One Detroit Hosts Future of Work Town Hall on Michigan’s Design Industry
Taking a look around Michigan’s major cities, design is everywhere, though much of the design people see in their daily lives largely goes unnoticed. Whether it’s the clothing people wear, the designs and patterns that adorn walls, the architecture in downtown Detroit and other cities, or the websites they visit, chances are a designer is behind it. So, what really makes up the design industry and what efforts are underway in Michigan to develop and expand it?
Future of Work Town Hall host, and One Detroit’s associate producer, Will Glover joins DESIGNCONNECT Founder and Executive Director Jocelyn Chen, Olga Stella, the vice president of strategy & communications at College for Creative Studies and the executive director of Design Core Detroit, and legendary footwear designer and PENSOLE Lewis College of Business & Design Founder Dr. D’Wayne Edwards for a conversation about the design industry’s biggest employers, the education needed to break into the field, the importance of diverse representation in the industry, and how some companies and design leaders in Michigan are investing to build out the industry here.
Plus, Glover talks with the panelists about the investments Michigan needs to create and build a design network that generates new jobs, as well as how to attract stakeholders, like garment manufacturers, reputable galleries and media partners, to Michigan to help bolster the state’s budding design industry.
Watch Livestream:
Future of Work Town Hall Participants:
For Detroit PBS’s Future of Work initiative, One Detroit news and current events producer Will Glover leads conversations with business, economic, education, human resources, and policy experts to dive deep into Michigan’s workplace, workforce and the work itself to understand how we could create, retain and attract the talent needed to innovate and make Michigan a competitive top ten state across multiple industries.
Glover studied film at Eastern Michigan University and received his Associate Degree in Digital Video Production & Documentary Film from Washtenaw Community College. Whether it’s underwriting voice-overs or producing stories for One Detroit, you’ll hear his voice throughout Detroit Public TV programming. Glover’s focus is on his craft: finding the stories and voices that capture the truth.
Jocelyn Chen is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization DESIGNCONNECT. She is also the principal of Jocelyn Chen Design, and serves on the Advisory Board of Oakland University Center for Public Humanities, as well as the Asian American Advisory Committee for Detroit Public TV. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Global Design at General Motor Co.
Prior to that position, she was the Operations Director of GM China Design based in Shanghai. Ms. Chen’s tenure with General Motors spanned over 20 years, comprising of a diverse range of positions in manufacturing, engineering and design. She holds a B.S. in Engineering from Oakland University, a Master degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, and a B.A in Art History from Oakland University.
[et_pb_accordion_item title=”Guest Panelist | Olga Stella, Vice President of Strategy & Communications, College for Creative Studies / Executive Director, Design Core Detroit” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]
Olga Stella has over 20 years of experience in economic development, public policy and coalition-building in Detroit. Her career has spanned working alongside residents in Detroit neighborhoods to help to facilitate over $200 million in investment in the city to advocate for Detroit’s design economy.
In her role at College for Creative Studies, she supports the Community Arts Partnership, Design Core Detroit, Marketing and Communications, and Office of Partnerships. Olga lives with her family in Detroit and is active in the community, serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy.
[et_pb_accordion_item title=”Guest Panelist |D’Wayne Edwards, Founder, PENSOLE Lewis College of Business & Design / Legendary Footwear Designer” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards is the most prominent Black designer in the footwear industry. With a 32+ year career, including over three decades from 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. Dr. Edwards founded PENSOLE in part because of how difficult it was for him to come through the industry and get started.
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, MIT, and Harvard, and has spoken at the Clinton Global Conference.
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For Detroit PBS’s Future of Work initiative, One Detroit news and current events producer Will Glover leads conversations with business, economic, education, human resources, and policy experts to dive deep into Michigan’s workplace, workforce and the work itself to understand how we could create, retain and attract the talent needed to innovate and make Michigan a competitive top ten state across multiple industries.
Jocelyn Chen is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization DESIGNCONNECT. She is also the principal of Jocelyn Chen Design, and serves on the Advisory Board of Oakland University Center for Public Humanities, as well as the Asian American Advisory Committee for Detroit Public TV. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Global Design at General Motor Co. 
Olga Stella has over 20 years of experience in economic development, public policy and coalition-building in Detroit. Her career has spanned working alongside residents in Detroit neighborhoods to help to facilitate over $200 million in investment in the city to advocate for Detroit’s design economy.
