Footwear Designer

Also known as:

Designer, Footwear
Shoe Designer

Introduction

Footwear designers create new footwear designs or modify existing ones. As well as keeping up-to-date with fashion trends and the needs of buyers, a knowledge of the anatomy of the foot is important.

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Work Activities

Footwear designers design new shoe styles or modify existing ones. The designer needs to follow changes in colour and dress fashion to ensure that the company they work for offers up-to-date styles to the client. They also need to know the anatomy of the foot.

The designer helps to specify heel height, colour, material and last (model of the shoe's shape). They modify the line (or style) by adding or altering markings, punching, lacing and other details. For each line the designer produces about half a dozen possible adaptations from which the production manager and buyers can select the most marketable. A design may be accepted immediately, in which case sample pairs are produced to show retail buyers. Equally, the designer's ideas may be rejected outright. Frequently, the design is accepted provided changes are made.

Experienced designers are given the freedom to develop new styles. Such opportunities are more likely to arise in firms producing fashion footwear rather than classic or purely practical footwear. All new designs have to be approved by the management and sales team.

For both adaptations and new styles the designer produces a pair or half-pair of shoes. Starting from a sketch, the designer makes a paper pattern using a last and masking tape. Alternatively, designers may use a computer-aided design (CAD) system. Experienced operatives make up the shoe and after each stage the designer discusses any difficulties with operatives and craftspeople. Usually the designer or trainee completes the sample by adding details such as markings.

Designers need to understand the materials, machines and processes involved in production in order to design footwear that is practical and economic to manufacture. Trade literature, publicity material produced by top designers, plus visits to national and international trade fairs enable designers to keep up-to-date with fashions.

Designers may specialise, for example in women's, children's or sports footwear.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As an aspiring designer, you will need to be creative, with a flair for colour, patterns and texture. You should have good drawing and computer-aided design (CAD) skills.

A knowledge of the anatomy of the foot is important, as is the ability to take precise measurements. You should have an understanding of the qualities of the different footwear components, as well as of the dyes and production processes.

You should be well organised, with a knowledge of the footwear market and its trends, and be able to manage a budget.

Communication skills are important in persuading managers and buyers of the value of designs. You must be prepared to accept criticism, and deal with any frustration involved in having your work rejected or adapted.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for footwear designers vary with employer and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Footwear designers earn in the range of £16,000 - £20,000, rising to £26,500 - £35,000. Higher earners can make around £43,500 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Employed footwear designers work a basic 39-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on the project they are working on. Late finishes and weekend work may be needed from time to time, especially to meet deadlines.

Employers include footwear manufacturers, retailers, agents and design studios. Some designers work as self-employed, freelance footwear designers.

Consultancy and fixed-term contract work may be available for experienced designers.

Opportunities exist for experienced designers to work in overseas countries.

Entry to this area of work is very competitive.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or workshop, or in a design consultancy are valued. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the footwear industry is an advantage.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses.

Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with experience in arts, crafts or design. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges.

To enter this work or relevant courses, you need to have a portfolio of work showing your creative ability.

• 45% of people in occupations such as footwear designer are self-employed.
• 22% work part-time.
• 5% have flexible hours.
• 0% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

This occupation may involve homeworking.  Find out more about Working from home.