Trent Design opens satellite office in Midtown

Marketing, interactive media and design agency Trent Design, based in Rochester, is the latest business to take the Detroit plunge. The branding firm, living by their motto, "Be bold. Be fluid. Be everywhere." has opened a satellite office in the 71 Garfield Building in Midtown's Sugar Hill Arts District. Creative director Marilyn Trent says she and two full-time employees in the print department will work out of the Midtown location, with two more employees hoping to transition down to the city soon.

Trent started working with clients in Detroit in 1999, with a roster that has included the DMC, Midsummer Nights in Midtown and the Detroit Artist Market.

She found the space at 71 Garfield through the help of Midtown Detroit Inc. president Sue Mosey, who gave Trent a guided tour of the neighborhood.

71 Garfield's growing roster of artists-in-residence attracted Trent, a fine arts major who's involved in Metro Detroit's art scene.

"I decided to be in an artist's enclave. It's a perfect fit," she says.

The stylish physical space is 900 sq. ft and includes a kitchen and bathroom, decorated with one of Trent's signature colors, a bright citrus orange.

"It's all open, because my offices are all based on an open, transparent feel," she says. "It's a bright, airy welcoming space. It says, 'let's get down to the business of design,' because that's what we do -- help improve a company's image."

She celebrated the new office with an opening that attracted 100 clients and friends, many from Oakland County. Trent says she's hoping to inspire other entrepreneurs from Metro Detroit to relocate to Midtown.

"Past the party, past me trying to promote my business, it actually gets the news out that Detroit's a good place to do business," she says.

Trent's professional move to 71 Garfield also won the neighborhood a new full-time resident. Her art director, Andrew Kopietz, took up residence just a few blocks away.

Find out more about Trent Design here.

Source: Marilyn Trent, principal and creative director, Trent Design
Writer: Ashley C. Woods