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In 2011, the studio launched Free Art Friday
Detroit, a free art scavenger hunt in the city of Detroit. With a mission to elevate the profile of the city's creative community and encourage people to explore the city, Free Art Friday Detroit (FAFDET) has become a weekly art event throughout the city.
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to downtown
Detroit, furthering the city's resurgence of the creative class. Skidmore Studio now resides as the anchor tenant of the historic Madison Theatre Building, an entrepreneurial hub for creative and tech companies. The studio occupies the entire fourth floor of the Madison, taking up 9,800
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as part of his
Detroit real estate initiatives. Skidmore Studio was the first official tenant of Gilbert’s real estate development firm, Bedrock. In January 2018, then-owner Tim Smith passed away suddenly. The studio was left to his wife and partner, Colleen Smith. In October 2018, Drew Patrick,
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for the automotive industry. Today, Skidmore Studio provides branding and design services to a range of consumer packaged goods companies and cultural institutions. The studio employs approximately 16 employees, including graphic designers, illustrators, copywriters, producers, and strategists.
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In the early 1990s, Leo
Skidmore’s daughter Mae Skidmore assumed ownership of the studio. With then Vice President Tim Smith, Skidmore expanded the studio’s offering and client base to include corporate clients such as the
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and Doner. At the time, Skidmore employed many notable illustrators in addition to Leo
Skidmore including Ed Fella, Ron Alexander, John Ball, Ann Bauer, Stephen Magsig, Scott Olds and Bryan Stolzenburg.
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During the 1950s and 1960s, the studio was respected as one of the country's most talented automotive illustration studios. Notable advertising campaigns from that period included work for:
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In the 2010s, Skidmore further specialized in branding and identity, with a focus on the food and entertainment industries both locally and nationally. Current and past clients include:
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Skidmore Studio was established in 1959 as an automotive illustration studio. The studio built a reputation in the 1950s and 60s for illustration work completed for
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Branding strategy, packaging design, illustration, copywriting, audience insights, positioning, web design, photography direction, visual identity & logos
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In the 1990s and 2000s, Skidmore transitioned to a direct-to-client model with a renewed focus on the local market for clients like:
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In the 1970s and 1980s, Skidmore continued developing national advertising campaigns for a wider clientele that included:
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and
Detroit Medical Center. In 2010, then-president Tim Smith, acquired majority interest of the studio and became CEO.
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Duggan, Daniel (May 29, 2011). "Next brick in
Gilbert's real estate empire: First National".
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Gosselin, Gary (February 21, 2008). "Executive
Profile: Tim Smith, President, Skidmore".
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557:"Detroit 2.0 momentum: Skidmore Studio relocating downtown in Madison Theatre building"
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681:"Skidmore Studio becomes anchor for Dan Gilbert's Madison Theatre entrepreneurial hub"
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Snyder, Christine (March 13, 2007). "Royal Oak studio expands its client list".
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previously the company’s CFO and president, purchased the studio from Smith.
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756:"Tim Smith, owner and CEO of Skidmore Studio, remembered as a visionary"
733:"Tim Smith, owner and CEO of Skidmore Studio, remembered as a visionary"
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Maurer, Katie (June 19, 2006). "Branching Out: Surviving meant change".
123:. Founded by Leo Skidmore in 1959, the company began as an illustration
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640:"Tom Walsh: Creative corridor in Detroit no longer so far-fetched"
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372:"Skidmore moves to Madison Building, brings 23 jobs with it"
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583:"Tom Walsh: Creative corridor no longer so far-fetched"
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614:"Skidmore Studio to anchor Madison Theatre Building"
185:square feet. It was purchased in November 2010 by
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707:"David Friedman: Mapped a secret buying plan"
504:"Risky investment pays off for design studio"
779:"With Owner's Passing Fuels Skidmore Studio"
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921:Design companies of the United States
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679:Wayland, Michael (October 26, 2011).
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931:Design companies established in 1959
877:"How to scavenge for art in Detroit"
777:Frank, Annalise (October 1, 2018).
180:In 2011, the studio relocated from
78:Drew Patrick, Owner & President
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828:"Free Art Friday's scavenger hunt"
705:Duggan, Daniel (August 21, 2011).
555:Oosting, Jonathan (May 27, 2011).
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352:from the original on June 7, 2023
826:O'Neil, Megan (March 14, 2012).
612:Gallagher, John (May 27, 2011).
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879:. The Detroit Regional News Hub
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16:Design studio in Detroit, USA
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852:Norris, Kyle (March 2012).
251:Portland Cement Association
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926:Companies based in Detroit
781:. Crain's Detroit Business
271:Detroit Symphony Orchestra
189:, Chairman and Founder of
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434:"Ed Fella Knowledge Page"
394:"Studio to Move Downtown"
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171:Detroit Institute of Arts
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111:is a multi-disciplinary
449:Oakland Business Review
316:Free Art Friday Detroit
644:The Detroit Free Press
618:The Detroit Free Press
587:The Detroit Free Press
482:The Detroit Free Press
346:www.skidmorestudio.com
154:Leo Burnett Worldwide
758:. Detroit Free Press
735:. Detroit Free Press
478:"People making news"
510:. February 17, 2011
279:Dave & Buster’s
182:Royal Oak, Michigan
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484:. January 17, 2010
311:The Detroit Tigers
254:Reynold's Aluminum
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342:"Skidmore Studio"
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162:Team Detroit
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60:Headquarters
27:Company type
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832:Metro Times
488:January 19,
297:Halo Burger
187:Dan Gilbert
915:Categories
716:August 22,
325:References
247:McDonald's
74:Key people
67:, Michigan
374:. Model D
257:Key Video
649:July 18,
356:June 28,
350:Archived
307:Skis.com
146:Chrysler
121:Michigan
83:Services
37:Industry
883:May 10,
860:May 10,
837:May 10,
811:May 10,
785:May 24,
762:May 24,
739:May 24,
623:June 6,
597:May 10,
566:May 10,
540:May 10,
514:May 10,
400:May 27,
378:June 7,
265:Ski-Doo
237:Mercury
227:Lincoln
212:Pontiac
132:History
117:Detroit
91:Website
65:Detroit
50: (
45:Founded
31:Private
690:May 8,
303:Xenith
125:studio
40:Design
685:MLive
561:MLive
232:Dodge
222:Buick
885:2012
862:2012
839:2012
813:2012
787:2019
764:2019
741:2019
718:2011
692:2012
651:2011
625:2011
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568:2012
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516:2012
490:2010
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380:2011
358:2023
207:Ford
144:and
138:Ford
100:.com
52:1959
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96:www
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