ABOUT ME

Hello, I’m Jack Flynn, a 26-year-old aspiring footwear designer from Greater Boston, Massachusetts.

From a young age, my passion for design was unmistakable. As early as I can remember, I was begging my dad to draw superheroes with me, selecting their powers and designing their costumes. This early enthusiasm evolved into a more focused obsession: driving my brother insane as I took longer making team uniforms and players in Madden than actually playing the game with him, butchering a pair of deadstock Concords because I figured my design would look better on them, and more recently, sewing custom sweatshirts and designing footwear. Each of these experiences has been a stepping stone in refining my design skills and drawing expertise, all leading to my goal of becoming a footwear designer.

My commitment to design extends beyond creativity to meticulous research and problem-solving. I thrive on delving into issues and brainstorming innovative solutions, enjoying every moment of the process. This dedication is reflected in my professional background: After studying Building and Construction Technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have accumulated four years of construction industry experience. In my career, I’ve developed company-wide project tracking templates and have been appointed as a procurement “subject-matter expert” - teaching classes and mentoring new employees - all while applying my design and detail-oriented mindset.

Despite my success in the construction field, my true passion for design drove me to pursue a career in footwear design. In early 2022, I reached out to industry experts and received invaluable guidance in the form of a certificate program, book suggestions, portfolio examples, and most of all: encouragement! In the following two and a half years, I completed the Sneaker Essentials Certificate Program from Fashion Institute of Technology and read the following books: Science of Footwear, Kicksology, Kicks, Shoe Dog, and Shoemaker, to name a few. I studied a plethora of portfolio examples, eventually creating my own sneaker design projects where I went into deep research on individual athlete problems and solutions. As a matter of fact, I even took up running myself to gain a better understanding of running sneakers. Through all of this, I gained a wealth of knowledge about foot anatomy, walking and running gait, and functional footwear design.

Finally, at the end of 2024, I was admitted to Wolverine Worldwide | W.IN at Pensole. Over a five-week period, I was able to collaborate with industry professionals from Saucony to design a running shoe for a specific Gen Z woman. Working with a color and material designer, I developed cohesive design languages and innovative concepts. With guidance from visionary designers at Saucony and industry experts from PLC’s education team, we were able to produce a final design and presentation. this hands-on experience enabled me to refine my skills and gain real-world expertise.

I hope my portfolio showcases the skills and insights I’ve developed. Please explore my projects and enjoy!

Design Certificates:

  • Wolverine Worldwide | W.IN at Pensole Industry Certificate of Completion

  • Sneaker Essentials at Fashion Institute of Technology Certificate of Completion