The Results Are In!

The Final Major Project allows you to choose men’s, ladies' or children’s footwear. You must clearly identify the theme, market, and customer base before starting the project. To be submitted in the assessment is:

· A planner to ensure that all work is completed by the final deadline.

· A fully annotated Design sketchbook containing:

· Written and visual research

· Customer profile information

· Colour forecast information.

· Shoe design sketch ideas 50-80 speed designs

· A further 20-30 rendered and detailed added colour, trims, and technical information

· Development sketches for the brand's logo- Links to Marketing and Style Prediction

· A design sketchbook (rough experimental research and development ideas)

WGSN Trends such as Primal Markings, Inside Out Labels, Revisited Nostalgia and Survivalist Fastenings were great inspirations for my design range but the current footwear of big-name brands such as Church’s, Loake, Tricker’s, John Lobb, and Grenson was also very influential on my concepts. Colours and materials were gathered from WGSN trends and for example, the woven materials, that are common in my designs, have been inspired by Revisited Nostalgia of WGSN.

My design process has usually remained the same over time and it involves starting with initial sketching in my small sketchbook. The more defined designs can then be drawn on Adobe Illustrator. Any design developments can be drawn up in my paper sketchbook before these elements are added on with Illustrator and finally, the designs can be given colour, materials and shading on Adobe Photoshop.

In order to find out which designs the public likes the most and receive some general feedback, I put out a survey with photos of the 10 painted designs and slider bars beneath for people to leave their ratings. Here are the results:

The top design is a dark blue suede derby shoe with a woven herringbone component in the quarter, woven polyester lining and stitched primal markings on the toe cap, vamp, and counter. The quarter features 3 neutral coloured nylon straps and pull tabs are placed on the top line and also the tongue.

The second highest-rated design is a brogue oxford constructed of navy leather with woven herringbone material layered underneath the leather components which can be seen through the square and smaller circle brogue details and punching of primal markings of the counter, quarter, and toe cap. Calico and herringbone labels are stitched into the counter and vamp, extra laces are featured that travel through nylon loops in a similar way to the main eyelets. A cord lock is used to finish the added lacing system.

In third place is a brogue/ monk strap hybrid of dark olive leather. It also features nylon straps similar to the highest-rated design, primal markings punched into the counter and toe cap, a single buckle strap, and brown textile components that are layered beneath the vamp and quarter. The extra laces can be found just above the sole randing and are closed off with a cord lock. Labels are also featured on the design and are made of the same material as the lining.

In fourth is a slightly simpler design; a caramel-coloured oxford also with extra laces that go through woven nylon loops. The woven herringbone counter is layered under the quarter and back strap. The toe cap also has a similar element.

In fifth place is another oxford. This design has a dark chocolate leather upper with a woven herringbone underlayer that can be seen on the quarter and through the punching of primal markings, extra laces with cord lock, brown leather lining, and double stitch rows on all components but not around the herringbone layer.

Just about making it into the top 6 range is a derby with brogue detailing. Layered under the brogue details is a woven material. For the labels that can be seen on the counter and quarter, a woven herringbone material has been used. The upper is a combination of dark green leather and also khaki nubuck for the vamp while the lining and heel tab are made of woven polyester.

Next up is a monk strap/ brogue hybrid that features 3 different types of leather for the upper: a dark blue suede, light blue leather, and also a navy. The design also features primal marking details that have been punched into the upper or painted on to labels.

With a lower rating is design 6, a sandy leather monk strap oxford that has plastic clasps that replace classic buckles. Woven components are on both the quarter and toe cap. The monk strap reveals the laces that are just underneath. The lining is a woven polyester material of also a sandy colour.

With an unfortunate ranking is design 3; a dark green leather brogue with primal marking stitch details, woven polyester and leather labels that also feature primal markings, and nylon straps that fix the quarter to the waist.

I was surprised to see design 7 be given the lowest rating in the survey as it was one of my favourites. It’s a monk strap derby shoe of navy leather and dark blue suede with herringbone labels and woven polyester lining. The bands of the monk strap are also the same material as the lining, and they can be secured with press buttons over D rings.

Now that I have reached this point in designing the range, I will have to develop the top 3 designs and ultimately create patterns for 2 of those designs.

Thank you very much for reading the blog and please feel free to leave any comments and feedback for me to read!