Pensole Footwear Design Academy and Adidas announced the launch of Adidas Futurecraft Master Class, a hands-on, four-week, intensive footwear design master class to introduce aspiring designers to the art of Adidas footwear design and making, according to Pensole founder D’Wayne Edwards.

Futurecraft will take place from July 18 – August 12, at Pensole, in Portland, OR.

Adidas will provide scholarships (tuition and housing) for 12 hand-selected aspiring designers to experience Pensole’s rigorous “learn by doing” curriculum, wherein students are assigned Adidas projects to develop from idea to prototype.

“Pensole and Adidas have developed a very productive strategic partnership,” Edwards said. “Adidas was the first major global footwear brand to host a class at Pensole, and since then we have helped place 21 professional designers among the company’s ranks. We’re very proud of the work we’ve done together to build a farm system for Adidas footwear design.”

Futurecraft will feature adjunct faculty from Adidas, ranging from design managers, design directors, designers, pattern engineers, and recruiters, all there to share knowledge to inspire, guide and challenge young designers to reach their creative potential.

The class will emphasize a mix of footwear design and professional skills including:

  • Design process
  • Design briefs
  • Sketching
  • Terminologies
  • Materials
  • Pattern making
  • Modeling
  • Prototyping
  • Personal branding
  • Business conduct
  • Business networking
  • Portfolio development
  • Resume development
  • Time management
  • Visual presentation
  • Verbal presentation

To be considered for Futurecraft, applicants must register at http://pensole.com to submit:

  • One original Adidas footwear design SKETCHED BY HAND in color (design can be uploaded to http://pensole.com)
  • One physical prototype (not sculpted or printed) of the design
  • One video (three minutes or less) showing and explaining the design and prototype
  • One video (three minutes or less) that talks about a favorite Adidas shoe
  • Videos must be uploaded to YouTube, with links sent to Futurecraft@pensole.com
  • Registration and submission for Futurecraft must be completed by 11:59 p.m., June 5, through http://pensole.com.

Applicants must be 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States, Canada or Mexico; individuals who are employees of Adidas (or affiliated companies) or family members of Adidas’ competitors are not eligible.