Applying “Design Thinking” to your evangelism strategies will stimulate your creativity and make you more effective at contextualizing the Good News. Wilson Smith, one of Nike’s top design thinkers, shares at the Connect PDX conference how to bring design thinking principles into your evangelism to make you more effective in any situation whether at a coffee shop or in an outreach campaign in Peru!
Wilson W. Smith III is a Senior Designer and Nike DNA Design Specialist. During his 36-year tenure at Nike, Smith worked on projects that run the gamut of the design profession—retail, graphics, architecture, footwear, experience and apparel—and designed and developed product for some of the greatest athletes in Nike’s history, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Andre’ Agassi, Roger Federer.
In addition, Wilson is a Professor in Product Design at U of O, where his studio focus is Adaptive Design Enabling Para Athletic Performance.
He also co-teaches Intro to Product Design in the UO Sports Product Management graduate program. Wilson is the recipient of 2018 Ellis F. Lawrence Medal from the College of Design for distinguished alumnus.
What truly defines Wilson is his incredible passion around coaching, teaching, and giving back. Wilson’s commitment to the next generation of designers and the power of design to positively impact the world has created a presence and legacy that expands beyond his designs at Nike. He was honored in 2019 with the Jan Ernst Matzeliger Award, being the first African American designer in the footwear industry, and with Nike’s inaugural Design Achievement Award.
Wilson is also a worship leader at SouthLake Church, West Linn, Oregon.
