Remix the Palette

Designers, students, and creative professionals gathered for an immersive workshop led by architect and cultural innovator Michael Ford, known as The Hip Hop Architect, to explore the intersection of music, culture, and material design. Drawing inspiration from iconic album covers rooted in Detroit’s Hip Hop and Motown legacy, participants worked collaboratively to reinterpret the visual language of music into curated material palettes using Material Bank’s digital platform. The session offered a dynamic opportunity to examine how cultural storytelling can shape contemporary design processes and inspire new creative perspectives.

Hosted in partnership with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp and the College for Creative Studies, the workshop emphasized experimentation, collaboration, and cultural connection. The material palettes developed during the session were later physically assembled by CCS and featured as part of Michael Ford’s Toyota Lecture, extending the impact of the workshop from digital exploration into a tangible public showcase.