Senior Footwear Designer & Creative Director with 20+ years of global experience designing and engineering world-class products for industry leaders including Converse, Li Ning, Adidas, and Anta Sports. Expert at leading design initiatives from concept through production, delivering innovative, market-relevant footwear across multiple categories while managing complex projects under tight timelines. Adept at cultivating strong partnerships with international manufacturing teams to ensure quality and timely delivery. Known for fostering collaborative, high-performing teams, mentoring designers, and creating consumer-driven products that blend functional performance with refined aesthetic detail.
Work Experience
Anta Sports [April 2019 to May 2025] – Xiamen, China
Footwear Design Director, Basketball/Innovation
- Led a team of footwear designers in the creation and execution of performance product for NBA players and China’s growing basketball market.
- Worked cross-functionally with product marketing and development to create a product architecture and corresponding design language that communicates the brand’s principle and performance benefits.
- Participated in marketing campaigns to enrich the storytelling of product details from functional benefits to material innovation.
- Collaborated with outside vendors and suppliers to discover and develop new materials, processes and constructions for various categories including kids, performance and lifestyle.
- Learned Mandarin to better communicate with colleagues and interpret messaging for brand ambassadors.
TESH Sports [11/2015 – 01/2017] – Oakland, CA
Senior Footwear Designer
- Owned the creative roadmap for basketball, training, and cleated footwear categories, setting vision and driving product direction to ensure market relevance, innovation, and profitability.
- Cultivated high-performing relationships with overseas manufacturing leadership, aligning global teams around quality standards, cost targets, and speed-to-market objectives.
- Influenced cross-functional decision-making through strategic presentations, clear communication, and disciplined deadline leadership across complex development cycles.
Duane A Lawrence [08/2011 – 04/2015] – Portland, OR
Footwear Design Consultant
- Designed top-selling product in emerging Chinese market for Li Ning Basketball and their Dwyane Wade signature series.
- Designed and launched a full footwear product line from concept to production, leveraging trend analysis and time management to meet market expectations and secure approval from factory partners in China.
- Led end-to-end brand creation—including naming, logo development, packaging, and apparel design—applying creative direction and cross-functional coordination to establish a cohesive and recognizable identity.
- Managed international manufacturing communication to ensure on-time delivery and quality execution, utilizing clear project management and cultural fluency throughout China-based development travel.
- Directed a team of designers and content creators to produce promotional reels, sales presentations, and web assets, strengthening brand presence and refining leadership and presentation skills in high-stakes sales meetings.
Adidas [03/2010 – 05/2011] – Portland, OR
Footwear Designer
- Designed signature product for marquee athletes including Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, and Chauncey Billups, strengthening brand–athlete relationships through tailored storytelling and professionalism.
- Drove commercial success within Adidas Basketball’s price-point category by strategically elevating lower-tier product aesthetics without compromising cost targets.
- Quickly mastered new design systems and development processes, leveraging adaptability and pricing knowledge to improve cross-team efficiency from season one.
Li-Ning USA [01/2009 – 02/2010] – Portland, OR
Sr. Footwear Designer
- Generated design concepts across basketball, running, and training categories, using advanced 2D sketching and rendering skills to communicate innovation with clarity and impact.
- Delivered compelling product narratives for both premium and price-point lines, elevating perceived value while aligning with commercial goals.
- Strengthened athlete–brand relationships through professional collaboration and design execution tailored to individual performance needs and personal identities.
Converse [07/2004 – 12/2008] – Portland, OR
Designer (Lead Designer for Wade Signature)
- Conceptualized basketball and sports lifestyle footwear, translating product stories into high-impact designs for both premium and price-point offerings using advanced 2D sketching and rendering.
- Collaborated closely with professional athletes, including Dwyane Wade, to develop signature lines that elevated brand relevance and drove consumer engagement.
- Delivered record-breaking product launches, including the Wade 1 line (1M+ pairs sold) andShowtime/099 lines (500K+ pairs sold), reinforcing Converse’s presence in both performance and accessible markets.
Nike [Summer 2003] – Portland, OR
Adrenaline Intern, Footwear
- Rotation through categories resulted in design of Alate mule. Mentorship under the industry’s leading design team knowledge from different aspects of the business.
Miami HEAT [1999-2001 Seasons] – Miami, FL
Team Attendant (Ballboy)
Special Skills
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
2D Sketching and Rendering
Vizcom.ai
Production-ready Technical Drawing
Mandarin [Intermediate – Level 4]
Microsoft Office
WordPress
Education
College for Creative Studies – Detroit, MI
BFA in Industrial Design
Graduated: May 2004
Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) – Miami, FL
Graduated: 2000
Interests
Sports Fitness & Entertainment
Songwriting & Music Production
Travel & Adventure
Community Outreach
Achievements
2009 DASH Creative Minds Award
Red Dot 2025 Best of the Best
Design Award: Children & Babies
https://www.red-dot.org/de/project/juicyflex-83524
2025 Muse Award
Antagami-Ori
https://design.museaward.com/winner-info.php?id=31195
Publications
Cool Careers: Duane Lawrence
June 2024 | In a series of videos designed to teach and inform students about nontraditional career paths, DuaneLawrence speaks on how footwear design is related to science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Watch here.
CNN Philippines
August 2023 | Duane Lawrence, Design Director for Anta Basketball joins CNN Philippines in Manila to discuss the upcoming signature shoe for Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.
Watch here.
Warriors All Access | KT9 China Tour
The love for the game in China is unmatched. In the Summer of 2023, Klay Thompson & Kevon Looney toured the country and saw firsthand the nation’s passion for hoops. Watch here.
NowViz Magazine | 2023
Page 34 | https://issuu.com/nowvizezine/docs/nowviz_020?fr=xKAE9_wAAAA
NowViz Magazine | 2022
Page 58 | https://issuu.com/nowvizezine/docs/nowviz_012_more_
See more publications here.
