OUR PROJECT WILL APPROACH FOOTWEAR COMFORT
Product life-cycle is a subject well documented in academic textbooks. The available documentation will be studied and revised and comfort and sustainability parameters will be included during the design process. Training material will be developed that will reflect the new life-cycle paradigm and the associated technologies.
Both dimensional fitting and plantar comfort parameters will be analyzed. Material properties, design processes and technologies and manufacturing techniques will be considered in terms of functionality, performance and final product sustainability. This study will provide the necessary scientific background for the establishment of new qualifications for the designers and product managers of the footwear sector.
With companies in order to jointly develop new learning and teaching methods centred on learners and real problem-based scenarios, as well as solutions for challenges and problems affecting the footwear sector.
Outcomes of previous projects and state-of-the-art design, 3D scanning and prototyping technologies will be utilized to provide practical training material to current and future footwear designers and product managers.
The future shoe designer should be able to creatively use computer-based tools and technologies for the design of high quality sustainable footwear, with increased comfort properties and aesthetics. Similarly, a product manager should be familiar with all the main aspects that influence shoe quality including the role of materials and manufacturing technologies in product performance. The new qualifications will be proposed to national institutions for accreditation.
The produced modules will be accredited according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which is widely adopted byEU countries and Universities. The modules will provide a minimum of 2 credits to the participating students (after evaluation) as part of their diploma supplements.
The effort associated to these seminars for students is estimated to at least 2 ECTS. During these joint seminars/workshops training courses will be implemented and followed by practical workshops where shoe designers will develop new product concepts based on the new qualifications. These concepts will be reviewed by industry participants. The last (ninth) seminar will take place in Greece that will also demonstrate the results of all previous seminars.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.