We have caught up with Jordan Brand's D'Wayne Edwards and have talked about his most recent project over at Nike, The Future Sole Design Competition. The competition was created to discover and develop footwear designers for the future of Nike and offer them an exceptional opportunity to live out there dream as a sneaker designer. Interview by James

SXH: First of all can you tell us what initially influenced your interest in sneakers and what inspired you to become a sneaker designer?

D'Wayne Edwards: I drew my first sneaker when I was 11 years old. I really don't know why but prior to that I would draw anything I would see but for some reason once I did my first design I was hooked. Once I got to high school I started seriously thinking about becoming a sneaker Designer but back in 1984 there was no college for me to attend for it. When I was 17 I entered a Reebok design contest and won but they did not hire me because I was to young. I was disappointed but it proved to me that I could make a career out of this and it drove me to show Reebok they made a mistake. Well, I guess they know now they made a mistake..

SXH: Can you tell us a bit more about your background?

Answer:I am originally from Joliet, ill but I grew up in Inglewood, CA and attended Inglewood High School. Since there were no schools for me to learn footwear design I decided to attend El Camino and Santa Monica College studying Business Marketing, Advertising and Management. In 1989, Robert Greenberg gave me my first professional design job at LA Gear at age 19. After 4 years at LA Gear I went on to design footwear for 2 brands that defined what Urban Street Fashion is today in, Cross Colours and Karl Kani until 1997. I briefly had my own brand and design firm until I joined Nike in 2000. Today, I am the Footwear Design Director for Brand Jordan.

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