Annual Salary
£20,000 to £40,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Footwear designers create new designs and sample patterns for men's, women's and children's footwear.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments
There will be
0.5% more Footwear designer jobs in 2027.
You could create exclusive 'one off' haute couture designs or ready-to-wear, high street pieces. You will typically:
You could work in a creative studio, from home or in a workshop.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification in footwear design, or a fashion design qualification that includes footwear.
You should look for courses that teach both the design and technical skills needed by the industry.
The British Fashion Council is a good place to start looking for courses.
You'll usually need:
You could get into this job through a fashion and textiles product technologist higher apprenticeship.
This typically takes 22 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a design assistant in a studio and learn on the job. With further training, you could begin to produce your own designs.
It's very important to put together a portfolio of work that you can take to interviews. This should include designs, technical drawings and mood boards to show your creative talents.
You can find more details on careers in footwear design and production from UKFT Futures.
You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
With experience within a company, you could progress to senior designer, design director or head of department.
You could also become a freelance designer, employed by companies to work on specific projects, or become self-employed and launch your own collection.
You'll need: