Need a creative jumpstart? Stuck at home with kids bored with school-from-home? Know a student who wants to break into the footwear business?
CNSTNT DVLPMNT (“Constant Development”) has you covered.
The company last week published a book that’s part sketchbook, part comic book, part introduction to the footwear business.
It’s geared for kids, but it’s equally as fun for adults who like to learn and doodle.
The business is the work of founder Chris Dixon, his 10-year-old daughter Jade Dixon, and business partner Melvin Melchor.
Chris Dixon and Melchor also work for Pensole, the Portland-based footwear design that’s helped hundreds of underrepresented footwear designers break into the industry.
Dixon spoke with the Business Journal by phone. Fittingly for someone whose work revolves around empowerment and inclusion, Dixon expanded the interview to include Melchor, whose comments have been included where appropriate.
Questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
What is CNSTNT DVLPMNT (Constant Development)?
Dixon: We're trying to invite creatives to join the journey of discovery and empowering them with exposure to creative careers. Also, with everything we've been through in 2020, especially being a dad, we wanted to do something to keep kids busy, while learning and doing something fun.
The concept is about helping people grow creative careers. Chris, how did you grow yours? I know you’re from North Carolina and you went to Harding University.
Dixon: I have always drawn shoes. I didn't know it was a real job. After Harding, I had the opportunity to play basketball overseas, but I was really into using my brain. But it wasn’t until after I participated in (Nike’s) Future Sole that I knew it was a real job.
Editor’s note: Future Sole was a Nike-sponsored design contest run by Jordan Brand’s D’Wayne Edwards, who went on to found Pensole, a design school for underrepresented groups.
That’s how you met D’Wayne Edwards?
Dixon: Yea. He treated us with so much respect and so much energy. He made us believe in ourselves. I give him a lot of praise. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn’t have found out about this career.
You joined Pensole soon thereafter. You also won the World Sneaker Championship, another Pensole design competition.
Dixon: It sparked my love for the process. I like sharing the process. I like to share what I know.
Pensole’s also where you met Melvin Melchor, your business partner and CNSTNT DVLPMNT’s design director.
Melchor: Our journey together has been constant development at its essence. We’ve always been doing what we can to help each other and leave a positive impact on the people we interact with.
Chris, the last time we spoke you had just released your first shoe. Are you still pursuing that?
Dixon: I started to see the market get flooded with everybody's shoes. I’m not about following the crowd. If it’s just another shoe that comes out, you get 30 seconds of fame, then it dwindles out. I don't want to chase that. I will chase purpose.
One of your Pensole projects was Sneakerhead of State, which connected with 1,500 high school students. What can Business Journal readers learn from Pensole’s ability to connect with young people?
Dixon: The talent is out there. If you go outside the norm in recruiting, you will find a vast amount of talent. That's the culture of Pensole. With CNSTNT DVLPMNT, we’re trying to create that younger community, a kind of pipeline to Pensole.
Melchor: We want to be able to instill that with even younger audiences so they can take the industry further than it is now.
How are you going to do that?
Dixon: We’re inspired by Pensole’s mission of getting more diverse talent in this industry. But you're not going to find the talent in a month or a year. It takes a generation. That’s what creating this book was about.
What’s the next step?
Dixon: My goal is to start doing enrichment programs with schools. Art is being pulled out of schools. That hurts my soul. Art is part of mental health. Kids need an outlet. Hopefully this can get in some art teachers’ hands and become part of the curriculum.
The book isn’t just about sketching shoes, it’s about the entire process, which is a transferable skillset.
Dixon: The process of design can be applied to anything, My daughter applies it to baking. She starts with a sketch, with an idea brief. Then questions like, what are we designing? What are we making?
D’Wayne’s got a character in the comic book.
Dixon: I turned D’Wayne into a barber, because that’s the person we trust the most. He’s one of my biggest heroes.
Deadstock Coffee’s Ian Williams also has been a big influence on you.
Dixon: Ian’s always been an inspiration as far as being a Black business owner, showing me ways of connecting with people and being open and introducing myself, not just being this shy kid from North Carolina.
D'Wayne says people should have a quote that they live by. What’s yours?
Dixon: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” That’s by Jackie Robinson.
CNSTNT DVLPMNT
What: A Portland company with a mission to “cultivate untapped talent and expand the creative community.”
The team: Chris Dixon, creative director; Jade Dixon, color specialist; Melvin Melchor, design director.
The news: Last week published a sneaker sketchbook that’s part comic book, part introduction to the footwear business.
Cost: $28
Website: cnstntdvlpmnt.com
Hoop dreams: Dixon played college basketball at Harding University. He’s also a former winner of the World Sneaker Championship, a sneaker design contest.
