Shoe Design & Making

Design the way you walk

The intensive Shoe Design & Making course is an immersive 6-week program exploring both the creative and technical dimensions of footwear. Through hands-on craftsmanship and design development, students learn to conceptualize, prototype and construct a complete pair of shoes from scratch.

the course

Final Project

The course

The Intensive Shoe Design & Making course blends footwear design principles, traditional Italian shoemaking techniques and contemporary making practice.

Students develop an original pair of shoes concept through moodboard research, sketching and material selection, while also experiencing all the stages of shoemaking, from taping the last and drafting patterns, to cutting leather, cementing, stitching, lasting and finishing.

The program includes a study trip to a last factory and a heel manufacturer, offering direct insight into the craft’s supply chain and production culture.

The program covers the complete construction sequence of a shoe, from inner sole and reinforcements to outsole assembly and final finishing.

Set within Florence’s living tradition of leather and artisanal craft, the program offers a rigorous yet experimental approach to footwear as both design practice and embodied knowledge.

Final project

The course concludes with the creation of a complete pair of shoes, entirely conceived and made by each student.

From concept to construction, students develop their own design language, working with materials and traditional tools to produce a finished pair that reflects their research, material choices and making process.

All footwear produced during the course is the result of a learning process and is intended as a prototype for educational and portfolio purposes.

Application Process

Step 1
Are you inspired and eager to move ahead? First step: book a call with our admission staff. You will receive a Google Meet link.

Step 2
During the meeting your motivation, committment, vision and academic career will be evaluated. If everything is fine, we will get to your second step shortly after.

Step 3
Follow the instructions provided and start turning your craftsmanship Dreams into Reality.

Download the brochure

Discover the art and technical skill of shoe design and making in Florence, Italy with SCHOLA’s Intensive Shoe Design and Making Course. Perfect for aspiring designers and footwear enthusiasts, our program offers a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in shoe assembly and craftsmanship, guided by industry experts. Get the chance to network with like-minded individuals and enhance your skills, knowledge and portfolio at one of the most creative footwear design and making courses in Italy.

Download our brochure today to learn about the curriculum, admissions process, and requirements!