Material Studies by @quispedesign

In this intensive five-week workshop, you will explore material design for footwear through the focused lens of sport performance and athletic function. Students will learn how to design innovative materials that interact with and provide support for the foot by examining material types used in cutting-edge performance products, analyzing their technical properties, and understanding their specific use cases and applications.

Through sketching exercises and hands-on methods such as cut-and-sew construction and heat pressing techniques, students will apply this knowledge to a flat shell pattern and progress through a professional design process modeled after those used by leading sports companies.

Who's it for:

• Beginner to intermediate design students and anyone interested in sport performance footwear design. No prior experience required.

Goals:

• Gain an overview of the materials used in contemporary sports performance footwear
• Learn how to design and apply these materials through hands-on design studies
• Understand the design process as practiced at leading sports brands
• Create a portfolio piece suitable for those building toward a design career

Materials Included:

• Shell pattern 2D template
• Material samples for hands-on design studies
• Adobe Illustrator brush set for those who already work in Adobe Illustrator

Note: Prior Illustrator knowledge is not required for this workshop.

Course Breakdown

• Week 1: The Foot, Movement, and Why Materials Matter
  • Introductions and course expectations
  • Overview of foot anatomy, biomechanics, and how it relates to upper footwear design
  • Overview of shoe anatomy and general material categories (natural fibers, synthetics, reinforcements, etc.)
  • Brief introduction to the shell pattern concept and its purpose in footwear design
  • Assignment: Select a design problem to solve and bring an existing shoe to the next class that addresses your chosen problem (actual product or high-quality images)
• Week 2: Modern Performance Materials
  • Comprehensive overview of contemporary materials (knits, meshes, wovens, films)
  • Understanding material structures, behavioral properties, and how materials are applied
  • Exploration of materials as brand identity and storytelling tools
  • Students present their selected design problem to the class; instructor and peer feedback are provided
  • Assignment: Create an initial concept board with visual references and material samples
• Week 3: Upper Construction, Pattern Basics, and Initial Design
  • Detailed instruction on how shoe uppers are constructed (engineered methods, cut and sew, innovation approaches)
  • Pattern logic and how seams, overlays, and reinforcements function
  • Patterning overview demonstrating how materials are arranged in manufacturing and nesting processes
  • Feedback session: Students present their concept boards and receive instructor and peer feedback
  • Demonstration of ideation techniques (sketching, prototyping, tape-ups, AI design tools)
  • Assignment: Develop 2 or more upper designs, considering materials and construction methods
• Week 4: Design Process Deep Dive (Studio Session)
  • Presentation skills instruction (storytelling, highlighting key features, and how to discuss materials and construction in design reviews)
  • Present your initial upper and material design ideas to receive instructor and peer feedback
  • Extended studio work time (the majority of class sessions)
  • Assignment: Refine your chosen upper design on a shell pattern template
• Day 5: Final Shell Pattern Presentation and Critique
  • Students present final shell pattern designs with instructor and peer feedback
  • Discussion on translating 2D pattern designs to 3D sample prototypes
  • Final edits, closing reflections, and discussion of next steps
• Optional Day 6: Advanced Adobe Illustrator Session
  • Share intermediate and advanced Adobe Illustrator tools and workflow tips for upper design