Classes

The classes offered create the foundation for writing intuitive, integrated and inspirational Product Briefs. The Point of View of Design, Materials and Marketing are considered with each class. The emphasis is not only how to educate yourself and team on the aspects of Consumer Research, Color & Trend, Materials, Presentation, Product Story Telling and Presenting a POV but how to take that information “mined” and apply it to the product brief and product lines.

All classes run from 9am to 5pm at the Pensole Footwear Design Academy in Portland, Oregon. Please contact Janene Larson at Janene@ramppdx.com for customized curriculum for your brand. Fall Classes coming soon!

2012 Winter/Spring Class Menu:

>MATERIAL EDUCATION 101

Learn the basics of material education around leather, synthetic leather, textiles and components. What should you consider in the selection of materials for your product line from cost, country of manufacturer and sustainability. How can materials be used to tell a story around product innovation or reﬂect your brand values?

Suzette Henri 5/4/2012

>Merchandising for Product People

Learn about the very important role of color in the footwear product process. Color Process-where does the information come from? how do you know? how can you be sure? Application-how do you build a color palette that translates into inspiration boards and themes? Merchandising-how do you use color to pull the line together into a cohesive sellable product range? We will also demonstrate how color can extend the life cycle of a shoe and how we use color to target a variety of consumers and channels of distribution.

Michelle Battista 6/7/2012 (revised) $350

>PRESENTING AND DEFENDING YOUR PRODUCT LINES/DESIGNS

A good product line starts with a problem to solve and a demand in them marketplace. It has to make sense to multiple areas of the business. The product brief is used as the foundation to create meaning and explanation of the product line being created. The next step is to present and defend your product line and designs along the twelve – eighteen month product process. Explore presentation styles that work from one of the best designer and presenters in the industry. It is no coincidence that the Product Directors he has worked with call E. Scott their friend. You will leave smarter and inspired to be better.

E. Scott Morris 4/30/2012

>REALITY VS.MYTH - THE STORIES PRODUCTS TELL

Product Story Telling is a day-long adventure about the importance of good story telling (in some cases GREAT Storytelling) at work during the product creation phase of sneakers and how some of these same sneakers are used to tell a completely different story once they are in the hands of the consumers. Product Story Telling has a uniquely broad spectrum which also serves as an inspirational experience stressing the theme of raising the stakes on applying great stories to footwear creation. It is presented to you by an esteemed footwear designer with accomplished experience in the athletic footwear industry, along-side a long time sneaker lover/ enthusiast who shares his own stories from the consumer side of equation.

D’Wayne Edwards/Dee Wells 5/3/2012

SUCCESS FOR WOMEN IN ACTIVE BRANDS – Coming Soon

WHY DESIGN HATES MARKETING AND VISA VERSA – Coming Soon

COVER YOUR ASS LINE PLANNING & FORECASTING – Coming Soon

SHOE PRODUCTION FOR THE NEWBIE – Coming Soon

SUSTAINABILITY AS THE STAR OF YOUR BRAND – Coming Soon

DESIGN INSPIRATION FROM OTHER INDUSTRIES – Coming Soon

Classes

2012 Winter/Spring Class Menu:

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