Pensole and Nike Partner to Launch Design Masterclass Program For Underrepresented Groups
Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC) in Detroit has joined forces with Nike to launch a new educational program for underrepresented groups.
Dubbed “Future Sole I PLC,” the tuition-free program includes a series of online and in-person masterclasses in apparel, color, materials, footwear, graphics, 3D design and product marketing. Three department chairs at the D’Wayne Edwards-founded Historically Black College and University (HBCU) — all of which are veterans of Nike — will teach the classes.
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“To be taught by former Nike design directors is invaluable,” said D’Wayne Edwards, who himself is a Nike design alumnus. “The program creates a real-time professional environment to develop skills and prepare students for successful design careers.”
In 2020, Nike announced a $40 million commitment over four years to “support the Black community in the U.S.” The newest collaboration with Pensole is an extension of that commitment, according to PLC Detroit, which has partnered with Nike since 2018 on apprenticeship programs via the Serena Williams Design Crew and the Converse All-Star Design Team. In 2022, Nike said it would invest $3 million over three years in PLC Detroit towards free design education to diversify the pipeline of talent heading towards companies like Nike and other major brands.
Edwards, who served as design director at Nike’s Jordan brand, introduced the Future Sole program to Nike in 2008. The initiative provided young design students from underprivileged backgrounds the ability to access resources on footwear design via education and design contests. According to PLC, this program saw more than one million participants in four years.
“Inclusivity and diversity have long been challenges in the design industry,” said Edwards. “In all the partnerships that PLC Detroit has solidified, Nike Inc.’s has been the most beneficial in providing internships, apprenticeships, and full-time employment to over 100 PLC Detroit alumni in the last 14 years.”
Applications for the program are open until June 2, 2024. Students who have graduated from an HBCU in the past three years are eligible to apply.
PLC has previously joined forces with other fashion powerhouses such as Capri and VF Corp. on masterclass programs. The Pensole Design Academy in Portland, Ore., also founded by Edwards, entered a historic new phase in 2021 with the opening of the Pensole Lewis College in Detroit (Michigan’s first and only HBCU).
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