Footwear Designer

Footwear designers create designs for shoes and other footwear. The footwear market is varied and includes high-end couture footwear, high street fashion shoes and sports footwear. Some footwear designers work in the bespoke or orthopaedic markets, designing specialist shoes.

The work may involve:

• working with other designers on styles and trends
• making rough design drawings by hand or using a computer
• researching ideas at fashion shows and events
• making sample shoes to present ideas
• conducting quality checks and overseeing production.

Footwear designers usually work 9.00am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday. Longer hours may be required when responding to large orders or preparing for trade shows. Most designers work in a studio or small workshop. Travel, both within the UK and overseas is common.

Salaries may range from around £15,000 to £50,000 a year.

Footwear designers need:

• a creative eye and a flair for colour, texture and patterns
• knowledge of foot anatomy
• good drawing ability and computer aided design (CAD) skills
• a basic knowledge of pattern cutting
• excellent communication skills
• an interest in fashion, design and textiles.

Footwear designers work for fashion houses, footwear brands supplying High Street stores, catalogue companies and specialist manufacturers of leisure and sportswear. Companies are usually small in size and there are less than 1,000 footwear and leather apparel designers in paid employment in the UK (source: Skillfast-UK business survey 2008). Getting into footwear design is highly competitive and jobs with the major fashion houses are highly sought after.

Most employers look for candidates with a relevant degree, foundation degree or HND in fashion, art and design or a related subject. Some degree courses in fashion have footwear options. It is also possible to study for specialist footwear degrees at selected institutions.

When starting out, most footwear designers will work in a junior position to gain experience. Further study and external training are often provided, as it is important to maintain and update skills.

Those working in a junior position may be able to progress into more senior or head roles with experience. In the retail environment, this may mean taking on wider responsibility for fashion and accessory design. There may also be opportunities to move into retail buying, sales, marketing or manufacturing. Those with experience and business skills may become freelance, working for a number of different fashion houses.

Further details