Detroit Month of Design

Last week, I curated my own little lineup of events hosted under Detroit’s Month of Design. Naturally, I picked the ones that spoke directly to my passions: sustainability, community, and a little bit of creative flair. The day turned into a crash course on how art, environment, and innovation are shaping the city in real time.

Creative Economy Roundtable

The day kicked off with a roundtable about the role of art in Detroit’s economic development. Translation: how do we give artists the resources they need to thrive, and position them in spaces where their voices and work actually influence change?

It felt less like a lecture and more like eavesdropping on a group of brilliant minds plotting Detroit’s future over pinwheels. My kind of conversation.

The setting couldn’t have been more fitting: Detroit Artists Market. If you’ve never been, consider this your nudge to wander through and support local talent.

Housing Revolution

Next up, and hands down my favorite experience, was stepping inside The Cochrane Residence in Corktown. Every material, labor practice, and detail chosen with the environment in mind. Energy-efficient, resource-friendly, and still beautiful.

I couldn’t help but imagine living there myself, in a space that proves sustainability doesn’t have to sacrifice style.

The home was built by Three Squared Inc., and I filmed a full walkthrough because words don’t do it justice. For the deeper dive, check out my TikTok [link here].

What struck me most was that even with the best intentions and goals, the process isn’t seamless. Real challenges come up around logistics, planning, permits, and even ownership of the land or space. It reminded me that building sustainably isn’t just about materials, it’s about navigating systems that weren’t designed with sustainability in mind.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be writing another piece unpacking those challenges and what Detroit residents who want to take on this kind of project can realistically expect. Because yes, these dreams are possible, but they take patience, persistence, and a good plan.

The last stop of the day was Waste to Wonder, hosted at Urban Tech Exchange It was a space packed with local orgs all tackling the same mission, turning food/organic waste into raw material, profitable products, and environmental wins. Food waste is one of those topics that feels urgent and very solvable, and hearing directly from businesses and creators who are making it happen in Detroit was energizing. From textiles dyed with food scraps to zero-emission robots collecting waste, you could practically feel the innovation in the air.

Below, I’ve linked and described the organizations and artists featured so you can explore their work too.