Friday, May 30

I want to create a shoe brand, but I'm still very unclear about the specifics of my company. I already know what my brand aesthetic is and who my customers are, though I have yet to flesh out all the details. However, with a vague starting point in mind, I begun my research last night, taking advantage of my library's extensive database to find information on the shoe industry, both in the US and globally, and luxury items and consumers.

Thus far, Market Research, IBISWorld, and The Boston Consulting Group, have provided me with excellent thorough reports on different markets of interest. Now the final step is finding information on shoe manufacturing itself, and of course, reviewing all of it.

In class today my professor spoke about the importance of establishing what made our business ideas and brands stand out. 

What makes me different from other shoe designers? 

What exactly is my design philosophy? 

Why do I even create what I do? 

How will my customers learn to recognize my brand? 

My design philosophy should articulate both my aesthetic and my values. 

With this in mind, I begun to think beyond just my shoes themselves, but also about how my stores will look, how I want my employees to dress, how my website should function, and more.