Julien Chaintreau

Footwear & Product Design — Research — Creative Strategy

Graduating a BA in Industrial Design from ECAL - Lausanne University of the Arts, (CH) in 2018, I developed Update Ltd., an experimental footwear project exploring the capabilities of repairable sneakers. I then worked as an Industrial Design intern at Ableton in Berlin (DE) and as a Junior Footwear Designer at On Running in Zurich (CH), before pursuing a MA in Geo-Design at DAE - Design Academy Eindhoven (NL) under the direction of Formafantasma. This program examines design as a geopolitical and ecological practice — an approach that continues to inform my work today. While completing my Masters, I developed NeoVernacular Footwear, a nomadic shoemaking platform presented at Dutch Design Week 2022. The project took form of a low-tech workshop redefining the notion of craftsmanship via a small-scale manufacturing framework.

In 2023, I joined ROA Hiking in Milan (IT) as their Footwear Designer, contributing to new silhouettes that bridge performance and leisure through innovative construction methods and a focus on material integrity. Appointed Head of Outdoor at UYN Sports, (IT) in September 2024, I was overseeing the Outdoor Apparel and Footwear categories. My role involved redefining the brand’s strategy and expanding its reach towards a contemporary audience with a strong focus on design-driven products and bio-based technologies.

In parallel, I maintain an independent practice operating at the intersection of design research, experimentation, and editorial writing. It serves as a space to address questions that commercial contexts often leave unresolved where I have the freedom to explore alternative methods, materials, and narratives through hands-on experimentation and critical reflection. This ongoing dialogue between practice and critique allows me to continually re-evaluate my position as a designer within a shifting ecological and cultural landscape.

Julien Chaintreau

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