The 8-Mile Myth

What you don’t know about Detroit

For over 25 years we’ve operated a successful design communications company in the metropolitan Detroit area. We’ve seen the auto industry cycle through good and bad phases, and area politics have its own versions of these cycles. We’ve seen sports teams at the bottom of the standings, and have enjoyed our share of championships. Things change, things evolve with time.

One constant, however, is the bashing Detroit and the metropolitan area takes in the media, blogs, talk shows, etc.

It’s easy to do. A no-brainer. Look at the crime stats, look at unemployment rates, look at the city’s corrupt politicians set all-time viewing records on YouTube. It’s all true.

Yet those of us who continue to live, work and raise families here understand one additional truth: It’s not what they think it is. Not even close.

The southeast Michigan area is home to some of the country’s finest educational institutions, the most cutting-edge medical and scientific research, the brightest technical, conceptual, strategic and creative minds, renowned artists and musicians, and arguably the most diverse, generous and caring people in the country. They’re also some of the most tenacious. Detroiters rarely quit.

Contrary to popular belief, Detroit does not end at 8 Mile Road. That’s the northernmost city limit, but the Detroit metropolitan area – people who identify themselves as “from around Detroit” – extends more than 30 miles to the north, 40 miles to the west and southwest, and 20 miles east of the city. With a population of about 5 million people, it’s the 11^th largest metro area in the country (a few heads smaller than the Boston metropolitan area). If you include our Canadian next-door neighbors in Windsor, we’re the 8^th largest border area in the world.

More than just cars and Motown

Most frustrating for me is the stereotyping and gross underestimation of the depth of talent in and around Detroit. For example, Detroit has been the birthplace of some of the most memorable, creative advertising campaigns ever produced (in spite of pretty much a single, extremely conservative industry as a client base).  Yet when a high percentage of those “in the know” are asked where the hottest advertising agencies are located, the east and west coast firms always dominate their lists.

Ever watch the Discovery Channel show called Motor City Motors? Two brothers, Dave and James Kaye, owners of a Detroit area business that designs and builds custom motorcycles, are regularly featured on the show. The producers give the guys an assignment and have them assemble a team. In a recent episode, they had five days to turn a ’92 Suburban into a working road-crew pothole filler. The five-man team consisted of designers, engineers, master metal fabricators, hydraulics and paving experts – as diverse a group as you could imagine.

In short, they used their combined talents, experiences and creativity and in five incredibly stressful days they met and surpassed all of the requirements of the “assignment.” A sharp group of “grease monkeys,” eh? Not exactly. Their combined backgrounds, degrees and overall mastery in engineering, fabrication, business, fine art and systems would impress even the most decorated academics.

That’s the real Detroit. And, even though the current news here is less than rosy, don’t make the mistake of underestimating us. There’s too much talent, drive and creativity for Detroit not to be a major center of innovation again.