Quintin (Q) Williams

Accessory design, sneaker design professor

Professor of sneaker design, Fall 2023–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

Professor of accessory design, Spring 2022–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

Co-founder/chief global designer, July 2016–present, Q4 Sports, Los Angeles, CA
Develop, design, and innovate new performance footwear technologies. Create unique seasonal material and colorway stories. Overlook and direct factory development and production.

Founder/designer, April 2009–present, Creative Astronaut Ventures LLC, Los Angeles, CA
Develop and design various footwear lines and branding strategies. Manage overseas factory communications. Clients include Spira, Everlast, Disney Company, Native Shoes, Bata, and more.

Lead footwear designer, July 2013–July 2016, PEAK Sports USA, Los Angeles, CA
Directed and designed new lines of basketball shoes for the PEAK Sports Brand. Revised outsole blueprints, wood-molds, tech-packs, and pull-overs for company. Delivered artwork for all social media platforms, apparel, and public promotions. Performed overseas travel for product reviews at least twice a year.

Lead footwear designer, July 2012–July 2013, Power Force Apparel, Birmingham, AL
Directed and designed new lines of running, training, and basketball shoes for the start-up brand. Revised outsole blueprints, wood-molds, tech-packs, and pull-overs for company. Delivered artwork for all social media platforms, apparel, and public promotions. Performed overseas travel for product reviews at least twice a year.

Global Footwear Awards Winner: Client Perry Co. Shoes II, 2021
Selected to attend 2011 PENSOLE Intensive Footwear Course with D’Wayne Edwards
Nominated for Coroflot’s Designer of the Week, 2011
Footwear concepts featured on Coroflot, 2011
First Place Winner of Design the "You" Shoe Contest, 2012
Noted as a SCAD Industrial Design Department Accolade, 2012
Billboard design displayed in NYC Times Square, 2012
Designed Jordan X Drake Concept for COMPLEX Magazine, 2014
Designed sandal brand that was placed on Nordstrom.com and Zulily.com: SUPA Slydes
Sketches published & globally distributed: Product Sketchbook: Idea, Process and Refinement
Designed for multiple professional athletes: NBA, WNBA, NFL, and MLB

Selected publications

"These Are the 12 Sneakers That Will Dominate 2023," Footwear News, 2023
"SCAD introduces first-ever sneaker minor for students," 11 Alive News, 2023
"Why These Students in Atlanta are Studying Sneaker Design," PBS Newshour, 2022
"Meet Quintin Williams | Co-Founder/Chief Global Designer of Q4SPORTS," Shoutout LA, 2021
"5 Things They Don't Tell You About Owning a Small Business," Medium, 2020
"A Black Perspective of Where Pledged Corporate Dollars Should Go," Medium, 2020
"Perry Panther Alum Makes International Footprint," Houston Home Journal, 2020
"Meet Quintin Williams of Q4 Sports in Inglewood," Voyage LA, 2019
"Kiwi Shoe Care Creates a Short Film with Lasting Impact," Complex, 2019
"Q4 Making Waves with NBA Players," Hoops Hype, 2017
"A New Performance Footwear Company, Q4 Sports, Arrives on the Scene Just When It Matters Most," Businesswire, 2017

Selected presentations