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How to become
Product
Developerin Footwear
PRODUCT DEVELOPER
Who is a Product Developer in Footwear?
The Product Developer in Footwear is a professional responsible for developing innovative products that meet market demands and comply with quality and functionality standards. They also act as a link between the creative team, designers, and manufacturers, ensuring that each stage of footwear development – from initial concept to final product – is executed to high standards. The Product Developer works for footwear brands, manufacturing companies, or design studios, applying technical and commercial knowledge to create successful shoes from both aesthetic and functional perspectives, while ensuring adherence to cost and timeline constraints.
What does a Product Developer in Footwear do?
The Product Developer in Footwear coordinates and oversees the various stages of product development, ensuring that every aspect meets quality, functionality, and cost objectives. Their work begins with a phase of gathering and analysing market information: they assess trends, study consumer demands, and collect data that help define the technical and functional characteristics of the footwear to be developed. This preliminary work allows the Product Developer to collaborate effectively with Designers, providing technical feedback to ensure that the ideas gathered are indeed feasible. Next, this professional participates in the material selection phase, working closely with suppliers and specialised professionals, such as the Materials and Trends Researcher and Developer in Footwear, to identify materials that best suit the design’s aesthetic, durability, comfort, and sustainability requirements. During the prototyping phase, the Product Developer coordinates the creation of samples, testing the fit and quality of the footwear and optimising the design based on feedback from technical and production teams, with the goal of resolving any technical or functional issues. Finally, they manage the project budget and timeline, ensuring that the product is completed within deadlines and adheres to financial constraints.
What skills does a Product Developer need?
A Product Developer in the footwear sector must possess a range of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills, including:
- Proven knowledge of the footwear industry and production processes: they must have a deep understanding of footwear design techniques and production stages, with detailed knowledge of materials, soles, stitching, and finishes.
- Market analysis and trend forecasting skills: they should be able to gather and interpret market data, analysing industry trends to define product features that meet consumer needs.
- Expertise in material selection: they need an in-depth understanding of the properties of commonly used materials in the sector (leather, fabrics, synthetic and innovative materials) and should be able to evaluate which are most suitable based on the aesthetic, durability, comfort, and sustainability requirements of each model at the design stage.
- Budget and timeline management abilities: they must be adept at adhering to cost constraints and project deadlines, optimising resources and ensuring each stage of the process is completed effectively and on time.
- Attention to detail: they should have a keen eye for detail to ensure that each product meets the company’s quality standards from every perspective.
- Problem-solving skills and adaptability: they must be able to identify and resolve technical or production issues quickly, maintaining process efficiency.
- Teamwork experience: they should be able to collaborate effectively with a variety of professionals, including designers, production technicians, and suppliers.
How to become a Product Developer in Footwear?
To become a Product Developer in Footwear, specific training and a strong passion for design are essential. The first step is to enrol in an academic course in fashion design or industrial design, ideally with a specialisation in footwear, that provides in-depth knowledge of production techniques and materials. NABA courses in the Fashion Design Area, particularly the Academic Master in Sneaker Design, are an ideal choice as they equip students with all the necessary skills and offer a combination of theoretical and practical experience in the field. Gaining hands-on experience through internships with footwear companies is also essential for testing acquired knowledge and becoming familiar with the production process. To stand out as a Product Developer, it is alto crucial to build a comprehensive professional portfolio to present as a business card to companies, and to participate in industry fairs and professional development courses to stay current with trends and technological innovations.
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