2017 CFDA x Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award: Erika Tompkins

In 2016, Kenneth Cole and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) partnered to create the Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award to inspire design leadership. The latest recipient of the 2017/18 award, Erika Tompkins, was given a year-long placement at Kenneth Cole Productions, where she worked rotationally with multiple departments to gain a full understanding of the life cycle of a product. Mentored by Kenneth Cole and his team, Erika was encouraged to explore the power of design to create value in society. The culmination of her fellowship was the design, development, and presentation of a researched project.