Adjunct Professor and Guest Lecturer

Service and Hospitality

Energetic and enthusiastic performance footwear designer with experience in a wide range of categories (Outdoor, Work, Court, Cleated, Lifestyle). I  have designed award-winning and brand-defining products for many internationally-recognized brands. I have a strong history of mentoring young designers, leading small teams and landmark project initiatives.


-Presented In-person and virtual lectures and demonstrations on consumer goods design, design techniques and project finishing

-Delivered individualized instruction on research, observation, assessment, ideation, project completion and presentation

-Worked with corporate partners to bridge the gap between student learning and brand needs, to fulfill a project brief


-Managed client relationships and project load
-Researched end users, markets and activities to fulfill client briefs
-Executed deliverables that elevated, differentiated and strengthened brands within their segment
-Produced concepts via ProCreate, Gravity Sketch and by hand for initial reviews
-Presented concepts in person and virtually to product, marketing and sales teams
-Finished products by producing renderings, line drawings, tech packets, technical drawings, colorways and material specs
-Created color palettes and continuative design language to help unify product lines
-Executed pattern adjustments, material changes and design revisions 
-Produced and completed graphics for presentation, packaging and corporate identity
-Successfully maintained relationships with existing clients and sought new brand partners via phone calls, trade show visits and on-site meetings
-Visited Far East sample rooms, vendors and production facilities to revise products as needed


Principal Designer

-Trained and mentored junior designers and developers throughout the development process
-Designed and developed products generating $50 million+ in new seasonal business (Hellcat, Raider, ShiftPlus, I-90, Rigger, Legend, Overpass, Overman and others)
-Presented color and material trends to the product, marketing and sales teams
-Traveled to China to ensure quality design implementation and product development
-Directed/led initiatives with internal designers as well external service providers for project completion
-Provided commercial renderings and drawings for marketing presentations of collaborations and large initiatives


Senior Footwear Designer

-Founded a design firm that produced seven industry award-winning products
-Marketed creative services to international and domestic clients
-Worked with over fifty brands during a fifteen year span
-Managed projects for multiple clients simultaneously (typically between 4-5 at one time)
-Delivered highest-quality design solutions always ahead of deadline
-Trained design team and interns in design process, standards and practices that represented our company with consistency


Founder/Designer

-Sketched, rendered, presented and completed concepts in cleated, outdoor, court, running and lifestyle categories
-Researched new markets and consumers for a wide range of products per line managers
-Traveled to New York design office and brand headquarters in Germany to act as a design liaison between US design team and other in-house design teams
-Created a new design language for US cleated sports category (American football and baseball) that had influence on the brand for nearly a decade
-Interviewed and listened to professional athletes and consumer groups in Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York City and Boston to listen to their needs in different categories
-Traveled to Taiwan and China development offices to execute design vision

Footwear Designer

Find out detailed information about Ryan Dowd, Adjunct Professor and Guest Lecturer 

Ryan Dowd: Adjunct Professor and Guest Lecturer

Ryan Dowd