Connections to industrial roots can enrich our lives today. Revival and re-interpretation of industrial aesthetics honors the hands-on work of making things. These slides present examples of 11 elements that add interest, meaning and humanity to maker spaces today. Organic aspects of industrial relics and artifacts are highlighted in this survey.

1. Industrial Style
design for makers

2. Detroit Institute of Arts, Diego Rivera Murals
Today’s makers need to be inspired.

3. Detroit Institute of Arts, Diego Rivera Murals
Connections to the roots of making things...

4. Sugar Beach, Toronto
....can be inspirational and therapeutic.

5. Detroit Institute of Arts, Diego Rivera Murals
The revival and re-interpretation of
industrial aesthetics
honors tangible,
hands-on work.

6. Detroit Design Center
What are some industrial elements that add
interest, meaning and humanity
to maker spaces today?

7. Man in the City Sculpture Project, Detroit
artist: John Sauve
Here are 11 industrial
elements to look for...

8. Detroit Institute of Arts, Diego Rivera Murals
...that respect our maker roots.

9. Elements of
Industrial Style
1. Texture
2. Simplicity
3. Layers
4. Story
5. Honesty
6. Imperfection
7. Strength
8. Economy
9. Rhythm
10. Variety
11. Color

10. texture
simplicity
layers
story
honesty
imperfection
strength
economy
rhythm
variety
color
These elements highlight the
organic aspects
of our industrial past.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI

12. 40 Bond St. New York
element
1. TEXTURE adds depth and animation

13. 40 Bond St. New York

14. Traffic Jam Restaurant, Detroit
TEXTURE: the opposite of slick, aloof and antiseptic

15. TEXTURE: evidence of the human hand
University of British Columbia,
Vancouver

16. element
2. SIMPLICITY has a calming effect
Harbourfront Toronto

17. Harbourfront Toronto

18. SIMPLICITY: direct and confident design

19. Granville Island, Vancouver
SIMPLICITY: permits flexible use

20. ArtScape Wychwood Barns, Toronto
SIMPLICITY: easy to comprehend

21. “Orion” Mark di Suvero in Ann Arbor
SIMPLICITY: industrial art
“Endover” Tony Rosenthal in Ann Arbor

22. element 3.
LAYERS: a sense of ongoing evolution

23. LAYERS invite us to explore beyond the surface.
Granville Island, Vancouver

24. Detroit
element 4.
STORY: draws us into further investigation

25. Avalon Bakery, Goodwells Market, Midtown Detroit
STORY: helps us understand our place in the world

26. Corktown, Detroit
STORY: being part of an evolving journey

27. Granville Island, Vancouver
Spadina & Richmond, Toronto
STORY: public art celebrates makers

28. Lafayette Greens, Detroit
artist: Tim Burke
Queen St. West, Toronto

29. Wards Island, Toronto
STORY: rust comes to life

30. Granville Island, Vancouver
STORY: wood comes to life

31. 41 Bond St New York
element 5.
HONESTY: an antidote to excess luxury

32. Oakville Centennial Building Gate,
artist: Ron Baird
Townhouse, East 51st St., New York
architect: Gluck+

33. 401 Richmond St West, Toronto

34. 460 W. Canfield St. Detroit
element
6. IMPERFECTION adds character

35. 460 W. Canfield St. Detroit

36. 460 W. Canfield St. Detroit

37. 101 Portland St, Toronto
IMPERFECTION: invites human interaction

38. ponyride, Detroit
IMPERFECTION: says “we are humans, not machines”

39. element 7.
STRENGTH: an enduring quest for reinvention

40. Capital Park, Detroit
STRENGTH: a robust setting for individual expression

41. Industrial STRENGTH
401 Richmond St West, Toronto

42. “Young Woman and Her Suitors” Alexander Calder,
Detroit Institute of Arts
“Stiff Box No.12” Lucas Samaras, Ann Arbor
STRENGTH: industrial art

43. Scadding Court Community Centre, Toronto
element
8. ECONOMY: doing more with less

44. Lafayette Greens, Detroit
ECONOMY: ingenious use of materials

45. Industrial ECONOMICS
Lafayette Greens, Detroit

46. Granville Island, Vancouver
ECONOMY: cheap and cheerful on gloomy days

47. Industrial ECONOMICS
Woodlot, Palmerston Ave. Toronto

48. Granville Island, Vancouver

49. element
9. RHYTHM: order without rigidity

50. Brickworks, Toronto
Industrial RHYTHM and pattern

52. Industrial RHYTHM and order

53. Toronto Harbour
Granville Island, Vancouver
Industrial RHYTHM and pattern

54. view from High Line park, New York
element 10.
VARIETY: contrast and identity

55. VARIETY: visual interest

56. University of British Columbia,
Vancouver
VARIETY: making a memorable statement

57. The Scarab Club, Detroit

58. Queen St. West, Toronto
element 11.
COLOR: adds energy

59. Industrial COLOR

60. Ontario Collage of Art
Ontario Collage of Art and Design University,
Toronto

62. Granville Island, Vancouver

63. Granville Island, Vancouver
Industrial COLOR

64. Industrial COLOR
1650 West 1st Ave. Vancouver

65. Industrial COLOR
North Vancouver

66. Industrial COLOR

67. Robot Petting Zoo - Detroit Public Library
Industrial Color: today’s makers at Maker Faire Detroit

68. “Robot Petting Zoo” - Detroit Public Library
Un-boring new makers (at Maker Faire + TEDx Detroit)

69. artists app developers
architects bakers
cabinetmakers designers
engineers teachers
movie makers
jewellery makers scientists
photographers librarians
songwriters weavers
today’s makers
artists woodworkers
robotics specialists
urban planners
video editors animators
musical instrument makers
web developers
digital fabricators

70. Granville Island, Vancouver
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

71. photography & text: Sharon VanderKaay