FOOTWEAR DESIGN SERVICES
- Early Stage Ideation
- Initial Drawings
- Concept Sketches
- Product Refinement
- Material & Color Selection
- Tech Packs / CAD's
- Market Research and Analysis
PRODUCTION SERVICES
- General Planning
- Development of Footwear
- Overseeing and Optimizing Manufacturing Processes
- Last Selection and Development
- Development and Implementation of Fit and Wear Test Programs
- Providing Technical Feedback and Fit Test Corrections
- Creation of Product Cycle Calendars
VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING
Using AI or 3D tools to accelerate visual exploration from sketches, prompts, or mood boards. Ideal for concept development, internal alignment, or creative exploration phases. I prefer to delegate extended modeling and refinement to dedicated traditional footwear development specialists, keeping my role focused on creative direction and system integration.
- 3D Prototyping
- AI Prototyping
- Carryover Style Digitization
- Adobe Photoshop + Illustrator Touch Ups
"Guided by 林 — the character in my name that evokes rhizomatic growth and interconnectedness — I also take on projects that expand the liminal, where categories blur and new possibilities emerge."
Jilleen Liao is a freelance footwear designer and developer based in Brooklyn, NY. With over a decade of senior-level experience in corporate and start-up settings, her career has spanned working with suppliers and factories from the USA, Dominican Republic, Mexico, China, Portugal, and Italy. Liao excels in strategic planning and manufacturing solutions for various projects and needs, aiming to enhance operational excellence and efficiency across ideation, sampling, and production roles.
Hobbies include: Skateboarding + problem solving
Dislikes include: Shoes in the house, tripping on uneven sidewalks
Looking forward to: Road trips, book fairs, root beer floats
