Footwear Designer
Creates new designs and sample patterns for women's, men's and children's footwear.
Overview
Footwear Designers create new designs and sample patterns for women's, men's and children's footwear. A Footwear Designer tries to create innovative products, based on the current trends while satisfying their clients.
Where they work
- Design Consultancy Firms
- Footwear Production and Trading Companies
- Retail and Wholesale Companies
- Import or Export Industry
- Merchandising Companies
- Product Manufacturing Companies
- Corporate Businesses, etc.
Work environment
The work timings are typically 5 or 6 days a week for 8 or 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. Entrepreneurship: you can also start a Footwear Designer company on your own.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to build things
- You have a creative bent of mind
- You are comfortable in communicating with others
- You like to have clear instructions to follow
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Design (B.Des.) in Footwear Design followed by Master's degree (M.Des.) in the same discipline
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree in Design (B.Des.) in any discipline followed by Master's degree (M.Des.) in Footwear Designing.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Design. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Chandigarh
- Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- Central Footwear Training Centre, Pujali, West Bengal
- Central Footwear Training Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Footwear Design and Development Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- National Institute of Design, Jorhat, Assam
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Artemisia College of Art and Design, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, Punjab
- Alakh Prakash Goyal Shimla University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
- Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Kochi, Kerala
- Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana
- Indian Institute of Art and Design, New Delhi
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Trainee Footwear Designer
- 2Footwear Designer
- 3Senior Footwear Designer
- 4Design Lead
Expected income
₹30,000 – ₹1,15,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Fashion Designer
Creates original clothing, accessories and footwear — sketches, fabrics, patterns and production.
Product Designer
Oversees the design of a product from start to finish, or the improvement of an existing one.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Payal Kothari — An Indian Footwear Designer who is the founder of 'Veruschka', one of the leading designer footwear stores in the country. Payal is an alumnus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, and has graduated in the technical art of accessory design (B.Des.).
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 489 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/footwear-designer-salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.