Detroit: An Address that Matters

The DC3 team is her to help you locate your creative sector business and/or expand the operations of your creative sector business in Detroit.  Working with local leadership, we develop specialized outreach programs that present compelling business cases for creative sector businesses interested in locating or expanding their commercial operations to the city or investing in its creative sector. We reinforce this activity through a series of engaging and high-profile events — such as, Detroit Design Festival and Drinks X Design — which showcase Detroit’s creative community and connects them to new opportunities for growth.

Detroit Talent: Promoted Worldwide

The DC3 connects Detroit's creative talent to global markets, advocate for policies and programs that support the local design and manufacturing of consumer products, and promote Detroit’s design and creative talent through a series of high-profile programs.   Once a year, we globally showcase the work of Detroit’s creative community at the Detroit Design Festival (DDF). Through the program, the work of hundreds of designers and creative practitioners from the region are introduced to new markets and consumers. In addition, we produce online tools and open studios, workshops and discussions intended to advance the skills and reach of Detroit’s designers and creative practitioners throughout the year.

Connecting national brands and campaigns to Detroit's creators and innovators

Bedrock Brands approached DC3 to assist them in the launch of their consumer products brand, Shinola, whose mission is to design, develop and manufacture innovative and compelling lifestyle products in Detroit. During the engagement, DC3 assisted in identifying and engaging designers, manufacturers, marketers and distributors, both local and national, and partners to aid in Shinola’s mission. In addition to identifying production and retail housing for their operations, DC3 also participated in developing marketing and distribution strategies for their eventual launch. Shinola scheduled their product launch in the latter part of 2012.