Design

Macomb Children’s Hands-On Museum moves forward

By Newsroom

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April 25, 2013

With architectural plans drawn up and the first round of fundraising done, the Macomb Children's Hands-On Museum is closer to opening its doors. The target date for opening what would be Macomb County's first children's museum -- and a metro Detroit region tourist attraction -- is early 2015, in Mount Clemens. The project was announced in 2010 and has the support of benefactors Gebran and Suzanne Anton, who donated a two-story downtown building with a rooftop garden and parking. During a fundraising phase that lasted a little more than a year, nearly $60,000 was raised, almost $20,000 more than the target. As much as $14 million will be needed to build and open it. Virginia Beach Architects iN Design completed a proposed design. The project leader is William Greaves, who brings a record of designing children's museums and creative art centers around the U.S. "As Macomb County looks to educate its children, attract and retain an educated workforce, and promote travel and tourism," says Monika Rittner, a board member for the proposed museum, "the establishment of the Macomb Children’s Hands-On Museum is a must for the region to remain competitive in the 21st century." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Arthur Mullen, spokesperson, and Monika Rittner, board member, Macomb Children's Hands-On Museum

Latest in Design

Walking The Talk: ISCG Creates Its Own Inspired Workplace

By Kim North Shine

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General

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March 7, 2013

ISCG in Royal Oak has long been designing workplaces for clients with an eye toward rehabilitation and re-use. Last year the firm put its money where its mouth was and became its own client. The building? The discarded Royal Radio building on Main Street. The results speak for themselves.

Hunch Free digital marketing firm expands in downtown Mount Clemens

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 7, 2013

Hunch Free Digital Marketing has outgrown its downtown Mount Clemens office and is moving into a prominent downtown building that will give the company an office with a funky feel in collaborative work space, while bringing the city a revived historic building. The firm will occupy the second floor of an early-1800s former law firm at 25 North Main St., a throwback of an office with burnt orange carpeting, built-in shelves of dusty law books. Hunch Free founder and president Jimmy Gwizdala is renovating the building and is excited about the prospects of incorporating the throwback style with sleek, modern additions. He is following the Repurposing Detroit movement in the renovation, reusing whenever possible as he knocks down walls and more. The renovations are expected to be complete within six months as Hunch Free continues to add to its client base and hire employees. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Jimmy Gwizdala, founder and president, Hunch Free Digital Marketing

Designer Genes: The McGowen Brothers

By Kim North Shine

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General

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January 17, 2013

Homecoming isn't just an event for Rochester's McGowen brothers, it's a philosophy. Over four generations, the family has made their home furnishings and interior design business a place where locals always felt welcome. Returning from stints in L.A., siblings Jonathan and David have decided to pick up the family legacy, opening shops across the street from one another.

Pulse Design Studio expands office in Waterford

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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December 6, 2012

Pulse Design Studio's business of guiding companies through the process of creating meaningful and memorable powerpoint presentations and other visual and graphic communications is growing so much the company is renovating an office in Waterford and adding to its staff. The interior design of the new office will focus on ways to bring the creative minds employed at Pulse together in collaborative workspace. The exterior is contemporary and speaks to the company's focus on the latest technology in graphic design. Tany Nagy, a Lawrence Technological University graduate, started the company in 2009 and has worked on projects locally and outside the state. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Tany Nagy, founder, Pulse Design Studio

Illuminating Concepts leverages global work for 10 new hires

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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November 1, 2012

When the amount of work in the U.S. began to contract a few years ago with the onset of the recession, Illuminating Concepts reached overseas to fill the gap. The Farmington Hills-based company that specializes in architectural lighting has buffeted its bottom line with work in the hospitality and gaming industries abroad in recent years. "The casino industry in particular has expanded into southern Europe and Asia," says Ron Harwood, CEO of Illuminating Concepts. "That has added volume and a lot of creative work." It has also allowed Illuminating Concepts to continue to grow its staff. The 30-year-old company now employs 60 people and a handful of interns after it hired 10 people over the last year. Those hire were in people in multi-media, software and electronic specialties. Illuminating Concepts also sees significant promise in its Intellistreets product. Intellistreets gives municipalities wireless control of its streetlights and signage, which should allow it control digital signage, the level of street lighting and help direct traffic through streetlights in emergencies. Harwood points out it would have been useful during Hurricane Sandy but could be utilized in the next U.S. disaster. "It (Intellistreets) will be deployed in at least five of the 10 major cities in the U.S.," Harwood says. Source: Ron Harwood, CEO of Illuminating Concepts Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Guest Blogger: Megan O’Connell

By Megan O'Connell

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Arts & Culture

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October 11, 2012

In an economy increasingly tilted towards service businesses, it's Detroit's artisans who are leaving a tangible imprint on the city's culture. Megan O'Connell, founder of Salt & Cedar Letterpress, writes about the unconventional funding of her press, mapping objects and stories, and the press as a cultural cache.

Popular Mechanics gazes into crystal ball, sees an amazing 2025 Detroit

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 4, 2012

You have to like an article that starts with "Detroit's comeback is not only inevitable, it's already underway." Makes you want to read more doesn't it? It's view of water and landscape is the stuff that dreams are made of. Excerpt: "Reemerging waterways and feral forests claim land left open by sharp population decline. Detroit goes green with planning that takes advantage of the city's unique ecology." Read the rest here.

Alpha USA adds 10 new engineers, techs in Livonia

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 4, 2012

Alpha USA got its start in 1957 as a manufacturer of washers. Not the kind of washers that clean things but the kind that help tighten bolts. The Livonia-based company made billions of washers for decades and did well. About a decade ago, Alpha USA saw the shift of its bread-and-butter market to places outside of the U.S. and decided to change with the times. The company has evolved into an engineering firm that handles everything from design to product development to light manufacturing for a wide variety of customers. It holds a dozen patents, which it showcases to potential customers to drum up new businesses creating innovative products. "It's a great business model," says Charles Dardas, president & COO of Alpha USA. That has allowed Alpha USA, a veteran-owned company, to hire 10 people over the last year. Those new jobs are for engineering and technician positions. The company has taken advantage of the deep hiring pool in Metro Detroit, hiring a number of experienced workers that have helped fatten the company's bottom line. "There were a lot of people who had quite a few years of something good to offer," Dardas says. "We saw that as great opportunity." Source: Charles Dardas, president & COO of Alpha USA Writer: Jon Zemke

Commerce couple grows family biz, California Closets

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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September 27, 2012

Sheilah and Ray Markham have been married for 30 years and been in business together for 25 years, raising three kids in Metro Detroit in the process. In that time, the Markham's have built up their business, California Closets to the point where, as Sheilah puts it, "business is really our family." "Our business is our baby," Sheilah says. "We don't separate. We talk about it 24/7." That baby has grown. The company now has showrooms in Birmingham and Commerce Township, where it also has it manufacturing facility. The firm employs 25 people after hiring five this year and up from just 10 at the height of the last recession. California Closets creates closet systems and shelving, utilizing contemporary design and an ergonomic use of space. The Markhams are looking at upping the business' revenue to $3 million over the next year and penetrating the Ann Arbor area. Source: Sheilah Markham, co-owner of California Closets in Michigan Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.