Radical Collaboration: Panel Discussion X Detroit Month of Design 2023

You are invited to attend a panel discussion on Radical Collaboration during Detroit Month of Design 2023, led by Design Core Co-Executive Director, Kiana Wenzell, with featured artist, Mike Han alongside various collaborators in celebration of his solo exhibition, Mike Han: United By Design.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Detroit as a community represents strong collaborative efforts due to necessity and need. In comparison to a dense market and creative hub such New York City, which is extremely competitive, Detroit’s collaborative spirit may be our very own superpower. While access to resources and funding may be a challenge, the city and various regional partners already hold the key to future success.

How can we as designers best serve various collaborators and partners to align our vision of the future in order to work together to achieve radical transformation in design and position Detroit and Michigan to have a global competitive advantage?

The goal of the discussion is to affect the future positively, develop a point of view as a designer, and encourage the audience to focus on the ‘why?’ in addition to the how.

Moderated by

Kiana Wenzell, Design Core Detroit

SPEAKERS

• Mike Han, Artist and Designer, The House of Han
• Rachel Stewart, President, Gardener-White Furniture
• Robert Waissi, Head of Global Design, Leon Speakers, Inc.
• Lisa Miller, Global Product R&D, Carhartt
• Paulina Petkoski, Curator and Designer, PLAYGROUND DETROIT

Mike Han is a Detroit-based artist and designer. His work is a “meditative practice that seeks to develop a better understanding of self and identity while connecting deeper with people and the planet. I strive to find dynamic balance through organic yet deliberate mark-making on carefully considered materials to explore my heritage, contemplate sustainability, and support people and projects in need.”

“My process of mark-making reveals the truth that we are all connected. We are all different, yet we are also the same. We are all mark makers sharing the same place, no one better or more important than another, all essential to society. We all impact people and the planet whether we know it or not through the choices we make in our daily lives. This truth is often too close for us to see, and so my artwork is focused on revealing the under-appreciated, humble moments of life that comprise most of our lives.”

In his debut Detroit gallery exhibition, Mike Han: United by Design, (9/2- 9/30) Han showcases his creative practice working across disciplines inspired by his Korean heritage, graffiti, and modern design at PLAYGROUND DETROIT, during Detroit Month of Design 2023.

“In this exhibition, I’m proud to introduce The House of Han as a sustainable lifestyle brand. I think so much about how in order to create, you must destroy. How can I add value to people’s lives without harming the environment? These challenges posed in my art I seek to address with The House of Han as a product brand, creating sustainably at scale to enrich everyday life.”

The exhibit debuts various design collaborations including 3D printed tables with Haddy, a rug collection with Gardner-White Furniture, and a new modular wall art system developed with Leon Speakers. He will also exhibit recent collaborations with SEE Eyewear, CultureVerse, and Detroitissimi.

“United by Design is a showcase of my collaborations ranging from fashion to furniture, presenting work that has been sold nationwide, showcased abroad in Italy, and features a new series of Modern Vandalism paintings made on salvaged blueprints from famed Detroit architects Albert Kahn and Minoru Yamasaki.

Han was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Korean immigrants. Mike is a Cheongju Han, referred to as “House of Han,” a Korean family with royal ancestry. The House of Han is his body of work, home in Detroit, and is now launched as a sustainable lifestyle brand.

“I believe Keith Haring was right, art should be accessible, and I believe the same should be true for design but the things made for everyone must also be made responsibly,” says Han. “I aspire to design things that add value, beauty, and joy to people’s everyday lives with the environment in mind. I’m thrilled to be taking the first steps to build this dream with incredible partners like Gardner-White, Haddy, and Leon Speakers.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Mike Han was born in Ann Arbor, MI to Korean immigrants. His mother landed in Detroit’s Cass Corridor and his father in Ypsilanti, both during the early 70’s. Mike is a Cheongju Han, also referred to as “House of Han”, a noble Korean family (yangban) with royal ancestry. The House of Han is also his body of work, a studio, and a home in historic Rosedale Park.

Han has exhibited artwork in Seoul, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Miami. He has created work for clients in NYC, Chicago, and Osaka, Japan. Han has been commissioned to make art for Bloomingdale’s 150th Anniversary, Detroit Pistons, Google for Startups, Ford Motor Co., LinkedIn, Somerset Collection, and has created art installations for Red Bull, vitaminwater, and ArtPrize.

SPONSORED BY

Special thank you to Presenting Sponsor Gardner White in partnership with Newlab, and Detroit Month of Design 2023.

Afterglow Presented by Leon Loft , music performance.

Image credits: CJ Benninger.

Please note:

Your invitation is non-transferable, and RSVP is required for all attendees.

The Book Depository building is located at 2050 15th Street, Detroit, however there will be no parking on the streets immediately surrounding the building.

Please park at Bagley Mobility Hub, located at 1501 Wabash St, Detroit, MI 48216.

To get to the event, you may park at the new 15th Street walking bridge, spanning the 1-block from the parking garage to the Book Depository and use the pedestrian walkway to reach the building location.

The event will end at 9:00 p.m. and during the event, please stay within the confines of the event space. Guests are not to explore the building as it is an active office space.

There will be photography at this event. By RSVPing, you have consented to using your likeness in future promotional materials.