SCENE & HEARD
Pensole Design Academy Planning Huge Step Edwards is excited about Pensole’s relocation to Detroit—the only THE PENSOLE DESIGN Academy is going to college! The Portland, U.S. city that has been designated a UNESCO city of design. “If you OR-based sneaker design school has petitioned the state of Michigan to haven’t visited Detroit in a while, take a trip,” he offers. “You’ll see a become the newly formed Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in lot of growth, innovation, creativity and, of course, pride.” The school partnership with the College for Creative Studies (CCS). When approved, will be located in CCS’s state-of-the-art A. Alfred Taubman Center for the Detroit-based institution will be the state’s sole HBCU (Historically Design Education until its permanent home in Detroit is selected and Black College and University) when it reopens for classes on Detroit Day, developed. That aside, Edwards hopes Pensole won’t be leaving Portland Mar. 13, 2022. Enrollment is expected to open in December. entirely. “We’re in talks with Portland State University to continue to offer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, founder of the Pensole Design Academy Pensole programming,” he says. “Portland is where we were founded, and majority shareholder of the Lewis College of Business, along with and it’s important for us to always have a footprint there, and PSU is cofounding partners from the Gilbert Family Foundation and Target, the right partner for us to do this with.” will offer free tuition to a majority of students, supporting aspiring Speaking of partners, Edwards says none of this would be possible Black creatives, designers, engineers and business leaders. The school without the cofounders generous support. The Gilbert Family Foundation’s will be the first HBCU to focus on design. It’ll also be the first HBCU involvement, in particular, is part of its $500 million joint commitin the country to officially reopen. ment to its hometown of Detroit to drive access to economic and social Edwards says the school will mark a big step forward for sneaker opportunity and increase equity design, as well as additional fields of for residents. It’s a collective effort, study. “This allows us to show Black Edwards hopes, that will help turn kids globally what is possible for other the tide on low enrollment and design careers on a product creation graduation rates among Blacks team,” he says, noting that Pensole attending traditional design colalready teaches color and materials, leges in universities nationwide. functional apparel and 3D design. Edwards cites a lack of exposure “With College of Creative Studies and to design careers as well as high new corporate partners, we’ll expand tuition costs as key factors fuelinto graphic, brand, packaging, UX ing those negative statistics. “Our and even furniture design.” goal is to work towards improving Indeed, the college will be like those numbers by removing barriPensole on steroids. Edwards says ers so we can provide a future for the partnership will provide more the students who will be responaccess to faculty, equipment, facilities sible for creating it,” he says. “Our and structure than ever before. “In intentions are so needed, and I’m addition to new footwear company blessed to have some amazing partnerships, we’ll be able to offer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards in front of the future home of founding partners in the Gilbert more variety in the areas of footthe Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in Detroit. Family Foundation, Target and wear design instruction, ranging College for Creative Studies, who believe in me and the entire Pensole from performance, lifestyle, casual, dress, outdoor and luxury,” he team to go on this journey with us.” says, adding that future designers need to be more diverse in their Edwards is also tremendously excited about what the new college abilities to meet changing market needs. “Since they are dictating represents, personally. Not only were HBCUs first established because the future of our industry, we need to prepare them to be the leaders most colleges and universities used to prohibit Blacks from attendour industry needs.” ing, he notes that the schools are now inclusive to all races. Notable For Target, the collaboration is part of its Racial Equity Action and HBCU graduates include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Change (REACH) strategy, formed in 2020, to accelerate the retailer’s Kamala Harris, Thurgood Marshall, Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, work to advance racial equity and its five-year, $100 million commitamong many others. Edwards is looking forward to adding the next ment to fuel the economic prosperity of Black communities. “With notable names to this list. a deep history in democratizing design, Target is proud to support In the meantime, the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design Dr. D’Wayne Edwards and aspiring Black designers through the Pensole now sits at the top of Edwards’ list of career achievements. “I’ve had an Lewis College of Business and Design,” states Amanda Nusz, senior amazing 32-year career as a designer and educator that continues to vice president of corporate responsibility at Target and president of the evolve, but I never in my wildest dreams thought this would be possible,” Target Foundation. “This partnership represents an important part of he says. “What we’re attempting to do has never been done before, which our broader commitment that aims to support the next generation of gets me excited. This is another reminder for me to dream bigger, simply Black talent, expand the impact of Black-led movements and voices, and because dreams are free and we constantly limit ourselves.” create economic opportunity in Black communities across the country.”
8 footwearplusmagazine.com • october/november 2021
