Footwear Design - Brijesh Jaiswal

Duration: 12 Weeks (3 Months)
Format: Hybrid (60% Online / 40% In-Studio)
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Goal: To take a student from conceptual sketching to a physical “pulled-over” prototype.

Focus: History, Anatomy, and 2D Design

Week 1: Footwear Anatomy & History
- Topics: Evolution of footwear; Anatomy of the foot vs. anatomy of the shoe; Standard terminology (Last, vamp, quarter, outsole, welt).
- Activity: Dissecting a physical shoe and labeling components.
Week 2: Design Research & Mood Boarding
- Topics: Trend forecasting; Identifying target markets; Creating a cohesive visual language.
- Activity: Developing a “Concept Deck” for a 3-shoe collection.
Week 3: Footwear Sketching & Illustration
- Topics: 3/4 views, side profiles, and top-down perspectives; Rendering textures (leather, suede, mesh, knit).
- Activity: Daily “Speed Sketching” challenges and final technical line drawings.
Week 4: Color, Materials, and Finishes (CMF)
- Topics: Sourcing sustainable materials; Synthetics vs. Natural leathers; Hardware and embellishments.
- Activity: Creating a digital material board for the lead design.

Focus: The Last, Shell Management, and 2D/3D Translation

Week 5: The “Last” Fundamentals (In-Studio)
- Topics: Understanding shoe lasts (the mold); Tape-wrapping the last; Marking the “Mean Form.”
- Activity: Physical tape-wrap of a last and marking key anatomical points.
Week 6: 2-D Pattern Engineering (Online/Studio)
- Topics: Translating 3D tape wraps into 2D “Standards”; Creating basic “Derby” or “Sneaker” patterns.
- Activity: Developing the “Standard” and “Shell” for the primary design.
Week 7: Digital Prototyping (Online)
- Topics: Introduction to 3D software (Rhino, Gravity Sketch, or CLO 3D for footwear); Visualizing the shoe in a 3D space.
- Activity: Creating a 3D mockup of the sole unit.
Week 8: Technical Specifications (Tech Packs)
- Topics: Creating industry-standard Tech Packs; Manufacturing blueprints; Tolerance and sizing charts.
- Activity: Finalizing a factory-ready Tech Pack for the student’s design.

Focus: Assembly, Construction, and Final Presentation

Week 9: Prototyping – Upper Construction (In-Studio)
- Topics: Leather cutting (clicking); Skiving edges; Stitching techniques and machinery safety.
- Activity: Sewing the “mock-up” upper using scrap or trial material.
Week 10: Lasting & Bottoming (In-Studio)
- Topics: Pulling the upper over the last; Insole attachment; Lasting margins and adhesives.
- Activity: Hand-lasting the final design prototype.
Week 11: Sole Integration & Finishing (In-Studio)
- Topics: Attaching outsoles (cemented construction); Edge finishing; Cleaning and “dressing” the shoe.
- Activity: Completing the physical “Pull-over” (aesthetic prototype).
Week 12: Professional Portfolio & Pitch (Online)
- Topics: Photography for footwear; Storytelling the process; Presentation skills.
- Activity: Final Critique – Presenting the physical prototype alongside the digital design process.

Digital: Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator/Photoshop), iPad with Procreate.
Physical: Shoemaker’s measuring tape, precision knives (X-Acto), silver marking pens, and a pair of base lasts.

Technical Literacy: Ability to speak the language of factories and master pattern-making.
Creative Versatility: Proficiency in both hand-sketching and 3D digital visualization.
Physical Mastery: Firsthand experience in the labor-intensive process of lasting and construction.

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