D'Wayne Edwards

Footwear Designer & Founder of PLC Detroit, Michigan's Only HBCU

Travels From Travels From:
Detroit, MI, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

D'Wayne Edwards Biography

Dr. D’Wayne Edwards is the most prominent Black designer in the footwear industry. He has amassed over 50 patents and created a portfolio of over 500 designs that have adorned the feet of celebrities and athletes alike, appearing in the MLB, NFL, NBA, and six different Olympics. Over his 32+ year career, including experience working at L.A. Gear, Nike and Jordan, Dr. Edwards is credited with paving the way for young Black design talent to have a career in the sneaker industry.

In 2010, Edwards founded PENSOLE, the first academy in the U.S. dedicated to footwear design, to provide talented young design students, regardless of socioeconomic background, an opportunity to learn from the industry’s best. PENSOLE quickly became the preeminent footwear design school in the world, specializing in footwear, functional apparel and accessories, color & materials, prototyping, and concept making. It operated as a popular feeder school for some of the industry’s top footwear brands and retailers and has placed more than 500+ former PENSOLE alums in positions working professionally for some of today’s top brands: Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, New Balance, Brooks, Vans, Puma, Timberland, JORDAN, and others globally.

As an educator, Dr. Edwards has taught and lectured at some of the premier schools in the world, including ArtCenter, Parsons School of Design, MIT, and Harvard, and has spoken at the Clinton Global Conference. He acquired Detroit HBCU Lewis College of Business and merged it with Pensole to create Pensole Lewis College. In December 2021, Pensole Lewis College was reinstated as Michigan's only HBCU and is now known as PLC Detroit.

BOOK D'Wayne Edwards

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/12/2024.

D'Wayne Edwards Videos

  • Thinking B.I.G.: Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, Founder of PENSOLE
  • D'Wayne Edwards on Creativity, Footwear Design, and Design Education
  • My perfect inversion | D'Wayne Edwards | TEDxPortland

FAQs on booking D'Wayne Edwards

  • How do I book D'Wayne Edwards to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like D'Wayne Edwards for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for D'Wayne Edwards, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for D'Wayne Edwards or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for D'Wayne Edwards

    Speaking fees for D'Wayne Edwards, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book D'Wayne Edwards are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire D'Wayne Edwards, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does D'Wayne Edwards speak about?

    D'Wayne Edwards is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Business Leadership, Creativity, Design, Education, Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Innovation, Leadership, Retail.
  • Where does D'Wayne Edwards travel from?

    D'Wayne Edwards generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is D'Wayne Edwards’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like D'Wayne Edwards for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book D'Wayne Edwards for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host D'Wayne Edwards or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

D'Wayne Edwards is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book D'Wayne Edwards for your event is available upon request. D'Wayne Edwards generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian, Matthew Luhn, Daymond John, Benjamin Hubert and Kristie Kennedy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling D'Wayne Edwards for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP