I'm writing techs right now. Techs (as my client in the USA calls them - more likely to be called specs or specification sheets in the UK), are the instructions to the factory to make the shoe.
So I've prepared my sketch presentation. The clients customer has reviewed it and selected. The collection is ready to be teched and sent to the resource, a week or so ahead of my client who will visit to develop it, there.
So there is this sandal - I spent quite a lot of time on it, my clients customer is very specific about what they like and sent me storyboards of their inspiration to work from.
We all liked this shoe - but I teched it today and half way through my illustrator render, I realised I've designed something that looks great but is physically impossible to construct. Kind of like that building above, by the famous artist MC Escher. Look closer, like I did. Could you build that building? I knew, once I looked closely that no one could build this shoe, and even if you could you would not be able to fasten the straps.
Anyway, I found a solution, the main concern was to not spoil the look of the design. Much swearing and head scratching later, I've done it. I now think it's possible. I had to get a last and cut some strips of paper up and figure it out in 3D but I'm there.
Never underestimate the importance of understanding footwear construction. It's important to create products that can be made, not illusions that remain a fantasy in an artists head.
Showing posts with label shoe design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoe design. Show all posts
Monday, 20 October 2014
Thursday, 25 September 2014
So where the blimmin' heck have we been?
One thing I've been told about social media and websites is that it's a game of keepy uppy. Well, you may have noticed that we dropped the ball and I guess some of you are wondering what happened to that shoedesigner that lives on a boat and blogs about the footwear business.
Well, I'm alive! I'm here and I'm finally trying to catch up after a crazy 2013 and an even busier spring and summer in 2014
So how have we been?
We've had our busiest two years in business to date - we've been full to capacity since July 2013 and since then we have been concentrating on serving our existing client base. We've been doing a little bit of consulting for the British Footwear Association too. We've done the odd days consultancy here and there for fledgling footwear companies, we've been to Micam and Pure several times and to Italy to work with factories.
We've also spent spring and summer of this year helping a relative who had a bad accident to find a retirement home and help them to move in and organise their affairs.
I am finally coming up for air, so it's time to start the engine on this blog again. I've a whole list of subjects to write about, thanks to you, my readers, who email me asknig for advice and my opinion on things. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have such interesting questions to answer and then blog about, so thank you all.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Shoe - redo from Mark Montano
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
I want this wallpaper. That is all.

Years ago I had a great T shirt from Nike that was just shoes printed all over. Now there is wallpaper, a similar idea, but even more brilliant.
I really really want this, but I'm not sure it'll work in the confined space of my narrowboat. So I shall just have to dream.
Thanks to http://www.freshdesignblog.com/2010/06/mother-in-law-shoe-designwallpaper/ for bringing this marvellous stuff to my attention. You can purchase it here:
Monday, 18 January 2010
Just a quick plug - as you were.......

Checking the Shudoo website today and I noticed that one of my designs has just been delivered in. It is named Temptress - are you tempted? Link
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Shoenista's 2009 awards - The Lady Gaga Award
Friday, 21 August 2009
New Shoe Design Book

This new shoe design book has a whopping 384 pages, I reckon it is definately worth a look!
http://www.daab-online.com/books/Style_Books/Shoe_Design.html
I'm not usually much a fan of shoe books as they tend to be the coffee table type, all style over content. If I'm honest, there aren't enough pictures of shoes! But this one looks good!
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
RIP Skins
No, not the TV series, the footwear brand. Skins was an innovative shoe design concept where you bought a 'bone' and then customised it with a skin.
They filed to liquidate on Friday
Very sad and it just goes to show that it doesn't matter how innovative your designs are, if you don't have funding, then you are finished.
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