Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) is marking the 10th anniversary of its partnership with New Balance with the launch of the global design capstone, a 10-week in-person industry credential program that prepares emerging designers to translate sport, culture and craftsmanship into innovative products for the global footwear company. The capstone theme, “One City. One Sport: A Celebration of Sport, Culture and Craft,” challenges teams to conceptualize a premium, high-performance, future-forward collection inspired by the roots of a city’s defining sport, cultural energy and craftsmanship while meeting the demands of modern performance.
Celebrating a decade of design and collaboration, the program reflects PLC Detroit’s and New Balance’s shared commitment to expanding access to design education, cultivating creative talent and creating pathways from education to employment through workforce development and workforce empowerment.
“Our partnership has always been about creating opportunities, opening doors and preparing students with the skills, experience and confidence to lead the future of design,” said D’Wayne Edwards, president of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design.
Over the past decade, New Balance has hired more than 35 PLC Detroit alumni into full-time positions, underscoring the long-term impact of the partnership.
“We’ve seen what’s possible when education and industry work together with a shared purpose,” Edwards said. “This capstone marks the next chapter in our commitment to developing the next generation of global designers.”
Beginning Aug. 24, 16 participants will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to solve an authentic New Balance design brief inspired by four global cities and their defining sports: basketball in Paris, cricket in Delhi, football in Rio de Janeiro and baseball in Tokyo. Drawing from each city’s craftsmanship traditions and cultural identity, participants will design innovative footwear, apparel and color/material concepts for female athletes that merge high-performance functionality with lifestyle and cultural storytelling.
“This is a workforce development and empowerment initiative preparing emerging designers to work in a global marketplace,” said Edwards. “The future of design belongs to those who understand people, culture and how consumers live around the world.”
Unlike a traditional classroom project, participants will work across footwear design, apparel design, and color and material design to collaborate with New Balance designers and PLC faculty while developing innovative concepts inspired by sport, culture and performance.
More than an academic exercise, the industry credential program gives participants the opportunity to solve a real-world New Balance design brief, receive mentorship from industry professionals, create portfolio-worthy prototypes in PLC Detroit’s Concept Maker Labs, and present their work to New Balance and industry professionals.
