Sustainable Footwear Futures
3rd Edition
Sustainable Footwear Futures is an international, practice-based programme bringing together design, fine art and engineering students to explore the future of sustainable footwear.
Through a combination of textiles, regenerative fibres, digital fabrication, pattern drafting and technical footwear production, participants will develop creative ideas from initial concepts through to innovative footwear prototypes.
The programme combines academic expertise with insights from industry professionals and regional designers across fashion, textiles, footwear, sustainable materials and manufacturing. Participants will work across physical and digital environments, developing new skills while exploring more sustainable approaches to footwear design and production.
Sustainable Footwear Futures is a collaborative, skills-enhancing programme exploring sustainable materials, creative design and digital fabrication in footwear.
Bringing together expertise from LSAD/TUS in Ireland, UPCA in Portugal and HAMK in Finland, the programme gives participants the opportunity to explore the complete journey from material and textile development to digital modelling, pattern drafting and technical footwear prototyping.
The programme is structured around three complementary areas:
Regenerative Textiles & Materials — LSAD/TUS
Participants will explore creative applications for regenerative fibres and digital fabrication, developing textile concepts and prototypes inspired by local textile knowledge and production networks in the Midlands and Midwest of Ireland.
Digital Fabrication & Design — UPCA
UPCA will focus on digital drafting, modelling and prototyping, drawing on its experience in digital masterclasses and its connections with garment and footwear producers in northern Portugal. Participants will develop digital designs suitable for fabrication.
Pattern Drafting & Technical Footwear Production — HAMK
Participants will transform footwear concepts into product prototypes through creative and technical pattern drafting. The focus is on developing practical skills for translating design ideas into functional footwear prototypes.
Across all three areas, participants will learn from industry experts and regional designers working across fashion, textiles, footwear, sustainable materials and manufacturing.
The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is designed as a holistic learning experience, while each element can also be undertaken independently. By combining material innovation, digital technologies and traditional technical skills, Sustainable Footwear Futures encourages participants to imagine new possibilities for the future of footwear design and production.
The Sustainable Footwear Futures BIP brings together materials, technology, craftsmanship and creative thinking to explore new possibilities for footwear design.
By connecting regenerative fibres with digital fabrication and technical production skills, the programme encourages participants to experiment, collaborate and turn ideas into tangible prototypes.
The result is a shared space for learning, making and imagining more sustainable futures for fashion and footwear.
15th of March 2027 to 30th of April 2027
English
To be defined by each higher education institution. Generally, most students will have this BIP certified in their diploma supplement, as a minimal condition
All RUN-EU students, post graduates and researchers from any programme, with a particular emphasis on students with design, fine art & engineering degrees.
Please contact your International Relations Office at you home HEI
Programme at a glance
10:00–10:45
Welcome & SAP Overview
Introduction to the programme and learning objectives.
11:00–11:45
Guest Lecture — Research Institute ID+
Industry and craftsmanship, with a focus on sustainable approaches.
12:00–13:00
Guest Lecture — Footwear Brand
Sustainable and ethical footwear.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–14:45
Tutorials
Presentations, reading and research.
Tuesday, 16 March — Footwear Revolution
10:00–11:00
Guest Lecture — Footwear Brand
Digital design, virtual reality, augmented reality and customisation.
12:00–13:00
Guest Lecture — Footwear Brand
Communication, marketing, AI and 3D virtual showrooms.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–14:45
Tutorials
Presentations, reading and research.
Wednesday, 17 March — Additive Manufacturing
10:00–11:00
Guest Lecture — Technological Centre (CTCP)
Foot scanning, data treatment, 3D modelling and 3D printing.
12:00–13:00
Guest Lecture — Technological Centre (CTCP)
Robotisation, AI and 3D virtual showrooms.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–14:45
Tutorials
Presentations, reading and research.
Thursday, 18 March — Digital Illustration
10:00–11:00
Lecture — Footwear Design
Hugo Palmares, UPCA.
11:00–11:45
Workshop — Digital Footwear Illustration
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–14:45
Lecture — Footwear Design
Ville Siipola, HAMK.
14:45–15:30
Workshop — Footwear Modelling
Last, sole and materials.
Friday, 19 March — Techniques & Materials
10:00–11:00
Lecture — Circular & Seamless Knitwear
Rebecca Marsden, TUS / LSAD.
11:00–11:45
Lecture — Textile & Footwear Materials
Luisa Arruda, UPCA.
12:00–13:00
Briefing
Preparation for the face-to-face week.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
09:00–09:45
Welcome & Opening Session
Introduction, project outline and learning objectives.
10:00–11:00
Workshop — Materials Introduction
HAMK.
11:00–12:00
Workshop — Materials Introduction
TUS / LSAD.
12:00–13:00
Lunch break
13:00–14:30
Workshop — Introduction to Footwear Design
Foot and last, materials.
14:45–16:30
Workshop — Material Structures for Footwear
Tuesday, 13 April — Project Proposals & Workshops
09:00–09:45
Briefings
Check-in.
10:00–11:00
Project Proposals
Informal presentations.
11:00–12:00
Project Proposals
Informal presentations.
12:00–13:00
Lunch break
13:00–14:30
Workshop — Paper Prototyping of Footwear
Project development and prototyping.
14:45–16:30
Workshop — Forming Fibres: 3D Textiles
Wednesday, 14 April — Industry Day
08:30–10:00
Travel
Bus to São João da Madeira.
10:00–11:00
Industry Visit
Visit to the Footwear Museum and Footwear Factory in São João da Madeira.
11:00–12:00
Industry Visit continues
12:00–13:00
Lunch break
São João da Madeira.
13:00–14:00
Travel
Journey to Porto.
14:00–17:00
Cultural Visit
Visit to Porto city.
17:00–18:00
Travel
Bus back to Barcelos.
Thursday, 15 April — Workshops
09:00–09:45
Briefings
Check-in.
10:00–11:00
Craft Workshop
Visit to the Pottery Museum and Pottery Painting Workshop in Barcelos.
11:00–12:00
Craft Workshop continues
12:00–13:00
Lunch break
13:00–14:30
Studio Support
Tutorial and technical support.
14:45–15:30
Studio Support
Tutorial and technical support.
15:45–16:30
Studio Support
Tutorial and technical support, including presentation set-up.
Friday, 16 April — Presentation & Reflection
09:00–09:45
Presentations
10:00–10:45
Presentations
11:00–12:00
Presentations
12:00–13:00
Exhibition at UPCA & FAPSA Learner Experience Questionnaire
Presentation, reflection, recording and documentation of the projects.
13:00 onwards
Lunch break
10:00–10:45
Welcome & Opening Session
Introduction, project outline and learning objectives.
11:00–12:00
Lecture — Circular Economy Models
Textile Journeys, with Rebecca Marsden, TUS / LSAD.
12:00–13:00
Lecture
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:00
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
15:30–16:30
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
Tuesday, 27 April — Virtual Footwear Galleries
10:00–10:45
Lecture / Check-in
11:00–12:00
Lecture — Virtual Gallery
Digital Footwear Design, with Ville Siipola, HAMK.
12:00–13:00
Lecture
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:00
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
15:30–16:30
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
Wednesday, 28 April — Presentation Techniques
10:00–10:45
Lecture / Check-in
11:00–12:00
Presentation Techniques
Pitching a concept, storytelling and branding, with Jorge Brandão Pereira, UPCA.
12:00–13:00
Lecture
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:00
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
15:30–16:30
Tutorials
Tutorial and research support.
Thursday, 29 April — Student Autonomy
10:00–10:45
Autonomy
Students work independently on their projects.
11:00–12:00
Autonomy
Students work independently on their projects.
12:00–13:00
Independent project work
13:00–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:00
Autonomy
Students work independently on their projects.
15:30–16:30
Autonomy
Students work independently on their projects.
Friday, 30 April — Presentation
10:00–10:45
Public Presentation
11:00–12:00
Public Presentation — Virtual
12:00 onwards
Students' individual project work
The programme concludes with the presentation of projects, discussion, feedback, reflection and recording.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, learners will be able to:
Understand design contexts and applications relating to creative textile design processes and demonstrate how they can be applied to sustainable future footwear
Demonstrate abilities in digital design techniques and virtual communications for footwear in response to design concepts
Understand and apply the different approaches and methods in technical pattern drafting and assembly and utilise innovative and traditional production techniques for creative footwear prototyping
Selection criteria
Order of submission, motivation, wide representation of fields of study and balanced participation of RUN-EU member institutions.
Involved organisations and persons
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Anna Huoviala (Instructor)
- Ville Siipola (Instructor)
Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave
Lead Organisation, Host Organisation- Hugo Palmares (Lead Instructor)
- Jorge Pereira (Instructor)
- Luísa Arruda (Instructor)
Technological University of the Shannon
Partner Organisation- Rebecca Marsden (Instructor)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674
