Detroit is a city of nuance and complexity. It’s current state is one of seemingly massive change; occupancy of the urban core has locked in at about 98% for the past two years, while new shops, restaurants, and start-ups seem to be popping up every day. While parts of Detroit see major transformation, there is still incredible stagnation throughout the city, and much need for drastic change in many areas – from crumbling infrastructure to social/economic justice for the city’s inhabitants. While these tasks can seem daunting, it takes action to cause change. To quote Grace Lee Boggs, “That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.” Come to Detroit, there is work to be done.

City Ambassador

Ben Gaydos

Benjamin Gaydos is a Detroit-based designer, filmmaker, artist and educator. Ben is interested in experimental media and production, “ethnographic design,” and design for social change. Ben has conducted research in design and anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received an MFA in Visual Communication/Design. His experiments in design, sound, film and video have been exhibited internationally. Ben has presented his work at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Case Western University, and MIT’s Media Lab, among other institutions. He is co-founder and principle of goodgood, an interdisciplinary design firm with offices in Detroit and Boston, a producer and designer for Sensate Journal at Harvard University, and co-founder and programmer at Mothlight Microcinema in Detroit. Ben is Assistant Professor of Design at The University of Michigan – Flint, where he directs the Design Studio.

Website | Twitter

Good is:
OK, A1, jake, hunky-dory, ace, terrific, fantastic, fabulous, fab, top-notch, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, bang-up, killer, class, awesome, wicked; smashing, brilliant, superior, quality, excellent, superb, outstanding, magnificent, exceptional, marvelous, wonderful, first-rate, first-class, sterling; satisfactory, acceptable, not bad, all right, great.

Header image: Russ

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