Pitch to Street is an industry-led footwear design course from Spark Design Academy. It takes you inside the world of footwear design, exploring how designers research ideas, understand culture and consumers, develop concepts and turn creative thinking into products.

You’ll learn about the decisions and processes that help take a footwear idea from its first inspiration through to a product designed for performance, lifestyle or the street.

Pitch to Street is designed for learners who want to explore footwear design, product design and the wider creative industries. It is suitable for those curious about how trainers and other footwear products are developed, whether they are considering a future career in design or simply want to develop their creative skills.

The course can also be explored by schools, colleges, football academies and other organisations looking to introduce learners to creative industry education.

You don’t need to be an established designer to start exploring footwear design. Pitch to Street introduces learners to the thinking, research and creative processes behind professional footwear development.

The course is designed to help you understand how designers approach challenges, develop ideas and make informed creative decisions.

Peter Hudson is an experienced footwear design leader whose career includes senior leadership at Nike and involvement in iconic footwear products, including the Mercurial Vapor and Total 90.

Through Pitch to Street, Peter shares insight into the thinking and processes behind professional footwear design, giving learners an opportunity to explore the industry through the experience of someone who has worked at its highest level.

Pitch to Street explores the creative and practical thinking behind footwear design. Learners will investigate how designers draw inspiration from the world around them, understand their intended audience and develop ideas into meaningful product concepts.

The course explores areas including:

• Research, inspiration and creative thinking.

• Culture, trends and consumer behaviour.

• Footwear design, innovation and performance.

• Product development and design decisions.

• The journey from an initial idea to a finished product.

No. Drawing and creating concepts are only part of the design process. Professional footwear designers also need to understand people, culture, materials, product purpose, performance and commercial considerations.

Pitch to Street explores the thinking behind those decisions, helping learners understand why a product looks and works the way it does, rather than focusing only on its appearance.

Pitch to Street is being developed as an NCFE Level 2 Customised Qualification in footwear design through Spark Design Academy, giving learners a structured route to explore the subject and develop their creative understanding.

Pitch to Street brings learners closer to the way footwear design works in the real world. Rather than concentrating solely on software or drawing techniques, it explores the research, observation, creative thinking and decision-making behind professional products.

Learners benefit from industry-informed teaching shaped by Peter Hudson’s experience, helping them understand how designers turn observations and ideas into products with a clear purpose.

Yes. Spark Design Academy works with education providers, football academies and other organisations to bring industry-informed creative learning to their learners.

Pitch to Street offers a way to introduce footwear and product design while developing transferable skills such as research, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and communication.

Organisations interested in delivering the course should contact Spark Design Academy to discuss delivery options and suitability for their learners.

Pitch to Street is a new footwear design course from Spark Design Academy, planned for launch in November 2026. Contact the Spark team to register your interest, ask questions about the course or discuss opportunities for your school or organisation.