Attending college just 20 minutes outside the city, in a design program, one would think I would have been integrated into any sort of design culture that exists in Detroit. But, the design community that exists within this city has been on of my best discoveries since graduating a year ago. I’ve found a number of organizations providing platforms for designers and creatives to connect, and to so in creative and engaging spaces, around topics that interest us. For a creative in the Detroit region, one mustn’t look to far to find a place to collaborate with other creatives.
The Detroit Design Festival – DDF (detroitdesignfestival.com) – established by the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, the goal of DDF is to connect creatives to one another, introduce them to new markets and consumers, and expose Detroit’s creative talent and collective design aesthetic to national and global audiences.
Drinks X Design (http://www.detroitcreativecorridorcenter.com/programs/drinks-x-design/) – a monthly open studio that opens the doors to unique atmospheres for attendees to experience, explore, and build the relationships that lead to employment, community, and ultimately establishes Detroit as a center for design and creative innovation.
AIA Detroit (http://www.aiadetroit.com/) – The American Institute of Architects is an organization focused around public advocacy, education, and fellowship around all this architecture. The AIA is a national organization, but AIA Detroit is a local chapter focused specifically on the greater Detroit region.
Architecture for Humanity Detroit (AFH)( http://detroit.architectureforhumanity.org/) – Much like the AIA, Architecture for Humanity is a national organization with a local chapter. Its a volunteer non-profit organization set up to promote architecture and design to seek solutions to global social and humanitarian crisis.
These four platforms are only a few of many platforms Detroit has for creatives to connect with each other and explore design opportunities within the city. Outside of these organizations, and others, there are a number of individual events held weekly that attract a number of design professionals from several fields. I have a number of awesome experiences through the organization, through which I’ve got to see new spaces in the city and meet like minded people. Detroit truly has a great creative atmosphere, and I’ve enjoyed becoming apart of it.