Denver’s Future Looks Shiny
Although I haven’t lived in Denver for almost a year now, I’ve still managed to keep track of a lot of awesome shit that’s been going on there. Now, there might be a lot of fantastic and jazzy things going on there, but there are also some huge piles of shit that haven’t been cleaned up since I’ve left either. I’ll break these down into two categories to make my brief and honest observation.
Some good friends have broke off and started their own studio! This needs to happen more often in Denver, the community has grown quite stagnated over the past decade or so.
The Denver Infill Blog has had a lot of interesting announcements on metro development, including a lot of LEED certified projects. If this pace keeps up Denver will no doubt be a true central business hub in coming years.
The Shoppe has made a huge impression on the community and turned into something of an after work creative hub. High-Five Tran!
On that same note the Fabric Lab is getting a super fantastic face-lift as we speak! This sort of growth promotes local creativity and elevates the DIY mentality that Denver needs to embrace more often.
A handful of fancy boutiques, salons and restaurants have been popping up. Some of these include: Big Hairy Monster, 3 Little Birds, Speakeasy, Family Affair and The Shoppe.
The JE Crew set up one of the most ambitious local art projects (Soft&Furry) I’ve ever seen there. Not only did they help raise the bar for the artsy community and help move it into a new arena, they received international recognition and participation!
The MCA has been stepping it up with more events and lectures involving, wait, what?! Denver’s own talented creatives! Good job Ian for the great work on Applied Ideas! Hopefully more things of that caliber can start to pop up.
First of all, with all of this urban renewal going on, where the hell is the transit system?! This huge plan has been in the works forever! Why is no one getting out there and helping raise awareness? You people are artsy, get out and Obamatize that shit!
Where are all of the new small design studios? Part of what helped Denver’s creative community grow a couple decades back were all of the pissed off and under paid designers breaking off and starting their own thing. Get stepping kids, shit. Also, I know it’s not easy to go independent, but network, build bridges, stay focused, go present your shit! Which leads me into the next one.
All of you underpaying no job giving “ad agencies” and “local heroes,” start fucking sharing work! Stop acting like a secret sect of the Illuminati and hand off projects now and again. It’s obvious that your staff isn’t doing everything it can to help the biz/community grow, so get a fresh set of eyes on those accounts every so often. Also, what ever happening to following leads and getting new business? Are you all happy with CP+B being the only tyrannical big account holders in CO? Do something, call someone. Stop being so “perfect and comfortable.”
New businesses and local shops etc… Hand off design work to local creatives. Get them involved and help spread the word when you meet someone talented. Throw a party now and a again and meet some new faces. Your graffiti writing friend is not a designer and should not be doing your logo or website! This is just as much the young fresh designer’s fault for not being visible, but do your job as a business owner and support the local community.
What are the unemployed and unsatisfied designers out there doing to stay fresh and current? The market is saturated with designers of all types all looking for the same jobs. I know because I’ve seen the books, followed the links, talked to you on iChat and via email. In some regard, you are equally responsible for the quality of the community and the message it conveys. Take the time to read the blogs, buy the books and meet the people in your community. If you spend a little time establishing those connections with the places you have interest in, you’ll have a better shot at getting in. Shit you might even get a lead or two or maybe even a little advice as to what might help you land better gigs. You have to stay busy and amped on your mission. The 9-5ers will eventually weed themselves out. If you aren’t helping, you’re only hurting it.
With that all being said, some crying and others cheering, what do you think? What are the pros and cons, the positives and the negatives? How do you feel?
16 Comments Add your own
1. TEEBEE | October 27th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Nice assessment Lifter!
2. James Gardiner | October 27th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
YO!!!! Why have I been in Denver for a few years now and am just catching up with the MCA? I checked out the Damien Hirst exhibit a few weeks back and it blew me away!!!
On a more local talent note though… Denver is crushing it with creativity. Lots of really decent designers coming out of the woodwork. Unfortunately, on a negative… I have noticed a variety of Denver “blogs” hating on new local talent??? What???
All in all though… Denver is happening!
3. Lifter Baron | October 27th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Just keep that shit on stilts homeys! We’ll be back someday to plot capers and get-away schemes. Either way, shine on kiddos.
4. seth gerard | October 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am
hey! check it out.
http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1
granted, this should have been done long ago, but its exciting nonetheless.
5. xrocksthespot™ | October 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I’d like to add a few positives many which include friends so they may be bias, but here goes:
FM-Magazine, Illiterate Magazine, The Denver Egotist, The Magnet Mafia, the hundreds of ill ass local bands and dj’s, Skinny Squirrel Gallery, Orange Cat Studios, Rhinoceropolis, The Glob, The Union, Andenken Gallery, Indy Ink, Track Shack, Cycle Jerks, Honest Bros., the insane amount of amazing illustrators that hide in their basements busting out sick work, tons of really talented local photographers and designers, DVLP Clothing, Newspeak, The Denver Zine Library, Suburban Home Records… and so much more.
But, I totally agree with the negatives that you’ve listed. Definitely spot on.
Maybe someday all of the talented folks in this town will really be able to break out of the mundane routine of whats been bestowed
upon design scene here. But till then only the determined few will let nothing get in their way.
6. Lifter Baron | October 28th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I wasn’t trying to list the whole village but good job dude! There are a lot of awesome people and things I may have left out… I was mainly trying to call out certain things that people deserved some credit for or are working on putting together to help the community.
7. mike_d | October 28th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Man you are a homo.
8. Lifter Baron | October 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Im sorry we haven’t been introduced quite yet? How is it that you see your self participating?
9. xrocksthespot™ | October 29th, 2008 at 9:41 am
For sure, I just thought that all those I listed deserved recognition too. ;)
10. Ryan Lee | October 29th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of little shops popping up here and there. With a lot of giants falling right now, there are a lot of pieces that are in need of picking up. We (Honest Brothers) were lucky to have had a head start on this “weird time” but I’m glad to think of the potential and things to come.
I wish change could happen over night, (trust me design-wise and in my every day life) but it takes time, smarts, and some elbow grease. Denver’s community is what it is. There are some pockets that are very progressive, some that are becoming stale and some that are yet to show their face.
Adaptation will lead to everyones success. If you can’t change, you’re destined to fall behind.
11. Lifter Baron | October 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I couldn’t agree more Ryan. It gets me all jazzed up to think about who will be the next one to pitch in or do something inspiring to the rest of the community. Im not sure if I emphasized it enough, but thats the one thing I miss about being in Denver is all of the fresh new stuff going on…
12. ron | October 31st, 2008 at 2:32 pm
why don’t you pay attn to where you are now if you dont live here? Seems like you’d rather be here.
13. Lifter Baron | October 31st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I used to live there. Spent nearly 10 years there. I love it here as well. As mentioned, there are a couple things that I can’t stop loving about Denver. I have a ton of friends and partners back in CO. Its my second home.
14. april | December 13th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hi….I’m from the skinny squirrel gallery and would:
a.) like to thank xrocks for mentioning us, and
b.) say that I totally agree with your post.
We are an atypical gallery; we have no money to spend on promoting ourselves nor the talented artists we showcase — we can’t quit our day jobs and open a storefront…and so we invite people into our living room/gallery on First Fridays. We just want to bring attention to the people who don’t have the ‘connections’ and/or the confidence in their work to get into the yuppy-type galleries.
Coming from Chicago, I’m sad to see such a lack of unification for renegade crafters and artists here in Denver. The talent is here, it’s just hard to get the word out with a frugal budget. It would be awesome to put together some sort of ‘Denver Egotist’-style blog to round up all these folks in a way where emerging artists can put their shit out there; be heard.
Until then, I guess it’s just gonna have to be a reliance on Facebook, Craigslist and slowly meeting people at parties.
15. Bryant | January 13th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Lifter, I got a question for ya… I grew up in Minneapolis (Edina), moved away to go to school at CSU and now I’m living in denver and working in boulder for a local web development shop… what are the similarities and differences (positives and negatives) between the two cities and their design communities?
16. Lifter Baron | January 16th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Bryant thanks for the question! I’ll build a post for this one…
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed