Professional Development Courses: flexibility to learn at your own pace and while working Our courses

Professional Development Courses: flexibility to learn at your own pace and while working

Here are Arsutoria School’s online courses: introductory, design or technical. By studying remotely, you will have access to high-level, flexible and internationally recognised training that will enable you to acquire new skills without having to revolutionise your daily life.

Our online courses are designed to be part-time courses and to give those who, for professional or other reasons, do not have the possibility to come to Milan and attend our face-to-face courses, the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Arsutoria Methodology.

Here are Arsutoria School’s online courses: introductory, design or technical. By studying remotely, you will have access to high-level, flexible and internationally recognised training that will enable you to acquire new skills without having to revolutionise your daily life.

Introductory courses:

The 100% on-demand courses allow you to study at your own pace, without fixed deadlines, perfect for those who need maximum flexibility.

With the course: Introduction to the world of footwear (Basic level), you’ll gain valuable insights into how shoes—such as boots, moccasins, sandals or sneakers—are made. From silohuettes to materials to constructions This foundational knowledge will prepare you to explore more advanced techniques and specialized areas of footwear design and production.

Within the introductory courses we also find other programmes, which are intermediate levels, to go deeper into materials, components and constructions:

How shoes are made: Men’s shoes

In 9 hours, this course covers key components of men’s shoes, including lasts, toe box, counter, and insole. It delves into various materials like leathers, linings, and soles, while exploring different construction methods. A particular focus is placed on moccasins, helping you understand their unique design and assembly processes.

How shoes are made: Women’s shoes

Like the previous course, this course focuses on materials, components and constructions of Women’s shoes. You will gain a solid understanding of various shoe components, including the last and toe box, essential in shaping and structuring footwear. The course dives into different shoe styles such as boots and sandals, covering materials, constructions, and technical details specific to women’s footwear.

How shoes are made: Sneakers

The course covers different sneaker styles and how they are technically assembled, with an emphasis on materials, components, and construction techniques. You’ll gain insights into sneaker-specific parts like midsoles, outsoles, and linings, and understand how comfort, style, and durability are balanced in production. The course also provides details on creating functional yet fashionable sneakers, making it ideal for those passionate about technical footwear development.

Design courses:

The Online Design Courses provide an in-depth exploration into the creative process of footwear design, blending traditional techniques with modern digital tools.

Unlike on-demand courses, the courses have a start date and are available in full-time (to be completed in 2 weeks for each module) or part-time (to be taken over a 4-week period). There are 3 intakes per year: winter 2025, spring 2025 and fall 2025.

Shoe Hand Sketching

You’ll learn how to draw various shoe styles such as pumps, derby, oxford, moccasins, boots, and sneakers, starting with a pencil and paper. With 8 hours of pre-recorded lessons and individualized feedback, it’s ideal for those looking to master sketching both men’s and women’s shoes.

Digital shoe design (with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop)

This class can only be taken after the Online Shoe Hand Sketching class, and it is suitable for beginners and intermediate-level learners. The course covers how to convert hand-drawn sketches into technical illustrations by adding seams, finishes, and materials digitally. Participants will learn to use various tools, palettes, and menus in both software programs to create professional shoe renderings.

Advanced sneaker design (with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop)

This course is also integrated with Shoe hand sketching and is classified as an advanced course. Over multiple modules, you’ll learn how to design every component of a sneaker, including outsoles, uppers, laces, and accessories.

Shoe collection development

The preferred course for entrepreneurs because it combines design and marketing skills and you can also create a collection hand in hand with our long-time and long-experienced professional instructor. You’ll learn how to analyze market trends, understand customer needs, and integrate brand values into your designs. The program covers everything from idea development to market positioning, offering the skills you need to create a successful shoe collection.

Shoe and outsole 3D Modeling (iCAD3D+ and Rhino software)

With this online program, you’ll learn to create 3D models of footwear, including the full process from sketching to 3D rendering and virtual prototyping. Are you curious about the student’s 3D design? Visit our Sketchfab!

Technical courses:

These courses combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques, making them ideal for those looking to master the art of Italian-made shoes and bags. You don’t have to worry about the tools because we will organize all the instruments you need to follow the course.

Pattern making Men’s shoes

You will work on derby and laced-up oxford models, representing the quintessential elegant shoes, and on lasted moccasins and tubular moccasins. We will design laced-up ankle boots (Chelsea boots) with side elastic. You will start from the lasts, constructing the base shell, and getting the pieces/patterns of the models.

Pattern making Women’s shoes

Led by industry experts, you’ll learn the fundamentals of pattern making for women’s shoes. You’ll gain insights on the different types of women’s shoes, from dress shoes to casual ankle boots, and learn how to create patterns that are both stylish and functional.

Pattern making Sneaker

You will work on top-lasted and strobel constructions, take a look at knitted uppers, and analyse the constructions underlying iconic models like the Stan Smith derby-style, Oxford running, Van’s slip-on style, and Jordan mid-cut style.

Bag pattern making and mock-up

You will explore 27 different bag styles, including iconic designs like satchels, bucket bags, and saddle bags. The course focuses on pattern drafting using CAD software (Rhinoceros) and includes step-by-step video tutorials. Students also receive materials to create physical mock-ups of the bags. Find out more about the course on our youtube channel.

Why Arsutoria School?

Arsutoria School’s certification is recognized worldwide in the footwear and leather goods industry due to its longstanding reputation, comprehensive training programs, and industry connections.

Established in 1947, Arsutoria has trained thousands of professionals, offering highly specialized courses that combine both technical skills and design expertise, many prominent brands like Adidas, Balenciaga, Birkenstock, Clarks, DSQUARED2, Golden Goose, Inditex, Nike, Puma and Versace and many, many more have had employees trained at Arsutoria, further enhancing its international credibility.