YOUR DESIGN COACH

Chou-Tac

Your Messages & Questions

London, UK I'm hoping to use it as a teaching aid for art classes, esp. for beginners...
i love drawing...
I am from Yorba Linda, california I have started and learning Procreate for Landscape pain...
I can feel your comment has a lot of positive energy Vanessa!...
Hey I'm from Nigeria. Learning sketch because I love fashion and have so many creative des...
I'm from New York, I just want to learn....
I am from Mackay, Queensland, Australia. I really want to learn how to sketch to improve m...
I'm from Nepal and a hobbyist...
I'm from Myanmar...
Mackay, QLD. Just looking to improve my teaching...
Hi :) I m from Poland, Wrocław. I'm industrial designer....
I am from india.i want to learn sketching products....
I am from the midlands in England...
I come from the Brazil and I’m looking forward to expanding my skillset!...
I'm from Cameroon, I love shoes and want to invent and create mines. I've being thinking a...
I am a hobbyist...
Hi i’m Midhun from India and I need to improve my sketching skills...
I´m from México. I would like to know what this book offers...
I'm from. Malaysia...and I admire the sketching artwork & love to make my own art...
I come from the Taiwan and I'm looking forward to expanding my skillset!...
I'm a design student from India and I want to improve my design sketching skills...
I come from the USA and am looking forward to expanding my skillset! :D...
To improve my architectural sketching...
I can't get my free book :(...
Ola Michael, Quizas te quieres el "Designer Starter Kit" en espanol. If yes, please send...
I discovered Nomad Sculpt on iPad. https://nomadsculpt.com/ It's crazy interesting. It ...
I am from Holland and I love to design or sketch or sculpt on my iPad...
Quero voltar a desenhar...
Hi Dalila, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats !!...
Awesome. I hope learning drawing is helping you at your house building activity!...
Welcome Haonan :)...
Hi Rena, if you have any link where we could see your work, I am curious when you mention ...
Awesome! Hope you find valuable content and tips in the blog :)...
I'm from China, and I'm an industrial design student...
Hi! I study sculpture in High School of Fine Arts in Athens,Greece. I"ve just watched the...
I‘m from China,I am a student majoring in industrial design...
I'm from cameroon and i built houses...
I am from Algeria , I am first year industrial design student...
Minimalism is simple but often not easy to find the right curve or line. That is the beaut...
Hi Nicolas, You don't need to change any of your cables. You just need to buy a travel ad...
As another artist travelling US to france with a fat cintiq, a simple question: how did yo...
Like minimalism designs in my crafts...
sadhique from kerala, india...
Hi Mikhael, How are you doing? Thank you! The cover changed, but the guide remains the s...
Hello Rabia, Glad you are looking for sketching improvement besides your school :)...
Hi Marion, I made a beginner introduction to start drawing from imagination. It will help...
Hi Roy, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats!...
I am Ajayce Roy From India Right now I am looking forward to study product design....
I love sketching but I would like to have more use of my imagination...
ı want to learn draw,ı am a student...
I see a new cover, then I'm curious to download it again, because the book is very solid a...
Hi Dalila, After you go through the Designer Starter Kit, I invite you to try this tutor...
Ola Ruben, If you want to receive the designer starter kit in Spanish, please send me an...
Hi James! Lack of patience is a double-sword quality! I am glad it brings you here. :)...
Hi Julius, awesome! Hope you will find valuable tips and techniques in the blog....
From Rwanda, looking forward to becoming an industrial designer...
USA. Art has always been in my life is various mediums. MY LACK OF PATIENCE seems to bring...
Hola, soy de México, me inspira mucho tu forma de enseñar a dibujar, tus videos y la inf...
I am from Algeria. Want to get better at sketching objects...
Want to get better at sketching objects...
Hi-I'm Terri. I want to learn to draw...
My pleasure Marcos. Estoy feliz para ayudar te a dibujar mejor cada dia. Hope my Spanish...
Superbe Shammi, Glad you are back in track for sketching :) Bravo!!...
My pleasure Sven, I hope you find helpful content for your drawing journey! Cheers, Chou-T...
Hello Eliss, Glad you love drawing and spend time to learn. Awesome! You are gonna do gre...
Hi Estelle, I am glad you enjoy the blog, and that it helps you in your sketching journey ...
Hi Chou-Tac, Your site on sketching is SO Inspiring! I am Estelle, I live in China. I am a...
Kelantan,Malaysia I want to learn to sketch because I love drawing.I always drawing when ...
Thanks Chou Tac for sharing. Love to improve my skills....
thanks, Chou-Tac, your tutorials are exactly what I needed to start sketching again. The b...
Eu sou do Brasil, gostaria de aprimorar minhas técnicas de desenho, muito obrigado....
Hi Vinicius, thank you for sharing about Worldskills. https://worldskills.org/skills/id/5...
Hi chan. My name is Vinícius Arduino, from Brazil. I'm a worldskills competitor, do you k...
I want to get book...
I am glad to accompany you on your learning design journey Gabriele :)...
Hi Musab, The book is free and it is delivered to you by email. Did you well receive it?...
Can I order this book?...
Eu sou do Brasil, e quero aprimorar e aprender mais sobre design. A artes me fascinam...
Hi Adrian, Oops, just saw your messages by chance. :) Please say hello to the team Creapo...
I'm from central California and have an interest in urban design. My goal is to design wal...
Thanks for sharing good information I read this post I really like this article....
I have always been interested in industrail design....
I'm from Japan. The reason I want to learn sketching is because I want to be a product de...
*Cheap*, sorry!...
Because of you I bought A5 Fabriano sketchbook and a couple of cheab BIC roundstick black ...
Thank you for sharing these awesome books for free. I’m from Myanmar. I always intereste...
I saw your Youtube tutorial...
Hi, I got my BA in 2010 at the age of 50. For my final project I wrote a short story and i...
ola a todos. sou do brasil....
brasil....
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I'm ami from India and I'm looking for best technique and better skill for my design...
Hello! Maybe the beginner guide play hide and seek in the spam folder. Can you have...
Hey, I really appreciate it that you're able to provide beginners a free guide but I still...
Hi Sanjay, Glad to have you on board! You will get tutorials in the upcoming days and we...
A Mechanical product designer by profession learning to draw perspectives and human figure...
My pleasure Zahra. I am always happy to help, and glad you wanna improve. I learned s...
Hi Chou-Tac Chung, im so happy to find you again,my major is Industrial Design but im not ...
Hello Titi, Please thank the person who recommended the book to you. :) Feel free t...
That's an awesome goal you have Ruan! The gaming industry never stops growing. Bravo!...
I'm taking an animation degree and was referred to your book. I caught a glimpse on how to...
i like scathing...
I'm learning myself programming and game development on my own. And I want improve my draw...
I'm glad you enjoy David! By the way, in case you may be interested, the registration...
Hi, Chou-Tac Chung - Just wanted to say hi, and thanks for doing the videos. They're all r...
Estoy feliz porque te gustas la video de tutorial y ayudarte a dibujar las formas del arte...
Excelente contenido para aprender y para enseñar .Muchas Gracias por compartir...
Hey. How to determine in which scene I should be drawing a parallel source of light or a d...
Hi Daniel,  Yah, these days, it is better to rest if you feel any pain from your injur...
Hello I am from Montreal Canada, I've been sketching on and off for a while but more often...
I also hope you will find valuable content on the blog during your journey Deep. You sa...
Hi Stefan, I like your expression of a Chronic overthinker. You can find multiple vid...
Hi :-) hailing all the way from Denmark. I´m getting into portrait drawing and I was hopi...
Hi from Portugal I want to improve my drawings....
Hey, I am a Mechanical engineer, I like solving problems. But I want to explore my care...
Hy I'm Sabareesh, from India, basically I'm a graduate naval architect, who designs ships ...
Hi Mr Smith, I hope you find plenty of content that helps your high-school students....
Mr. Smith from Buffalo, NY I teach high school Architecture. I make every attempt to inc...
Hi i'm Jorge from Colombia and I need to improve my skills...
We can feel your high motivation Ian, awesome!! If you are a beginner, you may try this t...
Hope you find helpful content on the blog Salim :)...
Why the quality of image is decreasing when I'm posting on Instagram?...
Why the image quality decrease when I post it on Instagram?...
iwant improve my draeing...
i want improve my drawing...
I didn’t get a book yet please help me...
I WANT TO CREATE MY DESIGNS...
Hi Deanna, Do you mean the Designer starter kit? It is free. :) You can download ...
how much is the book?...
Hi Kathleen, I'm happy if it can be helpful to your art students. :) Thank you for s...
Great article. I'll share it with my high school art students! I always appreciate your ar...
Keep up Emmanuel! :D It is always worth pursuing what matters to you....
Thank you Chou-Tac. Your words inspire and give me hope....
Welcome on board Javier! :)...
Hello, I am Javier from Spain...
Hey Josh, Thank you for being an inspiration for the Design Sketchbook family and ...
Heck yea! I'm glad my question ended up making it as a full post! Hope it helps others as ...
Hi Asti, (Your name reminds me of a place I visited in Italy, where they produce amazi...
I am an Urban Sketcher and I want to improve my skills...
Hi Summer, Oops sorry for the late reply! Do you mind sending me an email at choutac@t...
I dont udernstant how you drawd your sphere and his shadow its says that you "will create ...
Hello! I’ve always loved to draw, and after observing how a lot of the artists I admire,...
Hi Graham, I do believe in "Quick wins". Basically about giving simple exercises th...
Hi I teach design in high school and I am looking for an easy way to teach my students to ...
Oh yeah, it's not free anymore. It's about 20$. I remember seeing a post from them on Fac...
Congratulation Ana for following your childhood dream. That's a great action you can def...
Avec plaisir Tania! N'hesites pas a partager dans les commentaires du blog, ou m'envoye...
Thank you for sharing Chris about the XP Pen tablet! :)...
Great article, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! I was looking to get a screen...
Bonjour ! Je dessine en autodidacte mais cela fait des années que j'ai arrêté. Donc app...
Thanks for sharing! But Sketchbook is not free anymore for Windows and Mac OS. I use Krit...
Hi, I'm Brazilian, my name is Ana, and i am an frustrated adult how quit drawing as kid be...
Hi, My name is Leon, From Liberia living in Nairobi. I love sketches and would love to lea...
hola yo vivo en Guyana, siempre me ha gustado dibujar, pero necesito mejorar....
hey.. hey,i am form india i love sketching and your words motivate me thank you sir...
Hi Oliver, I am glad you enjoy the drawing tutorials :). Sure, keep going learnin...
Hi, I really like hoe you teach drawing. Some time I started by using some book on techni...
Hi Gordon, It's all my pleasure. I am happy if the blog can help you during your a...
Hi Chou, Just wanted to say thank-you for all the work and wisdom you share. I am 54 a...
Hi! I'm not sure I see the difference between B and C. Are you just resting more lightly...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, me interesa y me gusta mucho tu forma de exponer cada uno de ...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, México es mi pais, y me interesa la información de tus libr...
Australia, For self paced learning for my kids at home....
Hello from Brazil! I wanto to learn the sketch to ilistrate n eBook on elkectronics! Best,...
I'm from Portugal. Need to learn more about perspective. Hope your book help me on that. C...
From California. Engineer who wants to learn to quickly sketch product ideas....
Me gusta dibujar desde pequeño y quisiera aprender más....
Yeah! I am happy it helps you refuel your motivation tank! :)...
hey, thanks a lot for this article! i got my college results recently and was feeling do...
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
Hello from Hawaii!...
Don here, from Hawaii. Always wanted to be able to draw, looking forward to learn here....
Actually I try to know and learn the systematic technique for sketching. It will help and...
Hi Susan, Thank you for sharing your creative apps selection on iPad. Do you draw ...
Hi there, I've been a professional fine artist for over twenty years. Before that I was a...
My name is Pablo and I'm interested in improving my art skills....
Hi, I'm Julius from Ghana. I've just started drawing and I'm looking for resources online ...
Hello, I have just sent an email to you :)...
I a brazilian and I want to improve my technique...
Is the “37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'” book still available??? I sent for it, got t...
Hi Chou-Tac! I've been trying to get the book but it's not been sent to my mail, please c...
Hi Gino, Oops! Thanks to you, I realized I forgot to unlock the book delivery. Let ...
Is the "37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'" book still available??? I sent for it, got the l...
My aim and passion to be designer I'll achieve this surely...
Hello Janet, Yes, the basics are perfect to start sketching the "correct way" as you...
Superb! It's definitely great to explore different styles and methods. :)...
Hi Kamil, As a carpenter, you may like this interview with Guillaume Bouvet. He's a ...
It is my pleasure to share! I also love illustration. Art and design are so interlinked....
Welcome on board Sam! Let me know how it goes, and do not hesitate to leave a comment or...
I'm a self trained set designer Wood worker from Lagos Nigeria Thanks for sharing I real...
Learning to sketch as a hobby and past time....
Hi from Belarus! I'm after illustration. I hope learning to sketch would help me to get i...
Hi! I come from Poland, but I live in Germany, Berlin. I am carpenter and want to learn sk...
Hello my name is Jan, I live in Perth, Western Australia. I am 72 years old and now disabl...
This is a great reminder to half things.. thanks...
I’m design garments and just expanding on sketching....
I’m looking forward to sharpening up my sketching skills for sneaker design. Thank you f...
i Come from Les Baux de Provence. Thé lockdown five me Time to draw and now i love it bu...
Thank you for sharing this with us...
Hi! I live in Mexico. Im arquitech and i want to improve my sketching styale. Thak's for g...
Hi , I’m trying to take my drawing to the next level ....
My name is Chris Richards from Asheville NC and I need to improve my skills to better pres...
I work as illustrator, I'm very curious about design techniques....
I'm from Arizona. I just started teaching myself how to draw because I've always wanted to...
how is you learn design product ?...
M a french student in a design school, i wish that you're book can help me in my work...
I'm from Brazil and sketching is my favorite hobby....
Very enlightening article. Been reading your blog little by little for some time now but ...
I want to crack the nid exam (National institute of designing)I am preparing for the exa...
Thank you so much for making this content and for your fantastic YouTube videos! I hope to...
I want to draw to open my business and as a hobby...
I'm a landscape architect and want to polish up my landscape drawing skills....
I'm theater design student and want to learn more about sketching....
I want to learn how to design for the industry....
I want to learn it so I can design environments for the industry....
Hello, I've tried signing-up several times for the book download, but no success. Nothing...
My major is industrial design. I'm a design sketch teacher. I'd read the book to improve m...
Gostaria de aprender outras técnicas de desenho porque faço Design de Calçados....
Hello Chou-Tac, I am Marina from Serbia. I study graphic design. Thank you for sharing thi...
Oroville, CA I want to learn it so I can design environments for the gaming and film in...
I've always loved drawing but geneRALLY REfused joining a course. I've always wanted to be...
I’m teaching designdraxing myself and want to have indpiration for my lessons...
Sacramento, CA...
I am a student of Design... but my drawing skills never developed well... when I was 12yo...
I want to improve my skills to better support my students when working on sketching design...
I’m learning how to be better at illustrating for animations...
Hi me prem...
Hi, I’m from Singapore. I am a teacher ,teaching design and technology. I want to be a...
I am a Mechanical Engineer. I do a lot of computer drawing every day, but I would like to ...
i want to be a product designer, sketching is the first building blog to be...
I want to learn how you learn how to draw what you see....
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists. I work in USA in Washington sta...
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists....
Hi Manuela, Yes there are some tutorials about straight lines. You can get them here...
Hi Nadya, I have just send it to you by email :) Chou-Tac...
Tried downloading book nothing happening. Can you please send me a copy. Thanks...
Hi chou-tac I love your videos. I have a question i always drawed feather lines. I am now...
I've always known I have the talent for drawing/sketching plus I love art but I didn't tak...
Well, I want to learn how to sketch so I can be a animator so I can make this animation fo...
I could relate to this post quite a lot. When I was in my third year I found myself questi...
I'm a student in 3D computer graphics for games and film, but want to improve my artistic ...
My pleasure Jan!...
Totally agree Bryan! :)...
Hi Greig, Hope you find plenty of helpful content on the blog. :) Please let me know...
Awesome Albert, Please, let me know how it goes with the students. :)...
Hello Sam, I am glad that you could correct your elbow position when you draw ellipses...
I have been drawing since I was a kid but never took it seriously enough to learn/study ho...
I would like to use the book for students who are having difficulties with drawing. Tha...
Awesome Usamah, It's such a great feeling to solve problems helping people (even if we...
when I studied mechanical engineering, it was very difficult because of the many calculati...
studying product design...
Trying to get back into sketching, I teach high school design technology and am looking fo...
I am a student and a freelancer, looking forward to be very good in design sketching and t...
Hello, I'm from Oklahoma. I'm interested in sketching because there are times words simp...
Thanks for the help and book to help and practice...
Congrats on your choice of the creative path Teertha! I am glad the sketching videos hel...
Just a student interested in design and wanted to know where to start...
Thank you. I'd like to learn to become a better sketcher....
Hello! I am going to apply for master's degree and found your videos to helpful for me....
Hello Richard, I am glad you enjoyed the video tutorial on perspective and found it be...
Hi Chou-Tac, Greetings for the day. My name is Mahendra and I'm from India. I love to dr...
Hi Dev, PLease find my reply on your email. :) See you there! Cheers, Chou-Tac...
Salut Paxon, Bienvenue a bord! Je serais curieux de ce que tu fais pour les scenogra...
I want to sign up for the sneaker sketching course . Vould you help me with that?...
Bonjour! Je viens de lire votre introduction et je voulais vous dire bonjour d’Austin a...
Chou-Tac I went through your 2 point perspective tutorial. You've done an outstanding job...
from Switzerland, Suisse romande, et je parle français, I live near the lake of Neuchâte...
I am a beginner at 68 and want excellent help....
Am darhnyell from Nigeria . I love art and am passionate about it right from childhood...
Hi, i´m glad to meet you, whith us I had the necesary I need learn to draw better. thanks...
Hi, I did not receive the book till now. I am very interested to learn sketching. I am sea...
I want to refine my skills to be the beat artist I can be. Always learning...
Design Technology Teacher Qld Australia teaching Design...
Hi Sandi, You got a great initiative. Handsketching will help you a lot in your journey...
Hi, I'm a product design engineer student. So I would love to be skillful at sketching not...
Hi Uyen, If you use a screen tablet like a iPad or Wacom Cintiq, it gets very similar t...
Hi Matthew, I am glad you enjoy sneaker design so much! I have just finished writing...
Hi Chou-Tac, it's nice to meet you... I came across your website by vigorous researching. ...
I also need to know moreabout technique. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad ...
Me too. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad for sketch book, I wonder do we d...
Hi, I studying at Art and design University and I want to learn more about sketching. Than...
I did not get the book. I asked for it Again today....
I checked spam every day but, no, I did not get the book. I asked for it agin today....
Hi Ojo, Happy you are back with your passion for drawing! I have sent an email to you ...
Hello Chou Tac. I'm a former student of yours I started the sketch like the pros course ...
HELLO! I'M GABE. I'M FROM BRASIL. I'M AN ART TEACHER AND UNPROFESSIONAL DESIGNER. I WAN...
WANTED TO LEARN RENDERING TECHNIQUES...
Hi Miguel, I agree, being able to draw the products you have in mind will drastically ...
Hi Alexandra, Your teacher is wise. The world is generous of discoveries! For us t...
Hey Kym, You are totally right, for a concept artist, the key is a good understanding ...
Hello Aquilla, Glad to see you here and explore how to keep improving your art skills....
Hi Andreas, The book is sent to your email. Did you receive it?...
Thanks Praveen, I am glad it helps you!...
That i s great you go back to your passion. Your ideas and concepts will definitely take...
Thank you for the update Michelle. I am glad you received it. Sometimes email like t...
I was able to download it today using a non-gmail account. I put in a temporary email and ...
These tips and tricks are so amazing and easy to follow. Great explanation of drawing sket...
Hi, I am from India and wanted to learn to sketch because currently whatever I am thinking...

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung

How Marina’s Love for Design made her a Shoe Designer

You want to become a Shoe Designer,
but it sounds too ambitious and you may have doubts like:

  • Am I legit to become a Shoe Designer?
  • I think I’m no special. I can’t even draw…
  • Am I wrong pursuing a dream?

Today, we knock out these doubts away with Marina Aperribay.
She is a 26 years old Shoe designer. (And she’s a VIP student of my course Sneaker Sketch Pros)

Why Marina’s experience is inspiring in my opinion?

Marina doesn’t wait for career opportunities,
she actually provokes them. 🙂

Marina sketching process after shoe sketching
Marina aperribay shoe design sketches vip student of sneaker sketch pros course

Marina will show you how you can succeed too by being yourself
and so, become special in the footwear design industry!

FUN FACT
Marina is not a Sneaker Freak. nor a “Sketching Addict”.

But she loves shoe design creation.
She learns how to draw, and her sketches are pretty “Badass” (See above). 🙂

Marina Aperribay:
Hi Chou-Tac!

First of all,
thank you so much to you for giving me the opportunity
to answer these questions and put my thoughts into words!

Marina aperibay footwear designer
Setting realistic goals to your dreams works
Ask your questions to Marina in the comment below the interview
or send them to me by email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com

INTRO

My name is Marina Aperribay.
I am 26 years old and I am from Eibar,
which is located in the Basque Country.

However, I have been living in Barcelona
for a couple of years now, since October 2020!

How your friends would describe you?

I would say that most of my friends perceive me
as an enthusiastic person with a zest for life.

I don’t spend energy on things
that don’t pique my interest.

They know that I’m an active person
who tries to enjoy as much as I can and does not
expend energy on things that don’t pique my interest.

So the people who spend time with me
know that I appreciate their company a lot.

I like to spread positivity and they reflect it back
to me, so the plans we share are valuable for everyone.


SHOE DESIGN BACKGROUND

What is your background?

During my third year of studying Industrial Design Engineering (at Mondragon Unibertsitatea)

I started working in the Department of Materials Forming Processes at the university,
where I learned how sensitive machines can be.

Www mondragon edu
<a href=httpswww Mondragon Eduenhome target= blank>mondragon unibertsitatea<a> design school

I found it really interesting to invest lots of time in trial and error,
perfecting the shaping of these metals until they came out with the expected curved structures

However,
I realized that I was limiting myself
from exploring other aspects of design that also fascinated:

  • User research,
  • Ideation,
  • Sketching
  • etc…

So I decided to undertake my final project in a company located in my town,
which focused on the UX/UI and physical design of a sports betting ATM.

While working there,
I had the opportunity to learn about new workflows
and really useful tools that were previously unfamiliar to me.

I enjoyed this experience a lot,
especially due to the positive dynamics with my colleagues in the department.

I wanted to
gain experience working abroad.

That same year (2019),
I finished my degree, and it was pretty clear to me that I wanted to
gain experience working abroad.

After an application process,
I was granted a Global Training scholarship from the Basque Government,
which enabled me to take my first flight to Mexico City.

I worked at DIN Interiorismo for six months,
focused on 3D modeling and 2D technical drawings
of really interesting furniture designs.

Din interiorismo
<a href=httpdin Com Mx target= blank rel=noopener title=>din interiorismo<a>

Unfortunately,
COVID arrived during this period.

So thanks to another grant
I was able to do a Master’s Degree in Industrial Design Engineering
(Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering) in Barcelona the following year.

Design school www elisava net
<a href=httpswww Elisava Neten title=elisava target= blank class=broken link>elisava<a> barcelona school of design and engineering

All of my previous experiences and learnings led me
to a key product that I saw a lot of potential in: Footwear.

I am personally very concerned about sustainability as well as technology.

So despite not consuming much lifestyle footwear,
skating made me acutely aware of the amount of
material and work that is wasted in such a short time

So I decided to analyze the current and
disruptive processes of footwear design as my final project.

My interest in learning more
about the context involved in footwear grew so much
that I decided to apply for an internship at Footwearology Lab.

Www footwearology com
<a href=httpswww Footwearology Com target= blank rel=noopener title=>footwearology lab <a>

Footwearology Lab is a footwear education
and innovation company where I am currently working as a designer:

  • mainly focused on 3D printing,
  • some design projects
  • and learning a lot about knitting programming too.

All of my previous experiences have brought me here,
and I am still creating more that will take me to the next adventure!


MOTIVATION / JOURNEY

How did you discover your passion for Design?
How does it all started?

The ability of a person “coming up with an invention”
has always caught my attention.

When I was a kid,
I was fascinated by stories of exploration and pirates,
but especially the gadgets that these characters used.

I think that’s when my passion for design started,
as I enjoyed making bows and arrows with wooden sticks,
playing with typical building toys… haha.

On the other hand I have always been quite athletic,
so the design of sports equipment and
performance apparel has also been intriguing to me.

Some years later,
despite doubting a bit whether to continue with more artistic or technical studies,
I discovered the Degree in Industrial Design thanks to a teacher and it became clear
to me.

Industrial Design is
the perfect balance of technical and creative skills!

During the studies I realized
the wide range of options that design could offer me,
which produced me the typical feeling
of uncertainty because of loving everything!

“I feel the same excitement
as when I was a child.

That’s why I started working in different fields.

And with time and experience,
I have been learning what I like the most and the least.

Trying to gain skills that contribute to my creativity and functionality,
always motivated to innovate.
And I feel the same excitement as when I was a child.

Marina sketching process before
<strong>marina aperribay <strong>shoe design sketches before starting sneaker sketch pros course

What makes you thrilled about Shoe Design?

First of all,
I find it very interesting to work on a product
that is in contact with the human body and the environment at the same time,
where each foot and each surface can be different depending on various conditions.

On the other hand,
the shoe is a historical product that has evolved a lot.

During a Road Trip around Europe with the Footwearology team,
I had the opportunity to visit the SONS museum in Belgium.

Shoe museum www shoesornoshoes com
<a href=httpswww Shoesornoshoes Com target= blank rel=noopener title=>sons museum<a>

I was amazed by how the function and aesthetics of each shoe
change in each country, something that one takes for
granted but is even more impressive when you see it in person!

I also think that the wide variety of knowledge involved in a shoe is incredible.

I really admire the knowledge and experience
that professionals or ‘Shoe Dogs’ have in each area.

I am focusing on creating small seeds of knowledge
in most of the things that interest me.

Such as having amazing innovative ideas
taking into account many manufacturing processes:

  • Pattern making,
  • 3D modeling and parametric design,
  • Mold development,
  • Making tech-packs,
  • Knitting programming…

Having advanced experience in everything is very difficult.

But for now,
I am focusing on creating small seeds of knowledge
in most of the things that interest me.

And little by little,
I will try to become a professional in what I enjoy the most.



CAREER

Can you tell us about Footwearology?


Footwearology has been my first contact with the footwear industry professionally.

I have to thank them for their confidence
in giving me responsibilities that, at first,
were beyond my knowledge but were also the reason to learn that quickly.

Marina sketching process after shoe last
Marina aperribay drawing <a href=httpswww Thedesignsketchbook Comtip essential tips on how to draw shoes side view part title=how to draw a side view shoe in tips>shoe last and proportions<a>

It is an innovative footwear company
that opened its first lab in Barcelona about two years ago, focusing on education,
consulting, and research in footwear, which allows us to apply our knowledge while learning
at the same time.

As I mentioned before,
I started my internship here with Jordi and Nicoline,
the founders of the company, when the place was practically empty,
so it has been quite a journey to get to where we are now!

I am happy that the team is expanding, as I enjoy
working in a team sharing knowledge and experiences.

You can find more information about the services we offer, including online and inhouse
courses on the website (www.footwearology.com) or on our Instagram
(@footwearology_lab).


You are at the beginning of your career.
What the younger version of yourself would say about you and your achievements?

I am very happy to be fulfilling my dream of designing
and traveling around the world thanks to my work.

I think about it every day!

However, every human being is a maverick
in a different sense and even more in any field related to innovation.

Marina sketching process after shoe sketch

In my case and probably in the case of most people with a similar profile,
we are constantly learning about something we are passionate about,
and it is so engaging that it’s never enough! Haha.

That’s why Marina from the past would say:

Wow, setting realistic goals to your dreams works.
Keep it up!

The investment of energy becomes more powerful with time,
so don’t get frustrated by being a ‘junior’ .

Because when you look back,
you will realize how much you have learned and what you have to teach too!

What the Young version of Marina Aperribay would say.

So I am at this point right now,
working, learning and enjoying both as much as I can!


INSPIRATION

Who are your favorite artists, designers or brands ?
And why ?

Starting from the brands,
it amazes me how a shoe can be so different due to the diverse
technologies and techniques applied depending on its functionality.

That is why in more traditional shoe design brands AldanondoyFdez is a great example.

Www aldanondoyfdez com
<a href=httpswww Aldanondoyfdez Com target= blank rel=noreferrer noopener>aldanondoyfdez<a>

They make unique leather personalized shoes,
but always innovating making different constructions.

Aldanondoyfdez leather shoes
<a href=httpswww Aldanondoyfdez Com target= blank rel=noreferrer noopener>aldanondoyfdez<a> leather shoes flat construction
Aldanondoyfdez heel shoe leather camel black
<a href=httpswww Aldanondoyfdez Com target= blank rel=noreferrer noopener>aldanondoyfdez<a> leather shoes heel construction

They also do education and this is something that I appreciate a lot, because it means that apart from
doing what they know they jump into the pool learning methods to reach the customers
ideas.

Another example is Helen Kirkum Studio.
I really like the idea of using parts of worn shoes to create shoes
with a different personality being sustainable at the same time.

New sneakers made from old ones www helenkirkum com
<a href=httpswww Helenkirkum Com target= blank rel=noopener title=>helen kirkum studio<a>

There are also larger companies like Nike, who innovate on an industrial level and it
impresses me very much how they apply the knitting technology in their shoes for example.

Nike flyknit
<a href=httpswww Nike Comflyknit target= blank rel=noopener title=>nike flyknit <a>running basketball soccer

I am starting to learn about this technology and I find it so inspirational.
I also have to mention the brands:

  • Salomon
  • Patagonia
  • The North Face
  • and Hoka,

Their products are more focused on outdoor performance,
and the processes and materials that they use
are quite different from most of the lifestyle shoes.

Apart from this,
they take great care of the identity
of their products with an aesthetic that I personally love.

I also enjoy seeing how a shoe can be made in any shape from brands like Zellerfeld or
FUSED Footwear, the first 3D printed footwear brands with a completely different business
model.

Fusedfootwear d print shoe
<a href=httpwww Fusedfootwear Com target= blank rel=noopener title=>fused footwear<a> d print shoes

It gives designers the opportunity to think differently.
As I mainly work on these types of projects, they inspire me a lot.

About some of the designers that I admire for their ideation, visual representation abilities,
and how they mix a sporty aesthetic with futuristic concepts with a lot of delicacy I have a lot in
mind:

  • Dan Valentine,
  • Dennis Johann Mueller,
  • Aurélien Longo,
  • Arnau Sanjuán,
  • Elisa Payer…

And some design studios with a style of projects
that I’ve been following for a long time ago, such as :

  • KISKA,
  • Foarms
  • and many more!

Then I have to say that any artist who is inspired by nature picks my interest, like Neri
Oxman and the MIT team, who connects nature with technology in a really smart way, the
incredible representations of Ernest Haeckel and Rafael Araujo, representing nature in a
technical drawing style…

Where do you look for inspiration for your projects?

Whenever I come across something interesting
on the internet or take photos at trade shows, museums, or shops,
I save them in folders on my computer or iPad.

I categorize them into topics such as current shoe trends,
innovative fabrication processes, sketching techniques…

This way,
I have a collection of inspiring visuals
that I can refer to for future projects.

On the other hand,
I mainly use Behance, Pinterest, and Instagram as platforms to
find concrete inspiration, where I can follow certain accounts and share my own content.

I also believe that Artificial Intelligence has great potential
since it is a tool that helps me put my thoughts into visuals,
as it enables me to combine the characteristics of artists who are
not related to footwear with shoes for example.

Depending on my goals,
I typically use tools like Mid Journey, Dalle, or Vizcom.

Do you follow a creative workflow for your design projects?

The creative process I follow is almost the same one I learned at university,
but I apply some tools that I have learned over time, especially those applicable to footwear.

What I have noticed changing a bit is that in a work environment,
there is usually less time than in an academic environment, so setting limits always helps.

  • I always start by analyzing.
  • I spend a lot of time researching the context of
    what I have to do and face the project as best as I can.

Then (and now much more fluently thanks to this sketching course):

I think that every creative process is iterative,
so I don’t close the door to making changes based on new project information,
as well as technical, material, or production process limitations (or advantages).

Something that I also like is receiving feedback from other people.

Whether they have a similar or different profile,
since it forces me to have clear ideas so I explain them,
and new perspectives greatly empowers my projects.


SKETCHING

How does sketching help you as a shoe designer?

Sketching is the first step that allows me to translate my ideas
into something that will soon be tangible.

It’s a versatile tool that I use
not only to generate multiple product concepts quickly,
but also to create visually appealing deliverables.

With sketching, I can explore different design directions
and refine them iteratively until I arrive at the most promising solutions.

I still have a lot to learn considering the high level that senior shoe designers have,
so I’m on my way haha, but honestly this course (Sneaker Sketch Pros) is helping me a lot, and I will never lack
motivation!

You are a student of my Shoe design course “Sneaker Sketch Pros”.

You started the sneaker design course even though you already had some sketching skills.
How does the course helps you?

As you say, I have experience doing product concept sketches in general, since most of my
projects so far have been changing a bit, but I am trying to look for a similar style for the
shoes.

The course is helping me a lot,

  • on the one hand, giving me the necessary bases to apply my previous skills to footwear,
  • and on the other, teaching me theory that goes from the posture when drawing to the types of lines and basic proportions to take into account in a shoe.

I must mention that the dynamic of sharing my drawings with you
and receiving feedback gives me a lot of inputs,
since sometimes it’s difficult to know how to improve your own drawings.

It is a learning process with which I already notice improvement,
so I still have to finish the course and apply it to many more drawings!


You like to draw on a graphic tablet,
what’s your equipment and which software do you use?


I personally prefer the feeling of drawing on paper
because my mind thinks clearly and my eyes can rest more.

I consider the graphic tablet an incredible tool
which helps me to speed up my process
and iterate more efficiently.

Some time ago I decided to learn how to draw digitally on a refurbished iPad Pro
that I bought when I was in college (it still works great, haha)
and I use Procreate, which is undoubtedly the tool I use the most.

I also use Nomad Sculpt,
which allows me to make 3D sculptures with interesting textures and
volumes so I can create a simple 3D model from the sketches in the same iPad.


When did you start to learn how to draw?

I learned how to draw at school
but I think it’s something very generic
and usually not given enough importance.

I have taken more technical drawing classes than creative drawing in
my life, so that might be the reason why I’ve never gone to a park to draw a landscape, but if
I have an idea at night I’ll probably set an alarm to draw it in the morning before going to
work or I’ll stay up late to do it.

In drawing focused on product design,
there are really useful techniques that can be applied (I’ve seen really good videos on YouTube),
but when I started in footwear, I was feeling a certain tension since I had less fluidity.

That is when I found “Sneaker Sketch Pro” course and I realized:

  • the importance of proportions
  • and other techniques that greatly empower your designs.

Technically this is the only drawing course I’ve enrolled in so far haha.


Do you think it is difficult to learn how to draw?
And does anyone can learn how to draw?

I think that the hardest part of learning to draw is looking at your drawing and feelingsatisfied with the result because it represents exactly what you had in mind.

Then there are many techniques or visual styles to play with, and little by little you feel comfortable with one
or the other, so yes if I am learning anybody can do it, it is just practice!


Do you use inspiration/reference pictures?

Yes, of course!

Sometimes they are:

  • my own images that I generated in AI,
  • others are photos that I have taken at Trade Shows,
  • and of course I always collect images of what is happening in the market
    and of certain styles of design that can empower my creativity.


Besides working, do you draw as a hobby?

As I mentioned before,
I don’t draw things that aren’t about products very often.

However, sometimes, if I’ve had a good day,
I represent it through a simple comic panel
or draw some tattoos that I plan to get one day, haha.

I just like to mix important meanings for myself and relax while doing it.


LAST TIP

Any advice or tip for beginners
whom wanna start a career in footwear design?

I think that anyone
who feels a passion for footwear
can end up working on it.

It is a quite specific sector but very open in options.

As I said before, a shoe represents technical,
biomechanical, material science, manufacturing processes knowledge… so you can go into
the ideation part, the development, the prototyping etc.

My advice would be to:

Push the part that you enjoy the most
but always learning about complementary things.

Having a bigger perspective in mind
you will know better the limitations and possibilities
and your design process will be much more fluid!

Shoe designer marina aperribay love for design


Where to find more about you and your work?


LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-aperribay-055062190?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Ap
age%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B3KzMAVCETCKx
gdBjvTQJUQ%3D%3D

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marina.pdesign/
Behance: https://www.behance.net/aperrisme1d13b

Thank you Marina!

Chou-Tac

Hello! I am a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your design goal as a student or professional.

My aim is to help you all along with your design projects and journey!

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

View all posts

Add comment

Leave a comment or question