Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design is working to democratize creative education — the country’s only design-focused HBCU has revealed a free online video course made in partnership with costume designer Ruth E. Carter and Adidas.
The four-part video course, available now, offers insights into storytelling and costume design from Carter, a two-time Oscar winner who has worked on projects like “Sinners,” the “Black Panther” films and “Malcolm X,” among her 70-plus credits across film, television and theater. With five Oscar nods under her belt, she is the most nominated Black woman in Academy Awards history, among other notable achievements. Carter won her two Oscars for “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
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The course focuses on Carter’s approach to Afrofuturism, merging culture, imagination and storytelling to show how design informs character and world-building. Drawing on her more than three decades of career experience, the modules delve into her creative methodologies, encompassing character development, research techniques, visual storytelling and strategic problem-solving.
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“Our relationship with Ruth E. Carter began with a master class, where she guided four PLC students in designing dresses for her awards ceremonies,” said D’Wayne Edwards, president of PLC Detroit, in a statement. “In 2025, she collaborated with PLC alumni on the Ruth E. Carter Apparel Creation Stu/Deo by Adidas. Today, we invite aspiring creatives worldwide to learn from her through our online platform, ePLC. Her groundbreaking career inspires us to open doors for the next generation to shape the future of design.”
Indeed, the Apparel Creation Stu/Deo by Adidas celebrated its launch in September amid the 2025 Black Footwear Forum, with Carter present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The costume designer attended an HBCU herself, having graduated from Hampton University, and she is also PLC’s first artist-in-residence.
Carter said in a statement, “Afrofuturism has always been about expanding our imagination — about seeing ourselves in worlds that honor our past while designing the future. Costume design is storytelling. It requires research, cultural respect and the courage to continually evolve your craft. I’m proud to be part of a collaboration like this. Support from institutions like PLC Detroit and partners like Adidas is critical because it invests in the growth and development of artists. When brands champion creative education, they help open doors for the next generation of designers to discover their voice, shape their vision and step fully into their purpose.”
The PLC Detroit x Adidas x Ruth E. Carter Costume Design ePLC course can be found on the ePLC platform.