I’m a New York–based artist, designer, and maker with a BFA in Fashion Accessories Design from the College for Creative Studies and a background spanning illustration, painting, product design, and hands-on craftsmanship. My professional experience includes designing footwear at Tory Burch and Coach, where I worked on highly detailed products from initial concept through development and physical execution. While much of my professional career has been in fashion, my foundation has always been rooted in making. My experience includes painting and illustration, leatherwork, industrial sewing, prototyping, material experimentation, hardware fabrication, and constructing three-dimensional pieces by hand. I’m happiest when I’m working directly with materials and using both creative problem-solving and craftsmanship to bring an idea to life. What sets me apart is my ability to move comfortably between artist, designer, and craftsperson. I have a strong eye for color, composition, proportion, materials, and finish, along with the patience and technical precision needed for detailed handwork. I’m especially drawn to projects where I can build, paint, experiment, and create something distinctive that still shows the hand of the person who made it.…

Ava Kaloustian

I’m a New York–based artist, designer, and maker with a BFA in Fashion Accessories Design from the College for Creative Studies and a background spanning illustration, painting, product design, and hands-on craftsmanship. My professional experience includes designing footwear at Tory Burch and Coach, where I worked on highly detailed products from initial concept through development and physical execution. While much of my professional career has been in fashion, my foundation has always been rooted in making. My experience includes painting and illustration, leatherwork, industrial sewing, prototyping, material experimentation, hardware fabrication, and constructing three-dimensional pieces by hand. I’m happiest when I’m working directly with materials and using both creative problem-solving and craftsmanship to bring an idea to life. What sets me apart is my ability to move comfortably between artist, designer, and craftsperson. I have a strong eye for color, composition, proportion, materials, and finish, along with the patience and technical precision needed for detailed handwork. I’m especially drawn to projects where I can build, paint, experiment, and create something distinctive that still shows the hand of the person who made it.…

Available to hire

I’m a New York–based artist, designer, and maker with a BFA in Fashion Accessories Design from the College for Creative Studies and a background spanning illustration, painting, product design, and hands-on craftsmanship. My professional experience includes designing footwear at Tory Burch and Coach, where I worked on highly detailed products from initial concept through development and physical execution.

While much of my professional career has been in fashion, my foundation has always been rooted in making. My experience includes painting and illustration, leatherwork, industrial sewing, prototyping, material experimentation, hardware fabrication, and constructing three-dimensional pieces by hand. I’m happiest when I’m working directly with materials and using both creative problem-solving and craftsmanship to bring an idea to life.

What sets me apart is my ability to move comfortably between artist, designer, and craftsperson. I have a strong eye for color, composition, proportion, materials, and finish, along with the patience and technical precision needed for detailed handwork. I’m especially drawn to projects where I can build, paint, experiment, and create something distinctive that still shows the hand of the person who made it.

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Work Experience

Footwear Designer at TORY BURCH
January 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026
Footwear Designer at COACH
March 1, 2024 - Present
Collaborate on the design and development of seasonal footwear collections for women’s retail, outlet, and runway, blending creativity with functionality. Conduct market and trend research, develop hardware and design concepts, explore material innovation, and create sketches and digital CADs. Build design cards and production specifications. Attend fittings and work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver standout, on-trend products from concept through production, supporting successful launches that enhance brand presence and consumer appeal.
Footwear Designer (COACH) at COACH
March 1, 2024 - Present
Collaborate on the design and development of seasonal footwear collections for women’s retail, outlet, and runway. Perform market and trend research; support hardware design and development; contribute to material innovation. Create sketches, attend fittings, produce digital CADs and design cards, and develop production specifications. Work cross-functionally to bring innovative, on-trend designs to life and support successful product launches that enhance brand presence and consumer appeal.
Footwear Design Apprenticeship at COACH
June 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024
Remote collaboration with the footwear design team to develop Fall and Spring collections. Contribute to trend research, concept sketches, and production-ready final designs.
Footwear Designer at COACH
March 1, 2022 - Present
Collaborate on the design and development of seasonal footwear collections for women’s retail, outlet, and runway. Conduct market and trend research; design and develop hardware; innovate with materials; create sketches; attend fittings; produce digital CADs; develop design cards; and write production specifications. Work closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative, on-trend footwear designs to life and support successful product launches that enhance brand presence and consumer appeal.
Footwear Design Apprentice at COACH
June 1, 2021 - March 1, 2022
Footwear Design Apprenticeship at COACH
June 1, 2021 - March 1, 2022
Remote apprenticeship supporting the footwear design team on Fall and Spring collections. Contributed to trend research, concept sketches, and development of final production-ready designs.
Footwear Designer at COACH
March 1, 2021 - Present
Collaborate on the design and development of seasonal footwear collections for women’s retail, outlet, and runway, blending creativity with functionality. Conduct market and trend research; develop hardware design and prototypes; explore material innovation. Create sketches, digital CADs, design cards, and production specifications, and assist in a)ending fi)ings and related development tasks. Partner with cross-functional teams to bring innovative and on-trend footwear designs to life, supporting successful product launches that drive sales and strengthen brand creative presence and consumer appeal.
ODDBALL Senior Accessories Collection Project (Footwear/Bag Prototypes, Runway Prep, Photo Shoot Direction)
September 1, 2020 - May 31, 2021
Developed a full senior accessories collection concept centered on childhood nostalgia—embracing “odd” memories that make one feel normal. Led end-to-end work including research, sketching/design, patterning, material sourcing, prototyping, digital CADs, final construction, fittings, creative direction, and organizing a photo shoot and runway show. Utilized Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for design/visual work and Microsoft Word/Excel for documentation.
Women’s Footwear Design Intern at RALPH LAUREN
June 1, 2020 - June 1, 2020
Accepted Women’s Footwear Design Internship in New York City. The internship was canceled due to Covid-19.
Footwear Design Apprenticeship at COACH
June 1, 2020 - March 1, 2021
Remote collaboration with the footwear design team to develop Fall and Spring footwear collections. Contributed to trend research, concept sketches, and final production-ready designs as part of the seasonal collection workflow.
Accessories Atelier Internship at CALVIN KLEIN
June 1, 2019 - August 31, 2019
Accessories Atelier Intern at CALVIN KLEIN
June 1, 2019 - August 1, 2019
Assisted the Accessories Atelier Director in conceptualizing and hand-crafting swatches and physical samples. Partnered with the CK Mainline concept team to inform and support global design direction.
Harlow Leather Belt Design Project (Small Leather Goods)
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Created a statement leather belt in a personal leather goods studio. Completed research, sketching/design, patterning, material sourcing, prototyping, digital CAD, and final construction. Designed the belt around structural/support inspiration drawn from bones and belts—inside and outside.
DURA BAG Sponsored Project (Accessory Design + Presentation) at Calvin Klein x CCS
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Designed an accessory inspired by the human body and psychology in relation to how we wear—creating a flexible, soft form intended to feel like it belongs with the outfit. Conducted research, sketching/design, patterning, material sourcing, prototyping, digital CAD work, mid-term presentation to Calvin Klein Accessories creative direction in NYC, and final construction plus final presentation to creative direction in Detroit. Used Rhino 3D, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop.
Prototype Studio Intern at SHINOLA
June 1, 2018 - August 1, 2018
Supported the head pattern maker in creating prototypes and samples. Gained hands-on experience in prototyping, including material selection and final product development. Helped refine patterns, craft details, and materials to ensure accuracy and production quality.
On the Fly Leather Backpack Project (Concept + Construction)
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Developed an “adult” leather backpack concept derived from children’s backpacks, focusing on lively color and unusual shapes while adding functional aspects suitable for adult use. Completed research, sketching/design, patterning, material sourcing, prototyping, and final construction. Used Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Accessories Design (minor in Illustration) at College for Creative Studies
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2022
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Accessories Design (minor in Illustration) at College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Fashion Accessories Design (minor in Illustration) at College for Creative Studies; Detroit, MI
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Fashion Accessories Design (minor in Illustration) at College for Creative Studies
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026

Qualifications

United States Design Patent - D,, Triangle Purse
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
College for Creative Studies Merit Scholarship
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Danialle and Peter Karmanos Jr. Scholarship
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Michigan Fashion Media Summit (MFMS) First Place Award
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Graduate Fashion Foundation International Innovation Award
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026
Paper Magazine Feature - “The Best Looks From This Year’s Graduating Fashion Students”
January 11, 2030 - August 20, 2026

Industry Experience

Retail, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment, Education
    PORTFOLIO
    My portfolio showcases my work across design, illustration, and hands-on craft, with a focus on pieces I’ve developed and made from concept through final execution. My work combines a strong sense of color, form, material, and detail with practical making skills including leatherwork, sewing, painting, illustration, prototyping, and fabrication. Many of the projects shown were created during my time at the College for Creative Studies and highlight the breadth of my creative and technical abilities. Since graduating, I’ve continued to develop those skills professionally through footwear design roles at Coach and Tory Burch, working on everything from early concepts and material development to detailed product execution. I’m especially interested in freelance projects that allow me to work creatively and hands-on, whether that means illustrating, painting, constructing, prototyping, embellishing, or bringing an idea from a sketch into a physical object. illustrator pdf fashion art artist paint painting craft footwear shoes accessory accessories sculptor setdesign craft handcraft sewing leather handcraft fineart BFA handmade…