It’s simple, the numbers don’t lie. Less than 10% of Black students are enrolled in design colleges and universities across the country. For decades, this underrepresentation has served as both a symptom and a cause of systemic inequities in education and career access. But today, a powerful new initiative is stepping in to address this gap—and its impact could be transformational.
PLC Detroit, the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the nation dedicated to design, has joined forces with Foot Locker to launch the School of Emerging Excellence (SEE). This nationwide program is an intentional effort to provide Black high school students with the resources, mentorship, and access they need to succeed in design. For students who have faced barriers to entry, this initiative could be life-changing.
“Our kids cannot become what they cannot SEE,” said Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, president of PLC Detroit and a pioneer in diversifying the design industry. His words underscore the urgency behind the SEE initiative, which is designed to prepare Black students for meaningful careers while breaking down barriers that have long excluded them.
SEE’s nationwide focus reflects a recognition that creativity exists everywhere, even in communities where opportunities are scarce. Through a partnership with the National Arts Education Association (NAEA) and other grassroots organizations, SEE will provide workshops, online tutorials, competitions, and downloadable design templates, all tailored to reach students who might not otherwise have access to such resources. But this is much more than simply giving kids tools. These tools are designed to meet students where they are, making careers in design tangible rather than abstract.
This coming Friday, November 15, the SEE initiative will hold its inaugural event at PLC Detroit’s Foot Locker Creation Stu/deo. Fifteen students from Detroit’s University Prep Art & Design High School will participate in an immersive design workshop, setting the stage for SEE’s nationwide rollout. The day will feature hands-on lessons in color theory, materials, and storytelling, giving students a glimpse into the foundational skills they’ll need to pursue design careers. It’s not just about teaching them to draw or sketch—the picture is much bigger; to teach them to tell their stories through design.
Dr. Edwards highlighted the broader implications of this initiative. He emphasized how the SEE program is about preparing students for a future where Black designers are not outliers but integral voices shaping the industry. “This is not just about opening doors,” he explained. “This is about giving students the tools to build their own doors.”
For participants, Friday’s workshop will be a hands-on introduction to the design world. Students will be given a prompt to create their own unique colorway using provided art supplies. Their designs will then be presented to a panel of industry professionals, who will offer feedback to guide them in their creative journeys. For many of them, this will mark the first time their designs are evaluated in a professional setting. The stakes are high—not only will students gain invaluable insights, but the best design of the day will earn its creator prizes such as a Foot Locker gift card and new technology. More importantly, the winning student will receive an invitation to PLC Detroit’s prestigious summer Combine program, a program offering intensive training and scholarship opportunities to aspiring designers. This opportunity opens the door for young creatives to develop their skills further while building connections that could launch their careers.
Representation is about more than simply showing up in spaces—it’s about reshaping those spaces entirely. The collaboration between PLC Detroit and Foot Locker is a commitment to doing just that. By creating programs like SEE, these organizations are proving that equity in education and career access is not only possible but necessary.
Foot Locker’s involvement is especially significant. As a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel, the brand has long been at the forefront of youth culture. With SEE, Foot Locker is taking a stand for the communities it serves, ensuring that Black students have opportunities not just as consumers but as creators. A representative for the company highlighted this commitment during the program’s launch. “Foot Locker has always believed in the power of youth to shape culture,” they said. “SEE is about making sure that power is inclusive and reflective of the communities we’re part of.”
The timing of SEE’s launch couldn’t be more crucial. Across the country, Black students are navigating an education system that too often fails to see their potential. Programs like SEE are a direct response to this systemic inequity, offering tangible solutions to empower students who have been left out for too long.
The long-term vision for SEE extends far beyond Detroit. While the first workshop is focused on local students, plans are already in place to expand the program to other cities across the United States. Through partnerships with Foot Locker locations nationwide, SEE will ensure that Black high school students from coast to coast have access to the same opportunities.
The potential of this program extends far beyond individual students. SEE is creating a framework for what it looks like to build pathways for Black youth in spaces that have long been inaccessible, truly disrupting the cycle of underrepresentation and offering young people a chance to see themselves not only as participants but as leaders and innovators.
The students from University Prep Art & Design High School will leave Friday’s workshop with more than just sketches and designs. They will leave with a sense of what is possible when access meets ambition. The SEE program is about ensuring that the next generation of Black creatives can see themselves in every facet of design, from the studios to the boardrooms.
SEE isn’t just a program—it’s a declaration. A declaration that Black students deserve more than a seat at the table. They deserve to be the ones designing the table.
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