By Olga Stella, Executive Director, Design Core Detroit

Neighborhood commercial design is at the forefront of driving inclusive growth in urban markets, Detroit being a prime example. Thanks to the tremendous entrepreneurial energy over the past ten years, new businesses are successfully opening not only in downtown, but also in nearby neighborhoods (such as Detroit neighborhoods like Livernois, West Vernor, Kercheval and many more). Entrepreneurs are creating destinations that invite residents and visitors alike to spend time and money in these neighborhoods.

New storefronts, signage, and customer experiences are adding to the character of these neighborhoods. Every design decision signals something about a business, the service it hopes to offer, and who is welcome. What can these investments say about Detroit?

 

Trumbull and Porter Hotel in Corktown, Detroit (Photo credit: Patrick Thompson Design)

As the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit has looked to its sister city, Montreal, Canada, for inspiration. More than 20 years ago, Montréal recognized that businesses often are the first place residents and visitors experience design in a city. A delegation from Detroit visited Montreal in June 2017 to learn best practices. Key takeaways:

1. Thoughtful design gives businesses a competitive edge. From Instagram-worthy visual elements to layouts that improve service, design is good business. It creates the personality of a place that sets it apart and makes it a destination.
2. Good design doesn’t have to break the bank. You can create the right solution for the specific space by being thoughtful about materials, color, lighting, greenery, and other details. Upcycled and reused materials can be an option.
3. Design can make difficult spaces more functional. Natural light wells make basement spaces usable; public outdoor spaces can extend cramped storefronts with bike racks and seating. Cavernous historic bank lobbies are made intimate through partitions and close seating.

These lessons have relevance in Detroit. After years of commercial disinvestment, foot traffic is low in many Detroit neighborhoods. Many entrepreneurs, especially first time business owners, are cash-strapped and concerned whether they can afford good design. Additionally, few existing neighborhood spaces are clean white boxes. They call for inventive but cost effective layouts.

Simply Casual, Livernois Avenue of Fashion, Detroit (photo credit: Michael K. Farkas Jr)

Design Core has developed the Design Guide for Neighborhood Business to help small business owners understand the value of design and the fundamentals of working with a designer. Later this spring and summer, we will be hosting workshops for small business owners on the four key subjects in the Design Guide. We are working closely with nonprofit organizations that support entrepreneurs to help them counsel their clients on the value of design. Business by business, we can replicate Montreal’s success and ensure Detroit’s unique local culture is preserved in our city’s commercial revitalization.

 

Manitoba, MileX neighborhood in Montreal (Photo credit: Charlie Klecha)

In addition, we are working closely with the Bureau du Design in Montreal to bring their Commerce Design competition to Detroit this year. The competition encourages local merchants, restaurants, and storefronts to work with design professionals in developing their business and physical space. It has not only generated attractive business opportunities for young architects and designers, but also demonstrated the direct benefits of design to businesses and the neighborhoods they call home. The competition has been so successful over the last twenty years, it has been licensed to 14 cities worldwide and now will take place in Detroit as well.

Design Core believes that by uplifting and celebrating great commercial design, regardless of business size or budget, we can build a culture that values design. Each year’s Commerce Design award winners will be a new set of business ambassadors for design in Detroit.

Stay tuned in April for more information about the Commerce Design: Detroit awards on designcore.org. Join us on May 10 for a special Drinks x Design event focused on commercial design. Follow us on social media @designcoredet for event information and updates.

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Olga Stella has worked to advance Detroit community and economic development for almost 20 years, directly facilitating over $200 million of investment in the city of Detroit. As executive director of Design Core Detroit, she brings her economic development, policy and coalition building skills to a new challenge – positioning Detroit as a global source of creative talent.