What’s happening in Detroit…

Ilana Portney (’21 Advertising Design)

CCS Student Alison Slackta Wins 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear Official Poster Competition

Mikel Bresee and CCS’s Community Arts Partnerships

Detroit: A UNESCO City of Design

Detroit has long been celebrated as a hub for art and design, often hailed as an artistic Mecca. It’s no surprise that CCS is at the heart of this community. Students and alumni draw daily inspiration from the city’s rich creative culture. They are not just participants—they are leaders, driving innovation, sparking creativity, and shaping meaningful change in Detroit and beyond.

Explore America’s Great Comeback City

Greg Shamus (’95 Photography)

CCS x Detroit Institute of Art

Color & Materials Design and Fashion x Carhartt

CCS x Herman Kiefer Hospital

Ilana Alumni Day in the Life

Michigan Central Station

CCS x Detroit Ep. 11

Henry Ford x CCS

313 Day

Stay Connected and Follow Along!

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Stay Connected and Follow Along!

CCS on YouTube

CCS on TikTok

CCS on Instagram

Get to Know Detroit

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Detroit Must be the Place

Meet some of the muralists transforming the city, one brushstroke at a time, and the individuals making those opportunities happen.

Virtual Tours

Launch Experience

CCS is located just steps away from some of the nation’s most iconic museums including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and much more. Get a taste of all they have to offer, from the comfort of your couch!

Detroit Institute of Arts

Michigan Science Center

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Latest Stories and Press

Illustration student Eli Archer and the winning poster design.

April 7, 2025

CCS Student Eli Archer Wins 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear Poster Competition

College for Creative Studies (CCS) student Eli Archer tapped into his Hoosier heritage as the 20-year-old sophomore from Indiana emerged victorious in the 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Official Poster Competition on Wednesday, April 2. Archer's colorful creation captured the thrill of racing on the Streets of Downtown Detroit while highlighting the Grand Prix's connection to the local community and the summertime vibe of the Motor City.

Exterior of the Walter B. Ford Building.

March 20, 2025

Gilbert Family Foundation Doubles Scholarship Commitment to $2 Million in Support of Detroit Students Attending College for Creative Studies

Two CCS students from Detroit will be awarded $50,000 scholarships annually, distributed over four years. Gilbert Family Foundation also announced scholarship support for pre-college summer workshops and completion scholarships aimed at retaining students.

Sydney G. James, ‘01 Illustration - “The Girl with the D Earring” mural painted on a black wall, a modern Detroit take on Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring.”

February 1, 2025

Detroit Must Be The Place

Meet Some of the Muralists Transforming the City, One Brushstroke at a Time, and the Individuals Making Those Opportunities Happen.

Group of people at the Passage of Knowledge exhibition.

January 29, 2025

Bridge Detroit: The ‘Passage of Knowledge’ in Detroit

"Hey, Detroiters! Welcome back to Culture Canvas. I want to tell you about “Passage of Knowledge,” a new exhibit at the College for Creative Studies celebrating art pieces from the school’s metal shop and foundry, which has been an institution for over 65 years." —Micah Walker

January 18, 2025

The Freep Punts It to Don Kilpatrick, Chair of Illustration, to Discuss the Lions Uniform Evolution

Don Kilpatrick, chair of the Illustration department weighs in on the uniforms. "He's a guy who knows about the power of design, and he's a pretty serious Lions fan." –Nancy Kaffer, Detroit Free Press

December 10, 2024

CCS Showcases Alumni Work at Michigan Central Station's Detroit Marche

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) was honored to participate in the launch of new retail experiences at Michigan Central Station, aimed at supporting Detroit businesses and celebrating local talent.

Embroidered quilt that featured a portrait of a family standing in front of two cars.

October 21, 2024

CCS Alumna Taylor Childs '17 CR Weaves Family and Culture into Detroit’s Art Scene

"We spoke to Taylor Childs on the eve of ArtClvb’s ‘Art Fair’, a weekend-long event showcasing the work of emerging and mid-career artists. Taylor says she regards the work as an act of reverence towards the family members ‘filling in the gap’, working to balance black family structures affected by colonization."

September 27, 2024

Detroit fiber artist honors family history with new installation (Taylor Childs, '18 Crafts-Fiber Art)

As family members grow older and pass on, their stories become lost," reflects CCS alumna Taylor Childs, '18 Crafts-Fiber Art . With her latest fiber design installation, "Apex," she seeks to preserve and honor these cherished family narratives. Read more in Bridge Detroit's feature, "Detroit Fiber Artist Honors Family History with New Installation."

Various green and brown patterned fabric swatches on a hardwood table

September 5, 2024

Detroit fiber art exhibit debuts Friday in Milwaukee Junction

“Fiber arts offer such a dynamic intersection of traditional techniques and contemporary practices, and students are drawn to this versatility (more so post-Covid),” –Jeremy Noonan, professor and section lead of fiber and textiles at CCS (Bridge Detroit)

CCS Alumni Ilana Portney posing in the hallways of Detroit's Russell Center.

August 18, 2024

Ilana Portney ('21 Advertising Design)

Ilana Portney has been immersed in the world of set building since her childhood. Over the years, she evolved into a talented set designer, working on music videos, TV and film productions. Her impressive portfolio includes collaborations with artists including Ice Spice and Quavo, as well as with the likes of iconic companies like Nike, Vogue and Maybelline.

July 8, 2024

College leader’s legacy: A new generation of Detroit artists – Bridge Detroit

“The lack of arts programming was something that I knew could be changed, even if it wasn’t going to change overnight.” –Mikel Bresee

May 13, 2024

Anthony Lee ('16 Fine Arts)

Anthony Lee has always felt drawn to something bigger. For him, life is about more than just a pretty picture. It’s about engaging, connecting and making an impact.