By Greg Abazorius
Nick Dunleavy, BIND ’12, makes strides at Timberland. (Photos by Webb Chappell)
EACH DAY AS HE ARRIVES TO WORK as a designer at Timberland, Nick Dunleavy, BIND ’12, draws inspiration from the lobby of the Stratham, N.H.-based footwear and apparel company.
A display of boot-making materials; a wall adorned with a visual timeline of the company’s successes; color swatches and material samples that look as though they belong in a museum collection—all of these catch Dunleavy’s eye as he begins each morning at what he calls his “dream job.”
Dunleavy spends most of his day collaborating as a member of Timberland’s creative team, which includes five other Wentworth alumni. He works on roughly 15 shoe designs per season, and most make it to market.
“I’m part of a talented team, and the collaboration between us is what I think allows us to really be creative,” he says.
Designing and Refining
Each project starts for Dunleavy with a pen and paper. He considers new patterns, the way colors blend together, and how new materials will function.
“I like to hand-sketch because it’s the quickest way to flesh out a concept,” Dunleavy says. He then refines his designs using software including Illustrator, Photoshop, Keynote, and Sketchbook Pro before working with the materials team— choosing suede over canvas, bright red over subdued orange— where the shoe comes to life. Prototypes are then tested and eventually approved for production.
Dunleavy straddles time between men’s casual shoes and kids’ footwear. He has worked on upgrades to the classic six-inch Timberland work boot, designed dress-casual wear sold in stores like Nordstrom, and been a member of creative teams responsible for shoes worn by various celebrities.
A motorcycle enthusiast, Dunleavy notes with amusement that he and actor Ewan McGregor wear the same Timberland boot for riding. “Our lead designer worked on that boot,” Dunleavy says, “and it’s cool to think about creating something for your job that is used by everyone from your neighbor to a Hollywood celebrity.”
Scenic Route
But Dunleavy’s road to his dream job was not without some twists and turns. Before landing at Wentworth, he attended another college with the idea of going into the medical design field. But something was missing. Dunleavy’s father put him in touch with a colleague, Wentworth alumnus Anthony Wong (AEC ’93, INC ’95), who extolled the virtues of Wentworth’s design programs.
Impressed, Dunleavy applied, and eventually enrolled in the Industrial Design program. “I immediately fell in love with the school and with Boston,” he says. “There are so many resources for a design student, including museums, right around campus, and you get exposed to so many different concepts.”
Through Wentworth’s co-op program, Dunleavy landed jobs with two giants of the shoe industry, New Balance and Puma.
At New Balance, Dunleavy researched and defined trends, personally developing two major collections for the company. The experience opened Dunleavy’s eyes to the fast-paced, detail-focused world of footwear. He spent his second co-op with Puma in Boston after connecting during a Wentworth career fair. There, he designed color and material for men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes.
After graduation, Dunleavy targeted Timberland, a company he had long respected. Like his initial introduction to Wentworth, the position came via a recommendation, this time from Wentworth professor Joe Napurano.
“He connected me to a designer here, who was able to get me an interview,” says Dunleavy. After an initial yearlong internship, Dunleavy was hired to a full-time position as an associate designer.
Now a full-fledged designer, Dunleavy enjoys working on the Timberland “classics” line, but he also finds unexpected enjoyment designing footwear for kids.
“You can be more whimsical,” he says. “You can be bolder with color and have fun. But you also have to be more sensitive to price and know that you’re designing for a large range of sizes.”
Dunleavy recognizes that the path to his dream job was an unconventional one.
“You might not know where you’ll end up,” he says, “but you probably won’t get there in a straight line. I tell people to be open to opportunities, and always connect with the people in your field you meet through Wentworth.”
And always look for inspiration.
Strength in Numbers
In Timberland’s 30-person creative department, six employees are Wentworth alumni.
In addition to Nick Dunleavy, five Wentworth graduates—Pierome Sar, BIND ’14; Patrick Gallagher, BIND ’15; Jeff Lynch, BIND ’00; Tim O’Melia, AAET ’99, AIND ’01, BIND ’05; and Sam Grande, BIND ’14—all share the same space and collaborate on many of the same projects. A shared education taught them mutual best practices and hands-on skills that have spurred their success at the shoe manufacturer.
Lynch attended Wentworth when the Department of Industrial Design was relatively new.
“Working and speaking with recent graduates about their education is exciting, especially hearing how the department continues to grow and is still putting very talented people into the workplace,” he says. “We all share the same passion and goals to be the best at what we do.”
BEST FOOT FORWARD: Wentworth alumni at Timberland include (left to right) Pierome Sar, Patrick Gallagher, Nick Dunleavy, Tim O’Melia, Jeff Lynch, and Sam Grande.
Check out the “Inside Wentworth” podcast with Nick Dunleavy—and all episodes—on iTunes.
