Sneaker Design NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts

Overview

NABA’s Academic Master in Sneaker Design develops skills in footwear design and prototyping, with a particular focus on streetwear. Delivered at the NABA Milan campus in Italian and English, this one-year programme connects creative footwear exploration with the practical knowledge needed to develop products for artisanal and industrial production.

Theoretical study introduces the profession's concepts and tools, while laboratory work gives students opportunities to experiment with design and making. Collaborations with companies in the footwear industry connect this practice with market trends and the challenges of sustainable production.

Creative exploration draws on topics including:

• Speculative design and world building, exploring possible futures and imagined contexts
• Colour and product culture
• Generative design and form finding
• Sculpture and bricolage as experimental approaches
• Regional expertise

Students learn to design, prototype and create footwear collections, developing the ability to manage projects independently and contribute to a team. Throughout the programme, dialogue with professionals helps them connect their design choices to industry demands.

Career opportunities include:

• Sneaker designer
• Footwear designer
• Footwear pattern maker
• Materials and trends researcher and developer
• Fashion and style consultant for accessories
• Merchandising manager
• Freelance designer
• Product developer

Upon successful completion, graduates receive a First Level Academic Master Degree in Footwear Design worth 60 CFA credits.

Accreditation

NABA’s Academic Master qualifications are recognised by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), have full legal status and are equivalent to Italian first-level university master qualifications. The credits awarded can support further study at academies and universities in Italy and abroad, subject to each institution’s admission and credit recognition requirements.