Sneaker Designer D’Wayne Edwards Reshapes Design Education
Legendary sneaker designer D’Wayne Edwards, president of Pensole Lewis College, is applying lessons from Bruce Lee to reshape design education in Detroit.
D’Wayne Edwards, president of Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design in Detroit and a renowned Nike sneaker designer, is working to revolutionize design education. He draws inspiration from the philosophies of Bruce Lee and his own extensive career.
Edwards, who previously designed for Skechers and Nike, likens his design philosophy to Bruce Lee's approach to martial arts. He emphasizes adapting to the problem at hand rather than adhering to a specific style. "I focus on becoming the creative or the designer for the problem I’m trying to solve," Edwards stated.
Pensole Lewis College is the only HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) focused on design. Edwards aims for the institution to set a future standard for design education, integrating design, business, and learning through problem-solving.
Edwards highlights the importance of daily creative practice, seeking insights from diverse industries, and building networks. He also stresses the value of morning routines for absorbing information and maintaining focus. "Good in, great out. Bad in, worse out," he explained.