Matt Unterfranz

If you watched Matt Unterfranz walk down a street, you could get a false impression of the Indiana University senior. Head down, eyes darting from side to side, he might appear to be shy or lacking self-confidence. But the averted gaze has a far different purpose: "I'm always looking at people's shoes," says Unterfranz.

Why? "I want to make an iconic shoe," he says. "When I'm gone, I want to be remembered for my impact on the sneaker world."

Unterfranz, who is pursuing a major in Apparel Merchandising and a certificate in Fashion Design, has a clear ambition: to design athletic shoes that will be coveted by fashion-conscious men across the globe.

Growing up in northwest Indiana, near Chicago, Unterfranz idolized basketball legend Michael Jordan. Like many boys his age, he aspired not only to Jordan's skills but also to his fashion sense. "What he has done for footwear is ridiculous," Unterfranz says with admiration. "When you watch him play, you want the shoes he has on."

But Unterfranz's interest in shoes began long before he became a Jordan fan -- he was born with unusually high arches that he describes as "broken architecture in my feet." He had to wear casts at first and, later, "shoes that looked like I was wearing the right on the left foot and the left on the right."

When he describes what distinguishes shoes from other fashion items, it's clear he has a personal appreciation for the functional importance of footwear. "It's so much different from any other article of clothing," the IU student says. "There's a balance of performance and aesthetics -- there's really not a lot of performance to your shirt, but you're going to be miserable if you walk around in shoes that don't perform well."

Unterfranz's design ambitions were prompted by an art project in high school when a teacher asked students to draw their own shoes. He's been unable to stop sketching sneakers ever since.

"I love drawing, I love design, I love the idea of 'art to wear,'" he says. "And it is art -- why buy a painting when you can buy a pair of shoes?"

When he discovered the Apparel Merchandising program at IU, Unterfranz realized he could turn his passion into a profession. Although the curriculum has presented challenges for him, it has deepened his appreciation of the field.

"I had never touched a sewing machine before in my entire life," he says. "I had to make a high-collared women's coat, and it was not very good. I made a men's shirt and the collar was crooked. I got very frustrated with sewing. But I respect fashion a lot more now."

Unfortunately, unlike most fashion students, Unterfranz is not able to construct prototypes from his designs. Shoe components, at least in the style of his interest, require factory fabrication.

For now, he's focused on developing detailed and innovative plans -- one of his recent designs is an "eco-shoe" made from recycled and organic materials -- and staying attuned to the industry by working at Footlocker and monitoring the popular online sneaker blog sneakerfiles.com.

This summer, as he prepares for his senior year, Unterfranz is completing his portfolio in anticipation of applying to top-level companies. He has his sights on Portland, Ore., where Nike and Adidas both have corporate locations.

"I'll be looking for an entry-level position, like researching trends and patterns," he says.

As he thinks of his future, Unterfranz looks to his past, conjuring up his boyhood hero.

"My dream would be to work for Jordan," he says, referring to the division of Nike that collaborates with the sports star. "He has changed shoes so much. There's so much weight put on his shoes. All his shoes go down in history."