Programs & Services:

Black Design Collective is committed to developing and implementing programs and services that provide our members and the greater design/creative community with the tools and skills necessary to compete and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

Professional Development Workshops
Each workshop offers valuable learning opportunities and tools to support career development in the areas of fashion, bespoke, costume, textile, and accessory design. These workshops are presented online through Zoom and in person. Participants are provided with valuable resources, including the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters and slides from the workshop.  Each workshop is unique and stand-alone, allowing participants to delve deeper into specific topics. These workshops are informative and fun, with ample time for interaction and experiential learning.

Black Design Collective Educational Institute for Professional Development (BDC-EIPD)
An A-Z professional development series of courses that take designers from startup to scale up. The course focuses on topics such as Fashion Business Startup, Legal Structure, Scaling Up, Marketing, Networking, Brandings, E-commerce, and Financing. Classes are led by an instructor and taken on-line or in person.

Black Design Collective Talks
Taking designers and the community behind the scenes in building a business/brand is the goal of Black Design Collective Talks. On a monthly basis, the talks highlight individual designers and affiliates within the design community, showcasing for others how they got started, what it took to build their business/brand, and other information that inspires and educates those listening to achieve success. Black Design Collective Talks are posted on social media platforms, YouTube, and the Black Design Website.

Membership Meetings
Black Design Collective Members are invited to participate monthly in person or online by joining the organization’s membership meetings. A guest speaker presents on a given topic, pertinent to the field of design each month. The meeting also allows members to interact and learn from each other and to hear first-hand about upcoming programs and events Black Design Collective will be implementing in the months ahead.

Mentorship
Minority designers with businesses need to have supportive and smart mentors and advisors. These working relationships are essential for minority business owners navigating through some of the challenges they face and can expedite the process of creating a profitable and sustainable business. Black Design Collective works with students, new and seasoned designers to recruit and identify mentors and advisors who can assist our members with navigating the processes of building, expanding, and maintaining profitable businesses. Mentors aid in the areas of design, business development, finances, marketing, resource acquisition, and more. Mentoring takes place in person and via technology, in both one-on-one and group settings.

Scholarship Program
A scholarship fund has been established to assist young designers in their pursuit of higher education in the field of fashion, design, and costume design.

What others have to say about BDC Programming.
Kaylene Peoples, Editor in Chief of AGENDA MAGAZINE said, “There are so many components to building a business, and it looks like BDC has it all figured out through their online community of supporters, students, and sponsors. They offer Master Classes for designers and the availability of resources that will guide BDC members to their much-deserved success and businesses.”

Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), believes that this new organization can strengthen the industry. “Any time experienced people in our industry can organize to support the industry and support peers in the industry, it is a good thing. I think it’s great what Kevan and his partners at Black Design Collective are doing.”