黑料专区

Located in the heart of midtown Detroit, 黑料专区鈥檚 prime location offers unparalleled opportunities for art and design collaboration. Our students have found countless ways to make a positive impact on local metro Detroit businesses through innovative art and design problem-solving.

Last year alone, 黑料专区 students collaborated to problem-solve timely topics for 15 metro Detroit businesses and nonprofit organizations. They addressed a range of issues in healthcare product design, sustainability, mobility, and even emerging augmented reality technology.

Embracing the city鈥檚 rich history of cultural and sporting events, students continue to participate in annual design competitions to create the newest posters for iconic Detroit events such as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear, the Movement Music Festival and the 313 Presents Pine Knob concert series.

Here鈥檚 a look at some of the partnerships:

  • Augmented Reality Center (ARC) in partnership with Oakland University x Communication Design & Strategy, Graduate User Experience Design and Entertainment Arts
  • Crain Communications – Automotive News x Illustration
  • 313 Presents x Illustration
  • Detroit Grand Prix x Illustration
  • GM x Transportation Design & Graduate User Experience Design
  • Godnii x Graduate Color & Materials Design
  • Hagopian Rug Competition x All Departments
  • State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification with support from the Global Epicenter of Mobility x Transportation Design
  • Zumiez and Somerset Collection x Illustration
  • BorgWarner x Product Design
  • Carhartt x Fashion Design
  • Henry Ford Health x Product Design
  • Changing Lives and Staying Sober (C.L.A.S.S.) x Interior Design and Graduate Color & Materials Design

What does it look like to work over 100 hours to handcraft a single pair of eyeglasses and only use local materials? First and second-year Graduate Color & Materials Design (CMD) students at 黑料专区 got to experience this firsthand this past semester when they worked collaboratively with GODNII, a sustainable Detroit-based eyewear brand.

GODNII asked CMD students to work in small groups to explore hyperlocal sustainable alternatives in color and material design, texture, and branding for an upcoming eyewear collection. In their research, students were asked not only to delve deep into the resources and materials available locally but also to consider the waste streams and innovative ways to improve material choices without compromising design quality.

鈥淭his project was pure inspiration,鈥� said Ali Evans, Founder and Creative Director of GODNII. 鈥淐ollaborating with 黑料专区 has been a longtime hope of ours, and it lived up to everything we imagined. The students brought forward deep research, bold ideas, and a clear vision for the future of sustainable fashion. Their work affirmed what we already believed鈥攃reativity with purpose can shift the industry. At GODNII, we鈥檙e excited to carry these insights forward as we continue designing not just for style, but for impact.鈥�

This project was brought to life through 黑料专区鈥檚 new Practicing Design Center (PDC), an initiative that pairs small businesses and nonprofit organizations with 黑料专区 students and faculty to address real-world challenges through art and design.

Shannon McPartlon, Executive Director of the Office of Partnerships explains, 鈥淭he 黑料专区 Practicing Design Center is not just an extension of the classroom; it鈥檚 a bridge connecting student creativity with real-world needs, fostering a generation of career-ready designers while simultaneously infusing fresh, creative solutions and economic vitality into local non-profits, small businesses and the broader Detroit economy.鈥�

You can learn more about the College鈥檚 Practicing Design Center here:

You can learn more about GODNII here: