who specializes in the creation of footwear. In addition to being practical to cover the feet, shoes can be original and innovative, real works of art. Becoming a footwear designer requires talent, skill and, above all, great determination.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Planning for the Future
Step 1. Establish a five-year plan
Create a schedule that includes a series of realistically achievable steps. Include a timeline for accomplishing each achievement, so you can keep yourself focused on your goal.
- Be flexible with the plan. It is not set in stone, so if a new opportunity or contact arises, welcome it smoothly, so that you can incorporate a new direction.
- Review this plan every year or two. Determine if you are on the right path or if you need to make changes.
Step 2. Establish a specific field
There are many paths you can follow in this area. For example, you can design shoes for women, men, children, athletes, and so on. What attracts you the most?
Consider which aspect of the process appeals to you the most. Do you like to design shoes but don't care about the actual production? Are you planning to make your own footwear? Do you want to work for a large company like Adidas or Nike, or open your own boutique?
Step 3. Get a degree in design
While it is not necessary to have a degree, this can help you develop skills and contacts that will come in handy to break into the industry. Enroll in a program at a valid institution, such as the Burgo Fashion Institute or Polimoda.
You don't have to graduate in shoe design. Any degree in a field related to art or fashion will do well. You can consider shoe design, industrial design, graphic design, art, product design, fashion design, accessory design, among other courses
Step 4. Start developing your own style
A good shoe designer has original ideas about their creations. You can begin to develop your own style and brand right away.
- Minimize the items you can use; for example, limit yourself to three colors or two types of fabrics or materials. This will force you to be creative and innovative.
- Assign yourself tasks. For example, make shoes for different types of people. What are the similarities and patterns that repeat themselves in the various designs?
- Challenge yourself to create something new every day. Design a new shoe daily for a month. You may begin to observe recurring themes in the drawings.
Step 5. Take a cue from your surroundings
You may have a habit of being inspired by the designs of other designers, but in doing so you risk imitating them. Seek inspiration in other fields of art or the world. Christian Louboutin, for example, took a cue from archeology to create some drawings.
Step 6. Learn about the industry
Creating shoes is not just about drawing. This sector is broadly divided into three parts: design or creation, production and sales.
- Design / creation. During this stage, you create the design. However, it requires more than a simple sketch, it also involves the creation of patterns, and for some designers the use or creation of original last to determine the tightness of the shoe (the last are reproductions of the foot, usually produced with plastic or resin. high quality).
- Production. During this stage, you transform the drawing into an actual pair of shoes. Learn about the manufacturing chain, from the selection of raw materials to production.
- Sale. During this phase, the shoes are put on the market. Understanding the business part of the process involves a good understanding of consumers' wishes - after all, shoppers will be bringing your shoes. What is the market slice that falls within your target? Also, consider what stores and buyers are looking for to see how your shoes might fit their needs.
Step 7. Keep track of current trends
Knowing the latest news and industry trends will help you understand how to be innovative and stand out. It is a competitive industry, so keeping up to date with fashions is a necessity.
Read design and fashion magazines to keep up to date on them
Part 2 of 5: Cultivating the Necessary Skills
Step 1. Make lots of sketches
For a shoe designer, one of the most important skills is the ability to imagine something and translate it on paper. The goal is not to replicate things you already see. Instead, you should come up with an innovative shoe and make a sketch of it.
The sketches should not be done on an actual sheet. You could use special software to create the shoes
Step 2. Learn to use design software
Shoe making doesn't just require pencil and paper. You must be familiar with design programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite. This pack includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other software. Learn to recreate sketches on the computer.
Also, learn to use technical drawing (CAD) programs. They will allow you to create 3D digital drawings
Step 3. Learn to draw shoe patterns
Once you have learned what the different parts are needed to create a shoe from a sketch, you will better understand the entire manufacturing process. Make patterns for different types of footwear.
Step 4. Create a portfolio
Gather your best shoe designs - they should demonstrate your skills and versatility as a stylist. Aim for around 20 designs to make a physical portfolio and 30 for an online one. Refresh the content by updating it regularly with new work.
Include a brief description of your work, where you will outline your influences and inspirations. Also, add an updated resume
Part 3 of 5: Enrich the Resume
Step 1. Search for an internship
An internship is a good opportunity to work with a stylist and assist him in the creation of shoes on a daily basis. This experience may also expose you to other business roles that you had not previously considered.
- Get in touch with your favorite companies to learn about the requirements for an internship.
- Some internships are unpaid, but they may offer you college credit in exchange for your work. If possible, however, it is better to receive a financial contribution for your commitment.
Step 2. Work in the retail sector
Working in a store or shoe department at the mall will expose you to numerous types of customers and sellers. After all, once you become a designer yourself, these are the people who will come into contact with your shoes primarily. Get to know the business from scratch by gaining some sales experience.
Step 3. Work in the shoe manufacturing industry
Just like the sales field, the manufacturing field will allow you to better understand how footwear is made. You may witness the decision-making process regarding the actual production and assembly of the shoes.
This experience can also allow you to create good contacts in the shoe industry: you will need them when you get to this point
Step 4. Start as an assistant
An experience as an assistant to a stylist, pattern maker, assistant in the creation of sketches or production allows you to carry out an initial level employment in direct contact with a shoe designer. With these positions, you can help transform the designer's ideas into actual designs and patterns.
Part 4 of 5: Networking in the Industry
Step 1. Nurture your professional networks
Start attending store openings, trade shows, sample sales, professional gatherings, and so on. Dress well and introduce yourself to people. Don't be pushy, but try to converse with people in a friendly way.
- Have business cards with your contact details handy. They will allow people to remember your name and, should an opportunity arise, call you easily.
- You shouldn't limit yourself to events related to the footwear industry. For example, arts events generally are meeting points for like-minded people who may be in a position to help you advance in the industry.
Step 2. Set up informational interviews
An introductory interview gives you the opportunity to speak with professionals in the sector that interests you. Get in touch with a shoe designer and ask him to give you an hour to talk about the industry and his work.
- Make sure you choose a comfortable time and place for the stylist.
- This is not an interview to get a job. You show up as a person interested in learning more about the industry, not looking for instant employment.
Step 3. Join a professional organization
An industry association is a network of people in a similar profession. These bodies often organize conferences, recommend conduct policies, promote education and professional development, offer awards. Most of them require membership status and the payment of an annual membership fee.
- In Italy you can join the Union of Artisans or the Union of Stylists. To find out more, visit their sites. Furthermore, you will be able to cultivate new contacts by participating in the events of training institutes such as ModaPelle Academy, Istituto di Moda Burgo, Accademia della Moda and Polimoda.
- Many professional unions have regional or local branches.
Step 4. Find a mentor
Speaking regularly with someone who has a solid career in the shoe design industry can offer you good prospects and advice on the way. You may find one through a professional union, internship, or college design program.
Part 5 of 5: Going on Your Own
Step 1. Get in touch with a manufacturer
Do your research to find a reputable and reliable shoe factory that can reproduce the quality you seek. Also, the final result must be representative of the shoe you designed. Industries can vary significantly, including in the types of footwear they typically produce.
- For example, leather shoes with a thin sole and structure are most often made in Portugal, while those with a heavier sole and rounded shape are usually made in England or Hungary.
- Before choosing a shoe factory, inquire around. Take your designs to different shoe factories and request a sample shoe. Compare them to find the one that's right for you.
Step 2. Organize a trunk show, which is a sample sale or traveling collection
This is an event that allows you to sell your creations (usually accessories, shoes and clothes are offered during a trunk show) in a boutique or similar shop. You yourself participate in the trunk show, talking and selling to customers. It usually lasts a few hours or a couple of days, and has special offers that would not be available on the market. They are great promotional events, helping you make a name for yourself in the field.
Step 3. Partner with a boutique or store
Look for a boutique in your city that reflects the aesthetics of your style. Offer your shoes in this store. Usually you will have to pay a percentage of the proceeds in exchange for the commercial space that will be granted to you.
Step 4. Sell the shoes online
Open an internet shop. You can build your own site or a showcase on a web page like Etsy. Instead of opening an actual store, this is usually an easier first step to selling your footwear.
