Footwear Design online course, June 14-16 (McNeel Europe)

Footwear design
Online course
Rhino 7 Windows or Mac

June 14-16, 2023
10 am-5 pm CEST

Tutor: René Medel
Host: McNeel Europe (Barcelona)

This course covers the essential skills needed for 3D Footwear Design. Using Rhino and Grasshopper, starting with the shoe last, you will learn how to develop all the parts. This process includes using the right topology for each shoe component in the most efficient way and defining the best strategies to model all the parts and components. By the end of the course, you will know how to manage and visualize your footwear design and how to prepare fabrication files for prototyping.

René Medel, an industrial designer specializing in footwear design, tutors the course. He is part of the FAMAS Group innovation team, a German manufacturer of high-performance plastic components for the footwear industry.


Day 1

  • Introduction to Footwear Design in Rhino Topologies. NURBS vs. Mesh vs. SubD Shoe Last creation (NURBS vs. SubD)
  • From a scratch
  • Reverse Engineering from a Scan (Mesh)
  • QuadRemeshing to SubD
  • Low-Poly SubD Pulling
  • Last Alignment
  • Last Measuring (Rhino + Grasshopper)
  • Last Grading
  • Last Modifications: Toe Shapes and spring + Heel Lift

Day 2

  • Footbed creation
  • Insoles
  • Midsoles
  • Outsoles
  • Lattice Structures
  • SubD tools: Bridge, Perforation, Edging (Rhino + Grasshopper)
  • SubD Multipipe (Rhino + Grasshopper)

Day 3

  • Heel Counters
  • Upper Design + Flattening
  • Lacing & Closure
  • Logos & Lettering
  • PBR Materials
  • Rendering in Rhino
  • Exporting for Augmented Reality (AR)
  • Gravity Sketch Importing
  • Exporting to 3D Printing (ShrinkWrap WIP)
  • Plugins suggestions (Rhino + Grasshopper)

Course requirements: Rhino Intermediate Level, Grasshopper Basic Level, Footwear Design Basic Level


Online course fee: EUR 395- (+VAT); full-time students and university teachers get a 50% discount (proof of status required). Please note that we will confirm your seat after your payment has cleared.

Max. number of participants: 25. If there is no quorum, the course will be canceled two weeks before.

Course language: English

**Educational seats are limited. Sign up now by contacting McNeel Europe!


Posted May 10, 2023 by Verena Vogler on Rhino News, etc.

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