PENSOLE - Footwear design program in Portland

It has been insanely busy over the past few months even in the spring break. I was going to go back to Taiwan but finally I went to Portland for footwear design program- PENSOLE!

Check out this blog!
http://artcenterpensole2014.wordpress.com/
25 of us took turn to record every day. We had a lot of fun, but the class was really intense so everyone got not much sleep. The lecture was consecutive 14 days. We learnt how to work in a group, sketch, material... The most important thing I would say learning to be professional. The founder of PENSOLE- D'wayne, he is one of the best teacher I've ever had. He gave us a quote, a recommended book, and a website a day regarding to how to be successful. He want us to improve everyday, always be better than yesterday.

At the final presentation, out sponsors- NIKE, ADIDAS, COLUMBIA, UNDER ARMOR, VANS came to the studio. I was in the VANS group, and our theme is about sustainability. So I focus on the improvement of manufacturing process, and I didn't change the appearance too much because VANS always kept the heritage. (I've sketched some weird shoes but they didn't fit the image of VANS.)

This is the prototype I made. :-)

At first I made one by paper but it looked like a toy because of the stiff property of the paaper. I didn't like it so I went to the thrift store, bought a pair of jeans and cut it. The shoe is still in my room. Haha I brought it back with me.

We present as a group. We had been through a hard time, and some conflicts happened. Honestly, I was very uncomfortable about this. I always try to avoid that. Sometimes I just kept quiet and I realized that was not good. Trying to speak out my ideas loud is kinda contradict to my personality and culture from Taiwan.

I'm still struggling. Haha. Always remind myself to speak even though I'm stumbling. lol

I went to Mt. Rainier by myself after the program and it was amazingly beautiful.

And it was SNOWING! in MAY!!

It was raining in Longmire...

When I kept driving up to the Paradise... the rain became the snow!!!!

I was so excited!!!! I seldom see the snow and didn't expect there would be snowing on the mountain. Glad that I bought a Goretex in Portland... 

It was really cold and I got a cold that night... haha it was worth it!

Then I went to Seattle for two days and fortunately it stopped raining.

salmon chowder

Washington U

Farmers market

I came back at the day before the new term started.

Now It's third week in the summer term. Hope I can keep update my blog. :-)