Chris Hill

This course is designed to give an insight into the role of the footwear designer in the fashion industry. It also aims to equip you with the skills necessary to produce a professional portfolio, showing individual creativity along with an understanding of footwear trends. Advanced footwear illustration techniques will be explored along with technical 'specification' drawing necessary for product development. We shall look at the industries seasonal 'critical path', beginning with analysing the catwalk trends, the world wide trade and buying fairs and all the crucial show calenders. We will consider the development of the product from mood boards to the final retail merchandising, identifying centres of production and the supply chain. An individual project will be set for each student to reflect the personal needs of their portfolios and there will be plenty of practical illustration and design exercises covering all types of footwear.

Chris Hill has worked in the footwear fashion business in Europe, India and the Far East. She has designed and developed shoes for all areas of the market. She has been Head of Footwear for the UK retailer Hobbs and has also taught at the footwear college Cordwainers, where her students included Jimmy Choo, Emma Hope and Patrick Cox.