M'Bemba Axel

Footwear & Industrial Designer | 10+ yrs in performance, lifestyle & sustainable innovation

👉 www.axelmbemba.com

I’m a freelance footwear designer and consultant working across performance and lifestyle. I support brands from early concept and creative direction through to product development.

With 10+ years of experience, including several years in mass production and innovation at Decathlon. I’m comfortable working between design, R&D, and development teams, helping translate ideas into clear, buildable solutions.

What I do:

. Design & Direction: creative direction, footwear design, and CMF

. Digital Innovation: 3D modeling, generative design, and AI workflows

. Sustainability: circular thinking, bio-based fabrication, and regenerative approaches

In parallel, I explore biomaterials and low-tech fabrication. When relevant, I bring this perspective into projects to create products that last, are easier to repair, and remain realistic at an industrial level.

If you’re shaping a new footwear direction or need support at a specific phase of the process, feel free to reach out.

Portfolio: axelmbemba.com

Footwear design and innovation at Newfeel (Decathlon), with a focus on sports walking and urban uses. Complete management of the product cycle, from user research to industrialization. Analysis of field insights, user testing, prototyping, and design iterations. Close collaboration with engineers, biomechanics, and marketing teams to develop high-performing, comfortable, and durable products. Implementation of material, 3D, and innovative process explorations to improve circularity, repairability, and longevity. Production monitoring, testing phase management, quality validation, and market launch. Contribution to the evolution of walking design language and future product strategies.

Footwear design and innovation at Newfeel (Decathlon), with a focus on sports walking and urban uses. Complete management of the product cycle, from user research to industrialization. Analysis of field insights, user testing, prototyping, and design iterations. Close collaboration with engineers, biomechanics, and marketing teams to develop high-performing, comfortable, and durable products. Implementation of material, 3D, and innovative process explorations to improve circularity, repairability, and longevity. Production monitoring, testing phase management, quality validation, and market launch. Contribution to the evolution of walking design language and future product strategies.