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86. Detroit's Legacy as a UNESCO City of Design


Sep 9, 2026

Episode Highlights:

  • How Detroit’s culture of grit and collaboration fuels ongoing urban innovation.

  • Detroit as the only US City of Design and how its 8 cultural pillars drive housing, equity, and manufacturing.

  • How Design Core Detroit empowers creative entrepreneurs.

  • United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals

  • TSI’s Detroit Month of Design event!

"I have never seen a group of citizens [...] who will fight for their city—ride or die. It’s because of its creativity.”


- Leslie Horn, CEO

Show Notes:

  • 00:00 - Intro to Ep 86.

  • 02:53 - What is UNESCO and what is their mission? 

  • 03:47 - Detroit is the FIRST and ONLY UNESCO City of Design in the United States.

  • 04:28 - What is a UNESCO creative city?

    • - Eight categories of cultural expertise.

  • 08:07 - What does Detroit’s design culture say about housing, development, equity, manufacturing, neighborhoods, and the future of the city?

  • 09:25 - What makes Detroit unique? — a city of “firsts.” 

    • Internationally known as the “motor city.”

    • Collaboration, innovation, and pride!

  • 15:47 - Design Core Detroit’s mission. 

  • 17:10 - How is TSI living up to Detroit's City of Design title?

  • 18:33 - Detroit Month of Design celebration each September! 

  • 22:20 - Sustainable UN development goals.

  • 25:58 - Celebrating wins amongst the challenges in the city.

  • 30:15 - Three Squared’s Detroit Month of Design 2026 session! – “Detroit’s Evolving Neighborhoods: Innovation within Mixed-Use Developments”

  • 31:35 - Concluding thoughts for Ep 85.


Resources:

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