Kinston graduate takes home Target's top prize in design competition

For Black History Month in 2021, Target launched an HBCU Design Challenge in May of 2020 to help create a deeper connection with their guests and their communities.

Kinston native KeShawn Sanders, a graduate of Kinston High School in 2016, recently graduated from NC A&T with a degree in graphic design. He submitted his design and was told on July 1st that he was a finalist. Last week, on July 20th, he was told that he won.

Sanders joins three others in winning first place. They will each receive $1,500, an Apple MacBook Pro 16”, a two year membership to Adobe Creative Cloud, exclusive 1-hour consultation with Target senior design leaders and the possibility of having their winning design included in the Target Black History Month product assortment for sale in 2021. Their story will be featured in Target’s online Black History Month marketing program.

“It’s a very humbling experience,” said Sanders. “It’s overwhelming to think that my design will be used by Target.”

The challenge was designed to embrace the roots of Black History Month in celebration of Black History. Participants were asked to recognize the history or past achievements of African Americans. The designs should bring joy to all families, be inclusive for adults and/or children, and must be original without any existing copyrights or intellectual property ownership.

Entries submitted to the HBCU Design Challenge were reviewed by a company-wide cross-functional team. The team looked for design solutions that met certain criteria including aesthetics, creativity, articulation, positive impact, and the ability to be sold commercially in Target and online.

“It was about providing black and brown people an opportunity to take pride in who they are and not readjusting to the pressures they face. We are black and that’s a beautiful thing,” said Sanders.

Target is joined by many retailers in celebrating Black History Month, a nationally recognized event that takes place in February.

“That it was ultimately for us, for black people, embrace it, this is for you,” said Sanders, “No one can take it from you.”