Shoe Designer

Background

Shoe designers create new shoe styles and designs for footwear companies. They sketch ideas, choose materials like leather and fabric, and work with manufacturers to turn their designs into actual shoes. They need to balance making shoes that look good with making sure they're comfortable and practical to produce.

Similar Roles

Fashion Designer

Lessons to help you on this path

Matched lessons for this role are being reviewed and will appear here soon.

Next Step Roles

Senior Shoe Designer→Design Director→Head of Product Development→Creative Director

Publications

Footwear NewsShoe Trades Journal

Books

The Art of Shoe DesignSneaker FreakerFashion Design Workshop

Movies

The Last DanceSneakerheads

Key Figures

Tinker HatfieldStella McCartneyChristian LouboutinVirgil Abloh

Classification

SIC Code0, 0The Standard Industry Code

Dewey Reference646.3, 391For looking up books in your local library

Synonyms

Footwear DesignerShoe StylistFootwear Product Designer

Last Updated: Thursday, May 7th, 2026

Please Help

WhereWeLearn is ever evolving. If you see something missing or have a suggestion, We learn from you as well.

Twitter

#shoedesign #footweardesign #fashiondesign #productdesign #designcareer #creativecareer #fashionindustry #designstudent