Footwear designer

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

You should look for courses that teach both the design and technical skills needed by the industry.

The British Fashion Council is a good place to start looking for courses.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

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

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

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.

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.

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

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

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