Shoe one year diploma
Next intake
A unique experience on the panorama of Italian and international fashion schools, made possible by the technical skills and sample room facilities here at Arsutoria, the leading school for shoemaking in the footwear industry.
More details
What you’ll learn
It’s much more than an academic Master program; it is a hands-on, industry-driven, product-based intensive diploma program, recognized worldwide by professionals and brands. Elevate your career in the footwear industry with our Shoe One-Year Diploma Program, mastering every aspect of shoe design and technical pattern making.
- Practical Learning: Focus on real-world applications and product-based education for the footwear industry.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Covering design, technical skills, and market positioning.
- Final Project: Create a unique shoe design that showcases your creativity and technical expertise.
Course overview
Our Shoe One-Year Diploma Program combines tradition and innovation, equipping you with the skills necessary to thrive in the footwear industry. Join us and embark on a prestigious career path that blends creativity with technical expertise:
Shoe design classes – 15 weeks
We will guide both beginners and those with a design background in building a complete shoe collection with the right marketing positioning, in-depth materials research, and a polished graphic layout. This comprehensive program begins with hand sketching techniques focused on drawing shoes and their components. As you progress, you will gain proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, essential tools for creating professional-level shoe designs.
The true leap happens when these traditional design skills merge with advanced digital technologies. AI tools are no longer just supplementary—they are becoming central to the design process, offering unprecedented capabilities in rendering, material simulation, and creative exploration.
At Arsutoria, this shift is embodied in our integration of VizCom AI into the shoe sketching workflow. Students use the tool to convert hand-drawn sketches into refined digital renderings—experimenting with materials, sole constructions, and color combinations in real time. The process reinforces rather than replaces foundational drawing skills: a well-constructed sketch produces a stronger AI output, making technical precision matter more, not less. Students leave with fluency in a tool already adopted across the footwear industry, ready to contribute from their first day on the job.
Our course culminates in a hands-on project where you will learn the essential tools and methodologies to build your own shoe collection. This part of the program aims at developing a shoe collection, adding a perspective on marketing, customers, brand values, positioning and products.
Finally as 3D technology is rapidly transforming the footwear industry, enabling brands to visualize and communicate their collections with enhanced technical precision and aesthetic appeal, we dedicate 5 weeks of the shoe design classes to 3D tools for the footwear industry. We aim at teaching industry 3D tools to digitize shoe lasts and make modifications to last proportions; prepare technically precise 3D digital projects of shoe soles with an advanced training on the use of Rhino taught by industry leaders.
Shoe pattern making classes – 15 weeks
The next 15 weeks are designed to equip you with the essential technical skills to design and prototype a wide range of footwear, including men’s and women’s styles as well as sneakers. It all begins with an introduction to shoe lasts, a crucial foundation in footwear design. Students will then dive into pattern making, a core component of the Arsutoria School methodology. You will also gain hands-on experience by learning to sew your first upper sample, ensuring a practical understanding of the shoe-making process.
- Robust Sample Room Experience: engage in a strong sample room component that enhances your practical skills and creativity.
- 2D CAD Integration: Learn to utilize 2D CAD software to streamline your design process and improve accuracy.
- Diverse Footwear Styles: explore a wide variety of shoe styles and learn how to develop patterns for: Pumps and their variations (e.g., T-bar), Sandals, Derby shoes, Oxford shoes, Moccasins, Chelsea boots, Low boots and knee boots, including Oxford ankle boots, pull-up boots, and zipped boots, Sneakers with various constructions, such as Board Lasted (cemented) and Edge Strobel.
Final project – 8 weeks
Over the last 8 weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to bring your shoe design to life in Arsutoria School’s state-of-the-art shoe lab. Building on the designs developed during the first weeks of classes, you’ll select from a vast range of lasts, soles, heels, and materials available at the school or sourced from our network of esteemed Italian suppliers.
Work closely with Arsutoria School’s experienced instructors to develop a comprehensive technical project, refining your skills in shoe design and prototype development. Our team of seasoned sample room technicians will provide expert guidance, ensuring that your final prototype meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.
Arsutoria School offers a unique and immersive learning experience, setting us apart from other Italian and international fashion schools. Our cutting-edge shoe lab facilities, combined with the technical expertise of our instructors, provide the ideal environment for aspiring shoe designers to thrive.
Testimonials
-
My favorite part of the course actually is pattern making, it includes a little bit of calculation a little bit of hands on drawing (...) After the Shoe One Year diploma I have the solid technical skills that allow me to re-enter the industry in a more competitive way.