2026 FOOTWEAR DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE

Take just one of the footwear courses or earn a certificate. The 13-week professional certificate is comprised of 3 courses that provide students with a comprehensive overview of the footwear industry while developing the necessary skills that lead to successful product design. Industry partners and instructors with extensive experience in design, materials, and footwear production will provide key elements from concept through marketing in creating functional and fashionable shoes for contemporary consumers.

Recieve a discount when you sign-up for the certificate which includes all 3 courses.

Instructor: Mike Friton

Beginning with basic design processes, students will focus on developing a solid foundation of shoe design ability. History, vocabulary, biomechanics, sketching, brief creation, materials selection, pattern-making techniques and construction systems will lead to the creation of digital collections, which will be critiqued by footwear industry professionals. Presentation and storytelling skills will be introduced. Students must have a basic understanding of design processes using the elements and principles and a sound understanding of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

• May 6 - June 9, 2025
• August 26 - September 29, 2025
• May 5- June 8, 2026

Instructor: Britney Sones

This six-week course will combine the need to balance footwear design criteria of form, function and performance with forecasting ability and analysis.

Appropriate material choices for uppers and soles need to reflect comprehensive research of consumer and end-use purpose to assure fit, shape, style and comfort. Costing and sourcing factors also play a pivotal role in selecting resources. This course will introduce students to a wide variety of upper and sole materials, their performance attributes, manufacturing best practices of these resources, and strategies for making wise choices. Additionally, the use and application of color will be examined through a global lens to evaluate the influence color is having on the rise of the contemporary shoe market.

In addition, this course is designed to enhance forecasting ability through a combination of “pulse point” research, analysis, and presentation so that the design approach can be tailored to market need. Students will learn examining techniques for interpreting the social and cultural influences on footwear which facilitates the ability to recognize and predict trends in the global market. Storytelling within the context of brand representation will be explored through marketing strategies such as; social media, special events, public relations and advertising. Market analysis will include understanding the consumer, the competition, and the retail landscape.

Dates:

• June 10 - July 21, 2025
• November 4- December 16, 2025
• June 9-July 20, 2026

Instructor: Elizabeth Brock-Jones

You’ll learn how footwear goes from Brief to Box while thinking about the development process through multiple different lenses, including fit, function, profitability, sustainability, manufacturability, delivering products on time, and on design. Understanding manufacturing processes, production pattern making, material usage and regulations, factory placement, sustainability and product costing analysis is imperative in making creative design decisions. This course will introduce shoe designers to key factors that have a direct impact on the production and distribution of footwear products. In 4 short weeks, you’ll have a comprehensive view of footwear development and the ability to think critically about development-related issues and solutions, and some tangible takeaways to improve your career interview portfolio.

• September 30 - October 24, 2025
• March 31-April 24, 2026

Ask about our scholarship opportunities. Email [email protected] and let us know the program you are interested in applying to and the courses you would like to take. You will receive information to apply and deadlines to submit the materials.

Elizabeth Brock-Jones is currently Principal Innovator at Nike, where she’s worked for the past 10+ years. During that time, she’s worked with Innovation, Nike Sportswear, Special Projects, Global Express lane and Fuel teams on projects that range from sandals, boots, ACG, running and the entire Off-White x Nike: The Ten collection. Elizabeth also teaches for the University of Oregon Sports Product Management Program based in Portland, OR, and Lasell University. Prior to starting at Nike, Elizabeth received her BS in Kinesiology from Iowa State, as well as an MS in Biomechanics from the University of Tennessee and an MBA in Sports Marketing from the University of Oregon. 

After leaving Nike in 2009, Friton founded his own company, Friton Design. Friton Design is a creative incubator for innovative footwear design and product development. The mission is to leverage a passion for creativity in athletic shoe design to a broader spectrum of product development. Friton explores universal design principles and applies them innovatively to create radically different and uniquely functional new products.

Friton's extensive knowledge and hands-on expertise with high-quality demand products has been successfully applied to various goods and industries worldwide. In addition to his superior functionality expertise, he has experience in all facets of product design, product development, prototype making, pattern engineering and grading, CAD modeling, tech packs, small-scale local production, factory sourcing, and material sourcing.

Friton graduated from the University of Oregon with an anthropology degree. As a student at Oregon, he was a competitive runner and collaborated with the Co-Founder of Nike, Mr. Bill Bowerman, for 18 years.

Britney Sones is an experienced color designer and trend and material specialist with a background in footwear, performance wear, and high-end fashion. At Crocs, she developed her expertise in color, trend, and materials, helping to build the color team from the ground up to the trend-forward brand you see today. Britney’s diverse industry experience gives her a comprehensive understanding of the importance of keeping a pulse on all areas of the industry to be at the forefront of trends in footwear.

Britney holds a degree in Fashion Design and has a decade of experience forecasting trends, colors, prints and materials in this ever-changing industry. Passionate about fostering creativity and innovation, she is excited to bring her industry insights to her role at Lasell University.

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