Footwear Designer

Typical Salary

£16,000 To £60,000

Typical Hours

40 to 42 variable

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How To Become a Footwear Designer

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role

College / University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification in footwear design, or a fashion design qualification that includes footwear.

a foundation diploma in art and design

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a higher apprenticeship as a fashion and textiles product technologist.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a design assistant in a studio and learn on the job. With further training, you could begin to produce your own designs.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
the ability to use your initiative
to be flexible and open to change
ambition and a desire to succeed
thinking and reasoning skills
excellent verbal communication skills
active listening skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

You could:

create 'one off' designs (haute couture)
base your designs on a theme for the coming season (ready-to-wear, high street)
use computer aided design (CAD) software, graphics packages and traditional hand-drawing techniques to create your designs
research design ideas
follow a brief
adapt existing designs
work closely with the design team
produce samples before agreeing the final design
send technical instructions to the manufacturers to produce the final product

Working Environment

You could work in a creative studio, from home or in a workshop.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

It's very important to put together a portfolio of work that you can take to interviews. This should include designs, technical drawings and mood boards to show your creative talents.

Further information

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.