Isiah Niccolas PintacProduct + Footwear Designer Manila, PH14.5995° N 120.9842° E

NiccoPintac

Product and footwear designer based in Manila. I design technical products for real Philippine conditions, from monsoon streets to rice fields to climbing gyms, and take them to prototype with local makers.

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Pocket Wrestler finger trainer rendered with a lime green frame and an orange inner track — Pocket Wrestler·Goodclimbs colorway·See all 12

Selected projects

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FW-01Wave Technical FootwearFootwearNeoprene, molded EVA, Vibram4 rounds
PD-01Pocket WrestlerProduct3D printing, snap-fit assemblyPrototype
3D-01Vesper Mini Echo3DBlender, CyclesConcept
FW-02Bloom Climbing ShoesFootwearFriction rubber, printed textilesConcept
PD-02E‑kuliglig TractorProductElectric drive, sealed chassisConcept
PD-03Urban Mobility E‑trikeProductVehicle and route systemConcept
FW-03Finn Cotton CollectionFootwearSketches, CMF, tech packsPrototype
3D-02Meta Quest 33DBlender, CyclesRender study
FW-04BIGWASIFootwearNegros loom weave, neoprene, EVAPrototype
FW-05PAMBA SneakersFootwearHandmade leather and suedePrototype
3D-03Formula 1 Car3DBlender, CyclesRender study
PD-04Jolt BoardProductBamboo and abaca deck, hub motorsConcept
FW-06Patchwork Rag BasketballFootwearPaneled mixed-material upperConcept
PD-05Exhibition BoothsSpatialTimber slats, canopy structuresConcept

01 · 5 projects

Product
Design

Gear, vehicles and machines built around local problems, and designed with manufacturing in mind from the first sketch.

PD-01

Pocket Wrestler

Prototype

The crimp wrestler is a tabletop finger-strength duel that climbers love. Pocket Wrestler shrinks it into a single-finger version that clips to your chalk bag.

Two players hook a finger into opposing tracks and pull. The open outer frame doubles as a structural loop, so it takes a standard carabiner and goes wherever your gear goes.

It's built for 3D printing: three parts, no supports, and a snap-fit that holds up to repeated pulls without a single screw or drop of glue. I rendered twelve colorways, each named after a Manila climbing gym.

Parts: 3, all 3D printed
Supports: None needed
Fasteners: None, snap-fit
Carry: Carabiner loop in frame
Colorways: 12

Want to print your own? The files are on MakerWorld.

Download on MakerWorld

Gym colorwaysRendered in Blender

Pocket Wrestler B24 colorway, yellow frame with a blue inner track — B24Yellow / blue

Pocket Wrestler Bhive colorway, blue frame with a cream inner track — BhiveBlue / cream

Pocket Wrestler Bspace colorway, teal frame with a red inner track — BspaceTeal / red

Pocket Wrestler Bworld colorway, sky frame with a navy inner track — BworldSky / navy

Pocket Wrestler CCM colorway, orange frame with a orange inner track — CCMOrange / orange

Pocket Wrestler Flowstate colorway, pink frame with a yellow inner track — FlowstatePink / yellow

Pocket Wrestler Goodclimbs colorway, lime frame with a orange inner track — GoodclimbsLime / orange

Pocket Wrestler Pump Factory colorway, steel frame with a red inner track — Pump FactorySteel / red

Pocket Wrestler Rock On colorway, mint frame with a white inner track — Rock OnMint / white

Pocket Wrestler TS colorway, yellow frame with a white inner track — TSYellow / white

Pocket Wrestler Urban Peak colorway, black frame with a green inner track — Urban PeakBlack / green

Pocket Wrestler Vertex colorway, purple frame with a orange inner track — VertexPurple / orange

From sketch to print

Red ideation sketches exploring the frame and inner track — Form exploration

Sketches of an earlier tray-style crimp trainer — Earlier tray concept

Pocket Wrestler parts laid out in slicer software — Prints flat, no supports

Two hands pulling against each other in a Pocket Wrestler — Head to head

Pocket Wrestler clipped to a black backpack — Clipped to a pack

Render of the teal frame and orange inner track — Frame and inner track

PD-03

Urban Mobility E‑trike

Concept

Dark green faceted e-trike with a glass canopy in a parking structure

Mandaluyong's e-trikes still run on rules borrowed from the gas tricycle. This project redesigns the vehicle and the way its routes operate.

The cabin is planned around passengers, with room to move, secure handholds and proper storage. A wide, sweeping windshield opens up the driver's view of the road.

The faceted shell is shaped for low drag, which improves efficiency and stretches battery range across a full day of trips.

Route: Mandaluyong City
Scope: Vehicle and operating system
Cabin: Handholds, storage bays
Body: Low-drag faceted shell

Fixing the route as well as the ride

Research on the Mandaluyong routes turned up eight problems in how the service runs. Each one gets a specific fix.

IssueExisting systemProposed systemKey change

Picking up passengers

ExistingPassengers flag e-trikes anywhere on the road, with no set stops where they can wait safely.

ProposedBuild proper waiting sheds so passengers have a safe, covered place to wait for the next e-trike.

ShedsSafe stops

Fare

ExistingE-trikes borrow the regular tricycle fare matrix.

ProposedA dedicated e-trike fare matrix with a fixed ₱6 starting fare, making it a cheaper way to get around.

₱6Base fare

Boundary

ExistingDrivers pay a daily boundary of ₱150 to ₱500 to operate.

ProposedCut the minimum boundary by 13% so drivers keep more of what they earn.

−13%Min. boundary

Battery care

ExistingBatteries are charged only once they run flat, and poor Li-ion charging habits shorten their life.

ProposedTrain drivers in Li-ion care and introduce battery swapping to cut downtime.

SwapBattery system

Passenger space

ExistingThere is no room for passengers' bags or luggage.

ProposedRedesign the e-trike itself, with a storage compartment, more legroom and safety features for driver and passengers.

NewVehicle design

Departure

ExistingLike gas tricycles, e-trikes wait until every seat is full before leaving.

ProposedThe 15-minute rule: wait 10 to 15 minutes, then leave whether full or not.

15 minMax wait

Signage

ExistingTerminals have few signs or guides, so passengers have to ask around.

ProposedSimple, icon-based signage so passengers can find their way on their own.

IconsWayfinding

Availability

ExistingE-trikes mostly run on weekdays, following Mandaluyong City Hall's schedule. Weekends are up to each driver.

ProposedSpread the fleet evenly across all seven days to balance service with drivers' rest days.

7 daysEven coverage

The vehicle

Side view render of the e-trike — Side profile

Render of the rear wheel housing — Rear housing

Render of the passenger cabin interior — Passenger cabin

Render detail of the canopy edge — Canopy detail

Orange ideation sketches of the e-trike body and cabin — Ideation sketches

PD-02

E‑kuliglig Tractor

Concept

Farmer steering the red E-kuliglig hand tractor through a field at sunset

The kuliglig, the Filipino hand tractor, is the workhorse of small farms. Its design has barely moved: an exposed diesel engine that hits the farmer with fumes, noise and vibration all day.

E-kuliglig swaps diesel for a 15 kW electric drive. A sealed chassis protects the operator and keeps mud and rain out of the internals, which cuts maintenance and adds years to the machine.

Speed and power controls sit in the handlebars, so the operator never has to let go. The rear hitch stays modular for plows, harrows and cultivators.

Motor: 15 kW electric (20 HP equiv.)
Battery: 2 × 96 V lithium-ion
Field time: 8–10 h continuous
Road range: Up to 90 km per charge
Hitch: Modular rear

Inside the chassis

Cutaway showing the handlebar control panel, two 96 V batteries, the 15 kW motor and the controller — Control panel, batteries, motor, controller

Render of the red and black sealed body — Sealed body

Render of the handlebar control panel — Handlebar controls

E-kuliglig on a dirt path beside a rice field — In the field

Green ideation sketches of the tractor — Ideation sketches

PD-04

Jolt Board

Concept

Electric skateboard with a black deck and red wheels

Three views of the black handheld remote — Remote, three views

A 27-inch electric board for city commuters: light enough to carry all day, stable enough for busy streets.

The deck is made from renewable bamboo and abaca fiber, tough but with some flex. Dual hub motors keep every wire out of sight, and an integrated lithium-ion pack does 15–20 mph for 8–10 miles.

The remote works in either hand, keeps the controls to the essentials, and has a safety strap so it stays with you in traffic.

Deck: 27 in, bamboo and abaca
Drive: Dual hub motors
Speed: 15–20 mph
Range: 8–10 miles per charge
Remote: Ambidextrous, safety strap

PD-05

Exhibition Booths

Concept

Booth with warm wood textures, slatted walls and pendant lights — Coffee and spirits lounge: warm timber, slatted privacy walls, pendant lights

Angular red canopy booth with geometric branding — Tech and gaming stand: angular canopy, bold graphics, open demo zones

02 · 6 projects · Designing shoes since 2018

Footwear
Design

Technical sneakers, climbing shoes and full collections, taken from sketch to tech pack to factory sample with Filipino makers and materials.

FW-01

Wave Technical Footwear

3 prototypes + final

Wave sneakers on wet asphalt next to a yellow road line and cables

The rainy season here lasts for months. Wave started as a design challenge: a high-top slip-on I could wear every day, whatever the forecast.

It became a test of local capability too. I pushed our manufacturing partners beyond traditional leather shoemaking to prove they could build a world-class technical sneaker, and it took four rounds to get there.

Upper: Neoprene, elastic straps
Closure: Water-resistant zip, buckle strap
Sole: Molded EVA, Vibram midsole
Rounds: 3 prototypes + final
Made by: Local manufacturing partners

01Prototype

First prototype held in hand, black neoprene upper on a white cupsole

Set the high-top silhouette: black neoprene, elastic straps and a water-resistant zip. A white skirt stretches the look of a standard cupsole.

02Prototype

Second prototype with a chunky molded EVA outsole

Dropped the cupsole for a chunky molded EVA outsole. The shoe moved from sneaker toward rugged, boot-like utility.

03Prototype

Model sitting on a curb wearing the third prototype

Balanced the heavy sole with a cleaner, more minimal upper. This is where the techwear direction locked in.

Final

Premium performance materials, functional details throughout, and a Vibram midsole for comfort, durability and grip.

Final pair on a yellow ledge — Final pair

First prototype pair on a shoebox — Prototype 01 pair

Studio shot of the Wave sneaker showing the lugged outsole — Outsole and profile

Sketch sheet exploring Wave silhouettes — Silhouette sketches

FW-02

Bloom Climbing Shoes

Concept

Climbing shoes are built for performance and almost never for personality. Bloom pairs precision friction rubber with bold printed textiles.

Two silhouettes, slip-on and dual-velcro, come in moody dark florals and a bright light pink, for climbers who want their shoes to say something on the wall.

I took it from line sketch to final visuals in Vizcom, using its node workflow to control material mapping and test colorways fast.

Versions: Slip-on, dual velcro
Colorways: Dark floral, light pink
Rubber: Textured for friction
Workflow: Line sketch to Vizcom

Clean line sketch of the climbing shoe — Base sketch

Dark floral slip-on climbing shoe — Dark floral

Light pink floral climbing shoe — Light pink

Floral textile prints in dark and pink — Textile prints

Dual-velcro dark floral climbing shoe on a green backdrop — Dual-velcro version

Climber wearing the dark shoe on a rock face — On rock

Pink climbing shoe on a limestone hold — On rock

Vizcom node workspace with Bloom iterations — Vizcom node workflow

FW-03

Finn Cotton Collection

Prototype

Painterly concept sketch of a high-top sneaker with Japanese-inspired graphics

Finn Cotton built its name on unique sneakers at fair prices, but its early lines were off-the-shelf designs from China.

When the brand committed to original Filipino design, the CEO brought me in to lead the shift. I designed the full collection and handled every stage: concept sketches, material selection, tech packs and refining the final prototypes.

Role: Lead footwear designer
Period: May 2021 – Nov 2022
Scope: Full collection
Output: Sketches, CMF, tech packs, prototypes

Color, material and finish

CMF render, high-top in teal, magenta and mustard

CMF render, red, white and blue chunky runner

CMF render, grey knit runner with purple overlay

Concept sketches

Grey marker sketch of a high-top with green accent

Grey marker sketch with magenta overlays

Running sneaker concept render in navy and tan — Running sneaker concept

Running sneaker prototype on a wooden table — Running sneaker prototype

FW-04

BIGWASI

Prototype

BIGWASI sets an avant-garde silhouette against Filipino material heritage.

A sculpted EVA sole carries wrap-around straps and rope lacing. Loom-woven cloth, handmade by indigenous weavers in Negros, sits against neoprene, donkey leather and diamond-textured fabric, so every panel brings a different texture.

Textile: Loom-woven cloth from Negros
Laces: Cloth rope
Upper: Neoprene, donkey leather
Accent: Diamond-textured cloth
Sole: Sculpted EVA

FW-05

PAMBA Sneakers

Prototype

PAMBA is a handmade premium casual sneaker in two colorways, each drawn from a Filipino icon.

The silhouette is a clean, low-profile court shoe with a perforated toe, a padded collar, a serrated-edge cupsole and gold-tipped laces. It's meant to be the everyday pair that goes with everything.

The story lives in the materials. Each colorway layers several leathers and suedes in close tones, so the shoe reads as one color from across the room and shows its texture up close.

Type: Premium casual sneaker
Build: Handmade
Upper: Leather and suede
Colorways: Sampaguita, Carabao
Stage: Prototype

Two colorwaysPalettes sampled from the finished pairs

01 · White / cream

Sampaguita

Named after the national flower. Instead of one flat white, the upper layers off-whites and creams like overlapping petals, so it looks soft and dimensional instead of stark.

Toe#FAFAFA

Suede#E2DED9

Tongue#E2D6B3

Vamp#C9C0B8

02 · Black / dark tones

Carabao

Named after the water buffalo of the Filipino farm. Black leather and suede borrow its strength and matte, weathered texture: rugged, but refined enough to dress up.

Leather#1E1D1F

Suede#3C3939

Lining#9E7A64

Aglet#D7BA82

First to final prototype

First PAMBA prototype in cream on a gum sole, being laced at the workshop — First prototype · gum cupsole

Final PAMBA prototype pair in black leather and suede on lasts at the workshop — Final prototype · white serrated cupsole

Details

Close-up of the perforated toe and suede mudguard on the black pair — Perforated toe, suede mudguard

Close-up of black leather laces with gold aglets — Gold-tipped laces

Close-up of the padded collar and tan suede lining — Padded collar, suede lining

FW-06

Patchwork Rag Basketball

Concept

Basketball shoe render with a multicolor patchwork upper

Almost every Filipino home has one: the round patchwork basahan, a rag stitched together from fabric offcuts and sold by street vendors.

This basketball concept borrows its construction. The upper is built from mixed-material panels, each treated like a separate offcut, and joined with heavy contrast stitching that mimics the handmade rag.

The result gives a structured performance shape a fragmented, textured look, and a nod to the everyday resourcefulness behind the original.

Category: Basketball
Upper: Paneled mixed materials
Stitching: Contrast zigzag
Reference: Patchwork basahan rag
Stage: Concept

From basahan to basketball

01The source

Round patchwork cloth rags in yellow, blue and purple

Round rags sewn from leftover fabric, bright, mismatched and built to last.

02The palette

Yellow#C9910D

Ochre#8A4C07

Forest#04281A

Royal#294E8D

Pink#C94763

Charcoal#252525

Rag-bright panels on a charcoal base, sampled from the final render.

03The build

Close-up of pink zigzag stitching joining white, ochre and charcoal panels

Every panel reads as its own offcut, joined by pink zigzag stitching.

Close-up of the white sculpted midsole with pink capsule and dot details — Midsole with pink accent details

Close-up of royal blue laces over yellow and forest green panels — Royal blue laces, forest green collar

FW-00

Sketchbook

Concepts and client work · drag to scroll

Black leather chelsea-style shoes with crepe soles — Client work

High-top in grey, navy and tan with yellow laces — Client work

Loafers and sneakers on shoeboxes at the workshop — Client work

03 · 3 projects · Blender and Cycles

3D
Renders

Product visualization from scene setup to final frame: lighting, materials, camera and art direction, from clean catalogue angles to moody hero shots.

3D-01

Vesper Mini Echo

Concept

Vesper is a compact echo pedal: two knobs, a tape-or-digital toggle, and an orbit graphic whose rings read like repeats fading out.

I rendered it as a full launch set. There's a colorway lineup in cream, teal and rust, clean catalogue angles, a top-down hero on a color backdrop with a hard sun shadow, a low-key shot on black glass, and a macro of the chrome footswitch.

Product: Mini echo pedal
Controls: Time, Mix, Tape / Digi
Colorways: Cream, teal, rust
Shots: 6
Renderer: Blender, Cycles

Teal Vesper pedal at a three-quarter angle on a white backdrop — Catalogue, three-quarter

Teal Vesper pedal from directly above showing the Time and Mix knobs — Catalogue, top-down

Teal Vesper pedal on a terracotta backdrop with a hard shadow — Hero, color backdrop

Macro of the chrome footswitch with shallow depth of field — Macro, footswitch

Teal Vesper pedal on black reflective glass in low light — Low key, black glass

3D-02

Meta Quest 3

Render study

A render study of the Meta Quest 3, chasing the bright, soft look of consumer tech launch imagery.

The set covers a hero angle, front, back and a close-up of the sensor array, plus a cinematic frame lit by a single blue rim light. Every angle shares one lighting setup, so the set reads as a single campaign.

Subject: Meta Quest 3 headset
Shots: 5
Look: High-key studio, cinematic
Backdrop: Pale blue sweep
Renderer: Blender, Cycles

Independent render study. I am not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Meta.

Meta Quest 3 rear view showing the facial interface and strap — Back

Close-up of the Quest 3 sensor array and fabric strap — Sensor detail

Meta Quest 3 headset floating in a blue spotlight — Cinematic, 2.39:1

3D-03

Formula 1 Car

Render study

One frame of a Formula 1 car, lit like a launch reveal.

A single soft overhead strip, a black reflective floor and a deep falloff into shadow keep the eye on the bodywork and livery. The frame is rendered at full print resolution.

Shot: Studio hero
Key light: Overhead softbox strip
Floor: Black, reflective
Output: 4500 × 3000 px
Renderer: Blender, Cycles

Independent render study. I am not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Formula 1, the FIA or any Formula 1 team.

Blender · CyclesKeyShotRhino 3DFusion 3603ds Max

Profile

About

Background, toolkit, experience and recognition.

I'm Nicco, a product and footwear designer from Manila. I design products, shoes and the systems around them.

Nicco in a black and orange techwear vest and cargo shorts, mirror selfie

I studied industrial design at the University of Santo Tomas and have spent the years since moving between product, footwear, apparel, exhibition and graphic design, including two years as an art director leading a team of designers. Today I'm Product Design & Innovation Lead at Music Tribe. Footwear has been the constant throughout. I've designed shoes since 2018, and several have gone into factory production.

My process runs from quick sketches to CAD, Blender renders and physical prototypes, whether that's a sample off a factory line or a 3D print on my desk. AI tools like Vizcom and Claude are part of that workflow too. They speed up concept visuals, colorway tests and research, and help me build custom tools that streamline the process.

I'm at my best on products that fit where they're used: built for local weather, local streets and the makers who produce them.

Blender, KeyShot, Rhino 3D, Fusion 360, Autodesk 3ds Max, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Enscape

Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Procreate, Figma, Adobe XD, CorelDRAW, Canva

Vizcom, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini

Leadership

Creative direction, team leadership, brand strategy, project management, teaching and mentoring

Experience

Sep 2026 – Present
Music TribeProduct Design & Innovation Lead. Product design and innovation across Music Tribe's music and audio brands. Current work is under NDA and can be discussed in interviews.
Sep 2024 – Sep 2026
Thirty-One DigitalArt Director. Led a design team on digital marketing and art directed shoots.
Jun 2021 – Nov 2022
BrenPro Inc.Head Apparel & Merchandise Designer. Uniforms and apparel for esports athletes.
May 2021 – Nov 2022
Finn CottonLead Footwear Designer & Community Manager.
Nov 2019 – Jan 2021
Bestsource General MerchandisingJr. Footwear & Graphic Designer.
Jun 2019 – Nov 2019
Motherland PHFounder & Lead Designer of a personal footwear label.
Apr 2018 – Oct 2018
Centrex CorporationDesigner. Trade fair booths.
Jun 2015 – Oct 2015
BambikeIndustrial Design Intern. Bamboo bikes and ramps, concept to prototype.

Recognition

Volkswagen · Car Design Contest, winner2014
Top Gear Philippines · Featured2015
Calling All Creators · Featured2017
Foot Locker · Top 100 Design2018
New Balance · Semi-finalist designer2018
Sole Academy · Sneaker Design2018
Pensole · 21 Days of Design, winner2018
Philippine Footwear Design Competition · Semi-finalist2019
Adidas HQ · Pensole Scholarship2019
Manila FAME · Designs featured2019
Marikina City · Footwear Design Recognition2019
MLBB Jersey Ranking · Top 1 Design2022
Waze · Top Performer2022
University of Santo Tomas · Speaker2023
DOST PTRI · Resource Speaker2023

More on Behance

Views and appreciations, Oct 2026

END OF TRAILContact · Available for freelance and full-time work

Let's build
the next one.

Have a product, a shoe or a render in mind? Send me a brief, a rough sketch or just a question.

ifpintac@gmail.com

Open mail app

Based in: Manila, PhilippinesGMT+8
Open to: Freelance and full-timeRemote friendly
Focus: Product and footwearPlus 3D rendering

Bonus roundYou made it to the end. Keep watching for a perfect corner, or tap the screen to change channel.

NiccoPintac

Selected projects

ProductDesign

Fixing the route as well as the ride

FootwearDesign

Sampaguita

Carabao

3DRenders

About

Experience

Recognition

More on Behance

Let's buildthe next one.

Product
Design

Footwear
Design

3D
Renders

Let's build
the next one.