DETROIT MAKERS

CARLI WERTHMANN SENIOR CAPSTONE 2014

BSID UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

CARLI WERTHMANN

WE ARE A COLLECTION OF DESIGNERS WITH AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THE

PROCESS OF MAKING.

WE STRIVE TO FACILITATE GROWTH IN THE DESIGN COMMUNITY OF DETROIT, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A SOCIALLY AND

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS MODEL. IN DOING THIS, THE HOPE IS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

ON THE ARTISIAN CULTURE OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.

WE OPERATE AS BOTH A SLOW PROCESS FASHION DESIGN WORKSHOP AND A GALLERY EVENT SPACE IN THE

CITY OF DETROIT. WE PROVIDE A CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR LOCAL FASHION DESIGNERS TO

CONCEIVE AND EXECUTE FRESH AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN IDEAS.

THE PEOPLE.

CURRENTLY WORKS OUT OF HER APARTMENT MAKING

ONE-OFF PIECES FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

EMILY THORNHILL, AGE 26

CURRENTLY WORKS OUT OF HER APARTMENT MAKING

ONE-OFF PIECES FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

RESIDES IN MIDTOWN DETROIT, BUT IS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO A

LOFT CENTRALLY LOCATED A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE ACTION

FIND HER VOLUNTEERING HER TIME FOR HOUSING

REHAB PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY

LOVES TO DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY TO

DETROIT’S BEST DJS

SELF PROCLAIMED PHOTOSHOP WIZARD/

FINE ARTIST

FASHIONISTA CURRENTLY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER LOCAL

DESIGNERS TO CREATE A LINE OF DEVINE HANDMADE FROCKS

GLUTEN/DAIRY FREE FOOD FAIRY

DIY ENTHUSIAST ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY TO CREATE

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

LAUREN RASSEL, AGE 29

CHRISTEN MORRIS, AGE 31

ASPIRING FASHION DESIGNER WHO’S NEXT GOAL IS TO

OPEN A POP-UP SHOP IN GREEKTOWN

OWNS THREE FRENCH BULLOGS

BEST KNOWN FOR HIS INNOVATION IN POLITICALLY

CHARGED GRAPHIC TEES

AVID BELIEVER IN FUSING FASHION AND ART

TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY THROUGH HAND PAINTED

AND PRINTED TEXTILES

AJOONI SETHI, AGE 24

» “THE PEOPLE ARE HARDWORKING, INSPIRING, CREATIVE.”

» DETROIT'S UNIQUE-NESS:

“PEOPLE IN DETROIT HAVE A WIDER UNDERSTANDING OF

NATIONAL (AND GLOBAL) SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES,

HAVING SEEN THE AFTERMATH.”

» “THEY HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR WHAT IT CAN BECOME;

DETROITERS ARE FIGHTERS AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS.”

» “I LOVE DETROIT'S LACK OF FRILLS. YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR

THE IMPACT YOU MAKE, NOT FOR YOUR OWN CAREER GOALS,

BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.”

DYLAN BOX, AGE 23

» “THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS STARTED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, SO

DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THERE’S LIKELY A PROJECT OR AREA

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN.”

» DESIGNER AND FRONT-END DEVELOPER AT STIK.COM

» HIGHLY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES ,

INCLUDING WEDGE DETROIT

» “I LIKE THE CITY BECAUSE I LIKE THE PEOPLE. YOU’RE GOING TO

FIND GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND YOU’LL WANT TO KEEP

COMING BACK TO WORK WITH THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN.”

» “IT’S DEFINITELY THE SMALLEST BIG CITY. I CONSTANTLY RUN

INTO PEOPLE I KNOW WHILE OUT AND ABOUT, AND IT FEELS

LIKE ONE BIG EXTENDED COMMUNITY.”

JUDITH ADAMS, AGE 63

» “YOU HAVE TO GIVE THIS CITY A CHANCE. SPEND SOME TIME HERE

AND MEET IT’S PEOPLE. I PROMISE YOU WILL NO LONGER SPEAK

SO NEGATIVELY OF IT.“

» LIFELONG DETROITIAN AND ONE OF THE CITY’S BIGGEST

CHEERLEADERS

» LEADS A SMALL KNITTING CIRCLE IN MIDTOWN ONCE A

WEEK WITH FELLOW MAKERS

» “WATCHING DETROIT’S DECLINE AND GRADUAL COMBACK GIVES

ME APPRECIATION FOR WHAT MAKES A SOLID CITY.”

» “I AM INSPIRED BY THE AMOUNT OF TOGETHERNESS THIS

STRUGGLE HAS PUSHED US TOWARD.”

THE CONTEXT.

midtown

OPTION 3

OPTION 4

SITE 2517 RUSSELL ST.

EASTERN FARMER’SMARKET

DETROIT MERCHANTILE CO.

“IN A COUNTRY STILL TRENDING TOWARDS SUBURBAN SPRAWL, ONE OF THE MOST DEFIANT EXAMPLES OF A RESURGENT URBAN CORE IS THE CITY OF DETROIT.” -PAUL BESHOURI

midtown

OPTION 3

OPTION 4

SITE 2517 RUSSELL ST.

EASTERN FARMER’SMARKET

DETROIT MERCHANTILE CO.

2517 RUSSELL STEASTERN MARKET DISTRICT

» ADJACENT TO OPEN AIR FARMER’S MARKET SELLING FRESH PRODUCE AND HANDMADE GOODS

» CENTRALLY LOCATED WITHIN IT’S DISTRICT

» AREA IS SPROUTING AN ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT EATERIES, COFFEE SHOPS, AND BOUTIQUES

» DRAWS A LARGE, DIVERSE GATHERING ON WEEKENDS

» LOCALS HAVE A GENUINE CURIOSITY AND APPRECIATION FOR HAND CRAFT AND LOCAL SOURCING.

» FACILITATES SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH

WHY HERE?

SLOW PROCESS

THE BRAND.

BOLD COLOR PALLETE

STRONG TYPEFACE

DETROIT MAKERS

DETROIT MAKERSDETROIT MAKERS

KEEPING THE BRAND IDENTITY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD, THE

AESTHETIC EMBODIES THE NATURE OF THE CITY AND IT’S PEOPLE.

COMBINING INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS WITH A SOFT, TEXTURAL QUALITY

EVOKES THE IDEA OF RETHINKING HOW THE MAKERS OF DETROIT

OPERATE, WHILE CELEBRATING WHAT CAME BEFORE THEM.

TEXTURAL QUALITY

SIMPLE SILHOUETTE

DETROIT MAKERS“YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.” “YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN

CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.”

in the face of hardship or danger

IS THE

WITH THIS, WE WILL SURVIVE. -AJOONI SETHI, DETROITER

Detroit Makers

DETROIT MAKERS“YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.” “YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN

CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.”

in the face of hardship or danger

IS THE

WITH THIS, WE WILL SURVIVE. -AJOONI SETHI, DETROITER

Detroit Makers

DETROIT MAKERS“YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.” “YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN

CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.” WITH THIS, WE WILL SURVIVE. -AJOONI SETHI, DETROITER

Detroit Makers

DETROIT MAKERS“YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.” “YOU ARE RESPECTED FOR THE IMPACT YOU MAKE; NOT FOR YOUR OWN

CAREER GOALS, BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.”

in the face of hardship or danger

IS THE

WITH THIS, WE WILL SURVIVE. -AJOONI SETHI, DETROITER

Detroit Makers

: creating a voice

MARKETING STRATEGY

ONE OBJECTIVE OF THE DETROIT MAKERS PROJECT IS TO STIR UP

INSPIRATION AND INSTILL PRIDE IN WHAT THIS COMMUNITY STANDS

FOR. THIS SERIES OF MARKETING-DRIVEN POSTERS IS MEANT

TO NOT ONLY GIVE DETROIT PRIDE, BUT TO SHARE IT WITH THE

OUTSIDERS , WITH THE NAY-SAYERS, AND THE CHEERLEADERS. THE

IDENTITY OF THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE REINVENTED. IT SHOULD BE

CELEBRATED.

THE DESIGN.

GRIT AND GLITTER

DETROIT ROOTS

dyeingworkshop

LOUNGE

designerstudio

FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

SPATIAL PROGRAM

gallery/EVENT SPACE

designerstudio

THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR

THINK VERTICALLY :WHILE THE PROGRAM OF THE BUILDING IS SEPARATED AMONG FLOORPLATES, A SERIES OF VERTICAL ELEMENTS

THROUGHOUT THE SPACE CREATES A VISUAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THEM. THE SPATIAL SEQUENCE IS NARRATED

THROUGH A SERIES OF VIEWS, TELLING THE STORY OF THE BUILDING AND IT’S FUNCTION. UPON ENTERING, THE

VISITOR CAN IMMEDIATELY FIND HINTS OF THE DESIGN PROCESS BY LOOKING INTO THE DYEING AREA AND UP

INTO THE DESIGNERS’ STUDIOS. THE THIRD FLOOR GALLERY IS TUCKED BETWEEN STUDIO SPACES, AND IS HINTED

AT WITH GLIMPSES OF THE UNDULATING FABRIC CASCADING FROM THE CEILING PLANE.

ONE’S EYE IS DRAWN UP TO THE GALLERY SPACE BY THE VERTICAL CONTINUITY OF THE DETROIT STREET GRID

WRAPPING THE CENTRAL CIRCULATION CORE. BEYOND THE CORE, A FOUR STORY DRYING SPACE SUSPENDS LONG

BOLTS OF FRESHLY DYED FABRIC WAITING TO BE SCULPTED INTO ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTIONS.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCE

CONSUMER EXPERIENCECONSUMER EXPERIENCE: thoughtful sequencing

GARMENT REQUESTGALLERY SHOW

CONSUMER SEQUENCE :

FIT AND MEASURE THOUGHTFUL PACKAGING

LOOK UPINITIAL VIEWS UPON ENTRY PLAY WITH SCALE, TEXTURE, AND VERTICALITY.

NIGHTTIME GALLERY GOERS ARE SUBMERSED IN A SPACE EVOKING THE

NATURE OF DETROIT AND THE ART OF MAKING.

THE VERTICAL DISPLAY OF MANNIQUINS IS DESIGNED IN A REPETITIOUS

MANNER AS A NOD TO DETROIT’S LARGE-SCALE MANUFACTURING HISTORY.

THE BUSTS ARE WRAPPED IN A TEXTURAL LINEN AND ARE SELECTIVELY

ADORNED IN PIECES OF A FEATURED DESIGNER’S CURRENT COLLUECTION.

THIS CAN ALSO BE SEEN FROM THE STREET, MAKING THE PRODUCT OF THE

STUDIO ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE STAMPED METAL STREET GRID IS CENTRALLY LOCATED, REITERATING

THE RELEVANCE AND THE VALUE OF THE CITY IN THIS DESIGN INCUBATOR.

IMMERSE. ENVELOPE. ENGAGE.

THE GALLERY SERVES TO IMMERSE IT’S VISITORS INTO

A TACTILE, ETHEREAL SPACE THAT ALLOWS PHYSICAL

INTERACTION WITH THE PROCESS OF MAKING. TEXTILES OF

VARYING WEIGHTS AND TEXTURES UNDULATE FROM THE

CEILING PLANE IN A LAYERED COMPOSITON. THESE TEXTILES

ARE TREATED WITH A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES, ALLOWING

THE GALLERY GOERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE DESIGNER’S

WORK. FEATURED DESIGNERS’ COLLECTIONS HANG FROM THE

CEILING TRACK SYSTEM AND APPEAR WEIGHTLESS AMONG

THE LAYERED TEXTILE FORMS . GLIMPSES OF THE DRYING

TEXTILES SUSPENDED THROUGH EACH FLOORPLATE ALLOWS

FURTHER INSIGHT INTO THE DESIGNER’S PROCESS PRIOR TO

GARMENT CONSTRUCTION.

CONSUMER ENGAGEMENTUPON ORDERING A SPECIFIC GARMENT FROM THE COLLECTION, THE GUEST WILL BE

ASKED TO COME BACK TO BE MEASURED AND FITTED. THE ENTRY SPACE EVOLVES

FROM A HIGH IMPACT GALLERY INTRODUCTION TO A AN ENGAGING LOUNGE SPACE

FOR GUESTS WAITING TO MEET WITH THE DESIGNER. MATERIALS AND FORMS

TRANSLATE INTO LIGHT AND INVITING COMPOSITIONS THAT SUBTLY INFORM THE

CONSUMER OF THE CRAFT AND PROCESS OF THEIR GARMENT’S PRODUCTION.

THOUGHTFUL PACKAGINGONCE THE GARMENT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND FITTED TO THE CONSUMER, IT IS

DELIVERED IN A CAREFULLY CRAFTED, HANDMADE WOODEN BOX. NO DETAIL SPARED,

THE BOXES ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH ETCHED AND CARVED RECLAIMED HARDWOOD,

UPCYCLED LEATHER STRAPS, AND FINGER JOINT DETAILS. THE BOXES ARE PLACED

INTO A WALL OF MINIMAL SHELVING UNITS LOCATED ON THE BACK WALL OF THE

GALLERY WHERE THEY CAN BE PICKED UP BY GUESTS.

DESIGNER EXPERIENCE: customized workspace

COMFORTABLE MAKINGDESIGNER’S WORKSPACES ARE CUSTOMIZABLE AND COMFORTABLE. PIECES CAN BE

ATTACHED INTO THE CEILING TRACKS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE ANY DESIRED LEVEL

OF PRIVACY AND USABILITY. THESE PIECES INCLUDE SUSPENDED GARMENT STORAGE,

ADDITIONAL LIGHITNG, AND OPAQUE TEXTILES FOR PRIVACY PURPOSES. MATERIALS

IN THE STUDIO SPACES ARE WARM BUT MINIMAL IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE DESIGNER’S

AESTHETIC POINT OF VIEW TO SHINE.

DYE KNOWLEDGEWHILE MANY DESIGNERS MAY COME INTO THIS STUDIO WITH

EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF RESPONSIBLE MAKING PROCESSES, THIS

DYE LAB WILL AID IN INFORMING DESIGNERS OF DYE METHODS AND

ECOPRINT SOLUTIONS.

UPON ENTERING THE SPACE, DESIGNERS CAN SELECT NATURAL

DYESTUFFS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING AGENTS. IF THEY ARE IN NEED

OF SELECTION RECOMMENDATIONS OR SIMPLY WANT INSPRATION, A

HANGING INSTALLATION OF FABRIC PIECES FROM DIFFERENT DYE AND

ECOPRINT METHODS CAN BE FOUND IN THE SPACE AS WELL.

FRESHLY DYED FABRICS CAN BE DRAPED AND SUSPENDED USING A

SYSTEM OF HANGBARS THAT CAN BE RAISED INTO SPACES ABOVE

WITHIN THE VERTICAL DRY SHAFT.

APPENDICES

making

process

result

result

technical drawings

CORE ELEVATION1/4” SCALE

1

STEEL WARREN TRUSSING

STEEL REINFORCED X-BRACING TO WRAP ELEVATOR SHAFT

1” THICK FIRE RATED GLASS SURROUND ON ELEVATOR SHAFT

8” STRUCTURAL STEEL RECTANGULAR COLUMNS AT CORNERS OF ELEVATOR SHAFT

1” THICK RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME WELDED AT JOINTS TO ATTACH TO STAMPED METAL STREET GRID

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES. TURNED AND BOLTED INTO X-BRACING ON ELEVATOR SHAFT.

LED STRIP LIGHTING TRACK TO BE WELDED TO UNDERSIDE OF METAL PLATING.

STEEL WARREN TRUSSING

STEEL REINFORCED X-BRACING TO WRAP ELEVATOR SHAFT

1” THICK FIRE RATED GLASS SURROUND ON ELEVATOR SHAFT

8” STRUCTURAL STEEL RECTANGULAR COLUMNS AT CORNERS OF ELEVATOR SHAFT

2” STEEL BOLT, TO BE PAINTED TO MATCH OXIDIZED BRONZE FINISH OF METAL STREET GRID

2’-0” THICK CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB

CORE INNER STRUCTURE ELEVATION3/16” SCALE

2

STEEL WARREN TRUSSING

1” THICK RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME WELDED AT JOINTS TO ATTACH TO STAMPED METAL STREET GRID

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES. TURNED AND BOLTED INTO X-BRACING ON ELEVATOR SHAFT

RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME TO BE WELDED AT BASE TO CONNECT TO STAIRCASE

CORE GRID FRAME ELEVATION3/16” SCALE

3

GRID TO WRAP STAIRCASE ON THREE SIDES. CORNERS TO BE RETURNED INWARD TO AVOID HAZARDOUS EDGES

1/4” THICK METAL SHEETS WITH OXIDIZED BRONZE FINISH. STAMPED PATTERN OF STREET GRID

GRID TO BE ILLUMINATED FROM THE EXTERIOR USING LED STRIP LIGHTING AROUND THE PERIMETER

GRID TO BE ATTACHED TO STEEL STRUCTURAL FRAME USING 2” OCTAGONAL BOLTS. BOLTS TO BE FINISHED TO MATCH OXIDIZED BRONZE GRID

DETROIT STREET GRID ELEVATION1/8” SCALE

4

STEEL WARREN TRUSSING

LED STRIP LIGHTING TRACK TO BE WELDED TO UNDERSIDE OF METAL PLATING.

STEEL REINFORCED X-BRACING TO WRAP ELEVATOR SHAFT

1” THICK FIRE RATED GLASS SURROUND ON ELEVATOR SHAFT

8” STRUCTURAL STEEL RECTANGULAR COLUMNS AT CORNERS OF ELEVATOR SHAFT

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES. TURNED AND BOLTED INTO X-BRACING ON ELEVATOR SHAFT.

CORE SYSTEM SECTION1/8” SCALE

5

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES.

TURNED AND BOLTED INTO X-BRACING ON ELEVATOR SHAFT.

1” THICK RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME WELDED AT JOINTS TO ATTACH TO STAMPED METAL STREET GRID

WELDED 0’-4” METAL CHANNEL TO HOUSE LED STRIP LIGHTING

SHEET GRID AND STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME TO BE SEPARATED BY 5/8” SPACER

STREET GRID STRUCTURE DETAIL0’-3” = 1’-0

6STAIRCASE STRUCTURE DETAIL0’-3” = 1’-0

7

1” THICK RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME WELDED AT JOINTS TO ATTACH TO STAMPED METAL

STREET GRID

RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME TO BE WELDED TO FOLDED STEEL STAIRCASE.

FOLDED STEEL SHEET TO BE BOLTED INTO THE ELEVATOR CORE EXTERIOR BRACING

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES.

STREET GRID STRUCTURE AND STAIR DETAIL0’-1” = 1’-0

8

1” THICK RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME WELDED AT JOINTS TO ATTACH TO STAMPED METAL

STREET GRID

RECTANGULAR STEEL TUBING FRAME TO BE WELDED TO FOLDED STEEL STAIRCASE.

FOLDED STEEL SHEET TO BE BOLTED INTO THE ELEVATOR CORE EXTERIOR BRACING

STAIR TO BE 1” THICK STEEL BENT AT 90 DEGREES.

STREET GRID STRUCTURE AND STAIR DETAIL0’-1” = 1’-0

8

DETROIT

» amyoungdetroit.com/index.php/2011/09/emily-thornhill

» detroit.blogs.time.com/2009/11/11/detroit-lives

» detroitpop.com

» creativemorningsdetroit.tumblr.com

» theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/06/the-design-school-that-sold-me-on-detroits-future

» places.designobserver.com/slideshow/detroit-rephotography

» detroit.curbed.com/archives/categories/eastern_market

» reclaimingdetroit.org

» metrotimes.com/culture/culture-features/the-detroit-fashion-scene

» detroiteasternmarket.com

» innerstategallery.com

» huffingtonpost.com/news/detroit-impact

IMAGES

» lostandfoundindetroit.com

» retaildesignblog.com

» pinterest.com

» gettyimages.com

» flickr.com

» lamaisondannag.blogspot.com

» anjouclothing.com/2011/06/24/dye-job-au-naturale

» scandinaviancollectors.tumblr.com

» alliedfabrication.com

» lifeinmichigan.com

» needsupply.com

» centricity.com

» etsy.com

» rosieassoulin.com

» dezeen.com

» architonic.com

SLOW FASHION

» alteringthoughts.blogspot.com

» blog.freepeople.com

» rawedgetextiles.com

» remodelista.com

» lamaide.com/www.lamaide.com/Cynthia_LaMaide

» truly-organic-clothing.com/files/natural-dyes

» christinemauersberger.com/cmauers

» clarabellacraft.blogspot.com/2010/09/elderberry-dye

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO A FAMILY WHO EMBODIES A PASSION FOR THIS CITY THAT IS BEYOND INSPIRING.YOU HAVE IGNITED A FIRE IN ME.

DETROIT MAKERS

CARLI WERTHMANN SENIOR CAPSTONE 2014

BSID UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI