Wolf and Shepherd Internship Overview

Follow my journey across 2.5 months: my progress, contributions, and everything I learned from being immersed in real-world design and working under two invaluable mentors.

Adobe Illustrator: Red Line Revisions

  • Gaining mastery in Adobe Illustrator: executing red line revisions for all Q3/Q4 2026 concepts from previously given feedback.

  • Making the revisions: creating new/updated renderings for 10 upcoming concepts.

Gaining a foundation:

  • Getting caught up on current projects, what’s needed, what’s expected, etc.

  • Got access to project files, current and previous (to study and learn the ins and outs of the company and its process).

  • Gained a base-level knowledge overview of materials, colors, suppliers, textiles, footwear terms, footwear sketches.

Repairing In-House 3D Printer System: Research

  • Trusted with task to repair the in-house 3D printer system: inactive for 1.5 years.

  • Learning the ins and outs of the particular Formlabs printer system.

    • Part usage, machine functions, use process, workflow, etc.

  • Understanding current inventory, and inventory required that was unavailable in-house in order to repair the system and get it back up and running.

  • Created invoice of said necessary inventory to be reviewed and approved by budget team and financials.

Repairing In-House 3D Printer System: Printing & PreForm

  • Learning and operating PreForm: Formlabs software to prep and examine 3D prints.

    • Managing printer system within software.

  • Successfully printed 3 in-progress W&S designs for review and red-line revisions.

Main Takeaways

Adobe Illustrator: Creating and Standardizing CADs

  • Through company personnel change, assisted heavily in standardizing all CADs to have a uniform format, naming conventions, and updated renderings; creating new CADs from scratch for necessary designs.

  • Assisted in applying FA26 CAD update needs and questions to finalize before pass-off.

  • Created CAD templates for any needed changes moving forward.

W&S Signature Supercritical Foam Exploration: Design

  • Brainstorming iterations of a brand-specific supercritical foam technology

    • Gained an understanding of designing through brand language & having design reflect user function and impact.

Repairing In-House 3D Printer System: Getting it Up & Running

  • Repairing/maintaining printer system once necessary inventory arrived.

    • Taking care of expired/contaminated materials from period of inactivity.

    • Installing fresh materials to revitalize the printer system.

    • Rearranged machines to follow proper workflow.

Sitting in on meeting with potential textile supplier: BOYI

  • Gained valuable insight into textile sourcing, what makes a good business partner, and model/positive relations between supplier and brand.

  • Gained an understanding of the value of intentionality from suppliers and the partnership.

Shoe Tree Design: Red Lines, Fit, and 3D Print

  • Gained valuable practice in intricate red line revisions

    • Understanding attention to detail: a matter of mm.

  • Tested out various resin types, printing out the original shoe tree design and the updated shoe tree design for review and fit testing.

Classic Dress Tooling

  • 3D printed Classic Dress W&S Design prototype for review and revisions.

  • Assisted in initial red-line revisions.

LA Kings Sample Photos

  • Re-shot sample photos for a cleaner, more accurate depiction of partnership designs.

  • Compiled updated photos in a PDF presentation to be sent back through.

SS27 Concept Ideation

  • Sketch exploration of SS27 women’s shoe concepts following given design briefs.

    • Exploration of 4 womens’ design concepts for feedback and

W&S Signature Supercritical Foam Exploration: Naming

  • Understanding intuitive naming/design

    • Having a clear understanding of the technology and what it does for the consumer.

W&S Core and Seasonal Palette

  • Created a W&S-specific core and seasonal palette of most-used Pantone colors for future reference.

    • Combed through all 2025-2026 CADs (385 CADs): creating a Pantone color inventory specific to W&S.

    • Put together a core and seasonal palette based on use frequency.

    • Created downloadable Illustrator swatch libraries for easy use in creating future CADs.

  • IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

    • Being able to directly communicate what’s going on in your mind to others

    • Getting your story/thought process across, not only so you understand it, but also for others to understand your design fully, and that there is no right way to do so

  • STRONG FOUNDATION IN FOOTWEAR FUNDAMENTALS

    • Learning the ins and outs of the footwear industry, the depth of it: the intentionality and detailing of each step of the process

  • COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF DESIGN PROCESS: HOW IT FITS INTO A TIMELINE AND THE BUSINESS

    • Being exposed to the whole operation, understanding how design affects development, budget, marketing ability, timeline, etc.

  • CONFIRMED PASSION FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS

    • The problem-solving, storytelling, control to create, holistic process all the way through from brainstorming and refinement to prototyping and final product, etc.