What is Footwear Design? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2025

Footwear Design course provides education on designing footwear from the raw stage to the finished stage by using different processes. The courses with specialisations impart methodologies of manufacturing. From choosing the right material for footwear to giving it an eye-catching design, it includes everything. Successful footwear designers must be well-versed in fashion trends, materials, ergonomics, and technical elements of shoe manufacturing. 

Footwear design is a field of fashion and product design that focuses on the creation and development of footwear such as shoes, sandals, boots, and other sorts of footwear. Footwear designers are in charge of creating the overall look, style, and functioning of shoes, taking into account both aesthetic and practical factors. 

Of course, you can be a Shoe Designer without completing any degree or diploma program in the same. However, having a degree helps in building a strong portfolio and provides some additional information on the topic.

• Develop drawing skills
• Learn languages
• Gain industry experience
• Understand the manufacturing process

Footwear Design as a stream requires aspirants to have a creative flair along with an eye for detail. Important skills that candidates should possess for a successful career in the field include: 

Note: This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

You should pursue a Footwear Design course, if:

• You are passionate about fashion and footwear.
• Have a creative mind with an interest in design ideation.
• You're eager to explore the art and science of shoe design.
• You are a Fashion enthusiast looking to delve into style lines and elements for various shoes.
• You are aspiring to understand the considerations for women’s shoe design.
• You are keen on mastering the skills and techniques essential for successful footwear design.

A Footwear Design degree is a creative career option that deals with the application of design in the design of all forms of footwear. Footwear design is more than just studying design and manufacturing; it is also about understanding production materials and the culture of diverse locations, about their wardrobe. Every culture has its unique manner of dressing; thus, footwear designers must have a theoretical and philosophical understanding of various types of footwear and how to use them.

Footwear designers must have a better understanding of measuring size and working with numbers. They are expected to have a thorough knowledge of the colours, fabrics, materials, and accessories needed for the job.

There are various courses offered in Footwear Designing including, including short-term courses, diploma courses, undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses. Candidates seeking admission to UG and Diploma courses should have passed at least class 12th from a recognised institute. For PG diploma courses in Footwear Design, candidates should hold a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised college or university.

Note: This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Candidates from any academic stream are eligible to apply for UCEED exam. However, for admission to IIT Guwahati it is mandatory for candidates to have passed Class 12 from Science stream. The candidate needs to carefully go through the eligibiity criteria before they apply. It is because the candidate will not be considered for admission to the B. Des programme even if they get a rank in UCEED 2026 if they don't meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. Also, any candidate who is found to be using incorrect information about their eliigibity stands to be disqualified if caught.

Since MAT is an entrance exam for post graduate level management courses, the minimum eligibility criteria for MAT exam is graduation. Candidate should have completed graduation in full-time or part-time mode in Arts, Commerce or Science from a recognised university. The eligibility criteria for MAT PBT, CBT and IBT are the same. Final year graduation students who will be giving their final exam or awaiting results are also eligible to appear in MAT. There is no minimum score requirement in MAT. Candidates need to have passing marks in graduation.

Depending on the course level and type, here are some important documents you must carry during a Footwear Design admission process:

• Class 10 and 12 marksheets
• Bachelor's degree (if applicable)
• Valid ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Migration certificate

No, Group Discussion or Personal Interview rounds are not mandatory in the BDes admission process of every college. There are more than 450 B Des colleges in India and the admission process of almost every college differs depending on their set criteria.

However, if you're seeking admission to the top BDes colleges such as NIDs, NIFTs, or IITs, you may need to prepare for these rounds as they generally conduct them to assess and select candidates for the BDes program.

The difficulty level of the CUET exam ranges from moderate to tough. Since the CUET UG exam is held for multiple subjects and slots, the difficulty level of the exam varies from subject to subject. Sometimes, the difficulty level may also vary for different slots. The difficulty level of exam is also relative and the same exam's level of difficulty may vary for different slots and candidates. While for the well-prepared candidates, the difficulty level will be low, for the underprepared students, the level of difficulty will be on the higher side. 

The FDDI AIST 2025 entrance exam will be conducted as a paper-based exam and will be of three hours duration. The question paper will be multiple-choice based. The B.Des paper will include questions from topics like Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, General Awareness, and Business Aptitude Test & Design Aptitude Test.

The candidate needs to follow the exam pattern when preparing for the exam. Also, make sure to stick to the official syllabus and important topics.

Unfortunately, you cannot get admission to any of The Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) without passing their FDDI AIST exam or other entrance scores they accept for different programs. Though there may be some relaxation or a quota system for different categories, but you cannot skip an entrance exam for FDDI seat.

The 1st step of UCEED 2025 counseling is online registration.

The counseling registration process for UCEED 2025 will be conducted starting the 2nd week of March 2025. Candidates who have qualified in the entrance exam and have been assigned a merit rank in UCEED 2024 were eligible to participate in the counseling process. 

The 2nd step is selection of campuses.

Eligible candidates had to register for counseling and select their choice of colleges in the order of priority at the time of registration.

In the 3rd step, seat allotment is made.

The allotment of seats is as per the merit rank of the candidate in UCEED 2025 and choices selected. Post the allotment of seats, the candidate have to pay the sea-acceptance fee and confirm their admission.

Students can see the below table to learn the difference between Footwear and Fashion design courses:

Note: This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Various books on footwear design can assist budding footwear designers and anybody else interested in the subject with significant ideas and information. Here are some books about footwear design that we recommend:

Note: This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Footwear Design courses are offered at UG, PG, Diploma, and Certification levels. Here are some top choices among them:

Note: This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

The syllabus and course curriculum of every Footwear Design college differs depending on the course level and type they offer. However, their syllabus is generally divided into 4 sections: Theory Paper, Soft Skills, Hard Skills, and Management. 

Under the Theory paper, students learn about Footwear Designing through theoretical subjects. Soft skills teach them about Coral Draw, Photoshop, etc. Hard Skills include Cutting techniques, Die Less Cutting, etc., and finally, under Management, they learn about Product Costing, Finance and Accounting, Project Management, etc.

A Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree from the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) can lead to a variety of professional prospects in the fashion and design industries, particularly the footwear and leather products industries. FDDI is a well-known institution that specialises in footwear and leather design, and its programmes are meant to give students a solid foundation in these fields.

FDDI B.Des students are well-prepared to seek professions in footwear design and development. They can work for established shoe firms or launch their own shoe lines. Many FDDI programmes include instruction in the design and manufacture of leather items such as bags, wallets, belts, and accessories. Graduates may find work in the leather goods industry.

Several institutions in India provide great footwear design programmes. If you want to work in footwear design, consider the following academies and institutions, which offer specialised programmes in this field:

• Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI): The FDDI is a world-class institute in India that specialises in footwear design & development. They provide undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in footwear design, leather products design, and fashion design with a footwear concentration. Check FDDI Placements
  National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT): The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has campuses all throughout India and offers a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programme in Fashion Design. Some NIFT campuses offer footwear design courses and specialisations. Check NIFT Placements
• National Institute of Design (NID): The NID is a famous design institute that offers a Graduate Diploma Programme in Design with a concentration on Product Design. While NID does not have a programme specifically for footwear design, the product design programme can include footwear as a design aspect. Check NID Placements.

Here are the top 5 FDDI campuses for Footwear Design courses in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

Here are some of the best Footwear Design college options for Diploma programs in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

Start your journey by pursuing a related bachelor's degree, then gain core knowledge in fashion design and materials, perfecting sketching and CAD skills, and developing a thorough understanding of construction and pattern making.

Get hands-on experience through internships or entry-level roles, network in the industry, and build a solid portfolio of your greatest works.
Keep up with industry developments and think about specializing in areas such as athletic or sustainability footwear design.

The market volume is expected to amount to 2,287.0m pairs by 2029, with a volume growth of 1.3% expected in 2025. The average volume per person in the Footwear market is expected to be 1.54pairs in 2024. It is also noteworthy that by 2024, 98% of sales in the Footwear market in India will be attributable to Non-Luxury.

The career scope of Footwear Design abroad is wide, with many major footwear fashion brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Deckers, etc., having their hubs in countries like the USA, Vietnam, Germany, the UK, etc.

Other than these, luxury footwear brands like  Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Prada, UGG, etc., also have their headquarters in countries like Italy, the UK, etc., making these countries the best for employment as a Footwear Professional.

The average salary of a Footwear Designer is INR 4.3 LPA in India. However, these salary packages can vary depending on the employer, job location, relevant experience, job position, expertise, etc. Meanwhile, the scope of Footwear Design in India is broad with ever-changing Fashion realm.
The demand for certain Designs and trends keeps on changing, and to keep up with the latest, companies need Designers' interventions and expertise. This also makes their job secure and highly-rewarding in the market.

Choosing between the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) depends on your career goals and interests, as both institutions specialize in different areas of design and development.

NIFT

• Focus: Primarily focused on fashion design, textiles, and related fields.
• Programs: Offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in fashion design, fashion technology, and management.
• Reputation: NIFT is well-known for its comprehensive fashion education and is recognized globally.
• Career Opportunities: Graduates typically pursue careers in fashion design, merchandising, retail management, and fashion technology.

FDDI

• Focus: Specializes in footwear design, leather goods, and accessories.
• Programs: Offers programs in footwear design, leather technology, and retail management.
• Reputation: FDDI is recognized for its specialized training in footwear and leather products, catering to a niche market.
• Career Opportunities: Graduates often find roles in footwear design, manufacturing, retail, and quality control in the leather industry.

Conclusion

• Choose NIFT if you are interested in a broader range of fashion-related fields and want to explore various aspects of the fashion industry.
• Choose FDDI if you are specifically passionate about footwear and leather goods and want to pursue a career in that niche.

Ultimately, consider the programs offered, faculty expertise, campus facilities, industry connections, and your personal interests when making your decision.

Footwear engineering is a specialized field that focuses on the design, development, and production of footwear. It encompasses various disciplines, including materials science, biomechanics, ergonomics, and manufacturing processes.

Some key aspects of footwear engineering are Design and Aesthetics, Materials Selection, Comfort and Fit, Manufacturing Processes, Performance Testing, and Sustainability.

Footwear Designing course can be pursued by candidates who are creative and like to showcase their unique ideas in sketching and drawing. They can earn an average salary ranging between INR 4 LPA to 10 LPA as per their success and type of job profile.

• This course will help individuals adopt their style and produce signature pieces to become renowned in the Footwear design industry.
• It is a form of expression of one's ideas and emotions, therefore, this course is excellent for people who are great at communication skills and able to portray their individuality through their designs.