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History answers these questions through those who lead, innovate, disrupt and embody what it means to exist beyond the self. Community isn’t easily defined or measured. There’s no metric for what’s felt when people unite for a common good. Yet, as amorphous as it is, community is shaped by its members and by the pillars who rise to represent them. Its contours are drawn not by individual achievement, but by what is built, preserved and passed forward for those of the past, present and future.

What defines community? It’s culture; people bound by age-old tradition, language, and sacred customs. It’s environment; people pushed together by borders. It’s interests; individuals connected by common passions. It’s circumstance; the invisible thread that ties people through shared experiences. Often, it’s an amalgamation of all of these forces. But more importantly, who defines community? Leaders, the followers, the thinkers, or the doers?

That’s what Aric Armon, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, Ruth E. Carter, Michael Uzowuru and Alli Simon encapsulate through their work, creativity and living legacies. They are architects of a world anchored by purpose-driven impact. And that is the blueprint of community-building.

Aric Armon x Dr. D’Wayne Edwards - READ | WATCH | EXERCISE | PRINT

Ruth Carter - READ | WATCH | EXERCISE | PRINT

Alli Simon - READ | WATCH | EXERCISE | PRINT

Michael Uzowuru - READ | WATCH | EXERCISE | PRINT

🌟 VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE COMMUNITY ARCHIVES ZINE HERE 🌟

Design is a language, a way to communicate identity, aspiration and purpose without uttering a word. It shapes how we move through the world and how we connect with culture, performance, and one another. Footwear, in particular, sits at the intersection of innovation and self-expression, blending function and style to create both utility and statement. For footwear designer and educator Aric Armon, this intersection is a lifelong pursuit, where design meets sports, storytelling and community.

Raised in Milpitas, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, Aric’s love of sports and design emerged through his early experiences as a student-athlete. At the Academy of Art University, he captained the school’s first track team, competing in the 400-meter dash, and discovered how movement and mechanics could inform creativity. His curiosity led him to Pensole Footwear Design Academy, where—under the mentorship of Dr. D'Wayne Edwards—he honed the craft and narrative potential of shoe design. That summer, he won the Future of Footwear competition, marking the start of a long career defined by innovation and impact.

Aric joined adidas in 2013 as an intern, contributing to concepts across football, baseball, basketball and running before transitioning to the Originals team, where he designed lifestyle footwear bridging function and fashion. In 2014, he returned to performance product, developing cleats that merge athletic excellence with cultural significance. Among his earliest projects was a collaboration with Snoop Dogg, designing for his youth football league. His inventive approach has led to patented technology aimed at preventing turf toe and cleats for elite athletes, including Patrick Mahomes, Von Miller, Dak Prescott, Alvin Kamara and Kris Bryant.

Beyond professional design, Aric is a dedicated mentor and educator. As an adjunct instructor at the Academy of Art University and collaborator with Pensole Lewis College, he develops curricula that introduce students from elementary through college to the principles of design, fostering creativity and empowering the next generation of footwear innovators.

Currently based in Detroit, Michigan, Aric is the educational lead at Pensole Lewis College, which is the first ever Design HBCU. His work embodies the seamless fusion of performance, aesthetics and storytelling, enabling athletes and enthusiasts alike to move confidently while expressing their individuality. Through innovation, mentorship and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Aric Armon continues to shape the future of footwear design, leaving an enduring mark on both the industry and the communities he inspires.

Aric Armon is a footwear designer and multidisciplinary creative whose career was shaped early by Dr. D’Wayne Edwards’ design program, Pensole, where he emerged as a standout talent through their Future of Footwear program and went on to design for adidas. Armon remains closely tied to what os now Pensole Lewis College (the first design led HBCU) through mentorship and youth programming, helping develop the next generation of designers while bridging education, sport, and culture.

Download The Blueprint worksheets here or spark your creativity below.

Dive in and create your own custom adidas Superstar design. Bring it to life by using your mobile phone, tablet, computer or print the below template out [download here]. Think about the world you want to create with your sneaker design, be intentional about what and why you want to use specific color combinations.

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This article has been produced in collaboration with adidas Purpose, Pitch Blend and TRENCH.