My Wolf and Shepherd Experience
In the summer of 2025, I had the privilege of working as a design intern at Wolf and Shepherd, a luxury hybrid footwear brand in El Segundo, California. Working closely under the CEO, Justin Schneider, and the Head Senior Designer, Sven Tulowitzki, I grew tremendously as a designer, collaborator, and problem-solver, learning to balance creative vision with performance-driven innovation. I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship and opportunities that pushed me to contribute meaningfully to real-world projects.
Final Internship Overview
An overview of my contributions to the company:
Applied myself wherever I was needed, absorbing every task as a meaningful learning experience: Applied all red line revisions to the previous quarter product line. Standardized and created CAD files (format, naming, updates). Independently restored and operated the in-house 3D printing system after an extended period of inactivity, mastering all aspects of maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and material management. Curated a company-specific core and seasonal color palette and created a downloadable Illustrator Swatch library. Iterated on a company signature midsole technology design. Contributed ideas, concepts, brainstorming sessions, and sketches to the upcoming 2027 Women’s product line. Executed an independent project applying learned skills in real time to design a shoe aligned with the company’s design philosophy and brand language.
RECOMMENDATION
W&S Sneaker Mule
Throughout my 2.5-month internship, I worked separately on an individual project of designing my own shoe through the lens of Wolf & Shepherd, tapping into a deep understanding of the brand, including its brand language, message, audience, and motivations.
While applying what I was learning from the internship in real time and receiving feedback along the way, I was able to execute the footwear design process in its entirety, from ideation to creating a tech-pack to send to factories.
I had the privilege of working with Akari Matsuno during her design internship, and I was consistently impressed by her exceptional talent and professionalism. Akari came to us from the University of Notre Dame and quickly demonstrated an outstanding mix of raw creative ability and intelligent problem-solving skills that set her apart from the start.
Her athletic background as a competitive tennis player clearly shows in her work ethic—disciplined, focused, and relentless in delivering excellence. She not only completed her personal projects on time but did so with remarkable attention to detail and creativity. In addition, Akari made meaningful contributions to our in-line product creation, bringing fresh ideas and thoughtful execution to the team.
What truly stands out about Akari is her initiative, understanding of marketplace trends and passion for design. She approaches challenges with a strategic mindset and a strong sense of ownership, making her an invaluable member of any team she joins.
We will be following her design career closely and would be honored to work with her again in the future. Any organization would be fortunate to have Akari on their team.
— JUSTIN SCHNEIDER
CEO of Wolf and Shepherd