Skidmore Studio

Skidmore Studio was established in 1959 as an automotive illustration studio.{{cite web|title=Skidmore moves to Madison Building, brings 23 jobs with it|url=http://www.modeldmedia.com/startupnews/skidmoremadisonbuildingdetroit060711.aspx|publisher=Model D|accessdate=June 7, 2011}} The studio built a reputation in the 1950s and 60s for illustration work completed for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.{{cite web|title=Studio to Move Downtown|url=http://detroit2020.com/2011/05/27/studio-to-move-downtown/|publisher=Detroit2020|accessdate=May 27, 2011}} Until the mid 1970s, the studio worked exclusively on automotive advertising with local and national advertising agencies such as Campbell Ewald, Leo Burnett Worldwide, McCann Worldwide, Team Detroit and Doner.{{cite news|last=Snyder|first=Christine|title=Royal Oak studio expands its client list|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=March 13, 2007}} At the time, Skidmore employed many notable illustrators in addition to Leo Skidmore including Ed Fella,{{cite web |title= Ed Fella Wikipedia Page|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Fella}}{{Circular reference|date=July 2019}} Ron Alexander, John Ball, Ann Bauer, Stephen Magsig, Scott Olds and Bryan Stolzenburg.

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 Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Medical Center.{{cite news|last=Gosselin|first=Gary|title=Executive Profile: Tim Smith, President, Skidmore|newspaper=Oakland Business Review|date=21 February 2008}}{{cite news|last=Maurer|first=Katie|title=Branching Out: Surviving meant change|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=19 June 2006}} In 2010, then-president Tim Smith, acquired majority interest of the studio and became CEO.{{cite news|title=People making news|url=http://www.freep.com/print/article/20100117/BUSINESS06/1170548/People-making-news|accessdate=19 January 2010|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|date=17 January 2010}}{{cite news|title=Risky investment pays off for design studio|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/02/17/business/doc4d5d83d145ec5372045286.txt|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=The Oakland Press|date=17 February 2011}}

In 2011, the studio relocated from Royal Oak, Michigan to downtown Detroit, furthering the city's resurgence of the creative class.{{cite news|last=Duggan|first=Daniel|title=Skidmore to move into Gilbert-owned Madison Theatre building|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110526/FREE/110529925#|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=26 May 2011}}{{cite news|last=Oosting|first=Jonathan|title=Detroit 2.0 momentum: Skidmore Studio relocating downtown in Madison Theatre building|url=http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2011/05/webward_avenue_expansion_skidm.html|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=MLive|date=27 May 2011}}{{cite news|last=Walsh|first=Tom|title=Tom Walsh: Creative corridor no longer so far-fetched|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2395061811.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+10%2C+2011&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Creative+corridor+not+so+kooky+now|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084406/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2395061811.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+10,+2011&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Creative+corridor+not+so+kooky+now|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2013|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|date=10 July 2011}} Skidmore Studio now resides as the anchor tenant of the historic Madison Theatre Building, an entrepreneurial hub for creative and tech companies.{{cite news|last=Gallagher|first=John|title=Skidmore Studio to anchor Madison Theatre Building|url=http://www.freep.com/fdcp/?unique=1307366612249|accessdate=6 June 2011|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|date=27 May 2011}}{{cite news|last=Walsh|first=Tom|title=Tom Walsh: Creative corridor in Detroit no longer so far-fetched|url=http://www.freep.com/fdcp/?unique=1311002263315|accessdate=18 July 2011|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|date=10 July 2011}} The studio occupies the entire fourth floor of the Madison, taking up 9,800 square feet.{{cite news|last=Duggan|first=Daniel|title=Next brick in Gilbert's real estate empire: First National|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=29 May 2011}}{{cite news|last=Wayland|first=Michael|title=Skidmore Studio becomes anchor for Dan Gilbert's Madison Theatre entrepreneurial hub|url=http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2011/10/skidmore_studio_becomes_anchor.html|accessdate=8 May 2012|newspaper=MLive|date=26 October 2011}} It was purchased in November 2010 by Dan Gilbert, Chairman and Founder of Quicken Loans as part of his Detroit real estate initiatives.{{cite news|last=Duggan|first=Daniel|title=David Friedman: Mapped a secret buying plan|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110821/FREE/308219943/david-friedman-mapped-a-secret-buying-plan|accessdate=22 August 2011|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=21 August 2011}} Skidmore Studio was the first official tenant of Gilbert’s real estate development firm, Bedrock.{{cite news |last1=Lawrence |first1=Eric D.|title=Tim Smith, owner and CEO of Skidmore Studio, remembered as a visionary |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/01/18/tim-smith-skidmore-studio-owner-obituary/1045466001/ |accessdate=24 May 2019 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=18 January 2018}}

In January 2018, then-owner Tim Smith passed away suddenly. The studio was left to his wife and partner, Colleen Smith.{{cite news |last1=Lawrence |first1=Eric D. |title=Tim Smith, owner and CEO of Skidmore Studio, remembered as a visionary |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/01/18/tim-smith-skidmore-studio-owner-obituary/1045466001/ |accessdate=24 May 2019 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=18 Jan 2018}} In October 2018, Drew Patrick, previously the company’s CFO and president, purchased the studio from Smith.{{cite news |last1=Frank |first1=Annalise |title= With Owner's Passing Fuels Skidmore Studio|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/advertising-marketing/owners-passing-new-leadership-fuels-skidmore-studio |accessdate=24 May 2019 |publisher=Crain's Detroit Business |date=1 October 2018}}

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:

• Ford
• Pontiac
• Detroit Diesel
• Buick
• Lincoln
• Dodge
• Mercury

In the 1970s and 1980s, Skidmore continued developing national advertising campaigns for a wider clientele that included:

• McDonald's
• Portland Cement Association
• Reynold's Aluminum
• Key Video

In the 1990s and 2000s, Skidmore transitioned to a direct-to-client model with a renewed focus on the local market for clients like:

• Ski-Doo
• Detroit Institute of Arts
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra

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:

• Dave & Buster’s
• American Express
• Regal Cinemas
• Family Finest
• Michigan Farm to Freezer
• Inspired Organics
• Halo Burger
• Universal Orlando Resort
• Xenith
• Skis.com
• The Detroit Tigers

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.{{cite news|last=Harding|first=Matt|title=Artists hide free art around Detroit|url=http://thesouthend.wayne.edu/index.php/article/2012/04/artists_hide_free_art_around_detroit|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=The South End|date=7 April 2012}}{{cite news|last=O'Neil|first=Megan|title=Free Art Friday's scavenger hunt|url=http://metrotimes.com/culture/free-art-friday-s-scavenger-hunt-1.1285290|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=Metro Times|date=14 March 2012}}{{cite web|last=Norris|first=Kyle|title=A scavenger hunt for free art in Detroit|date=March 2012 |url=http://michiganradio.org/post/scavenger-hunt-free-art-detroit|publisher=Michigan Radio|accessdate=10 May 2012}}{{cite web|last=Hennen|first=Ashley|title=How to scavenge for art in Detroit|url=http://blog.thedetroithub.com/2012/03/21/how-to-scavenge-for-art-in-detroit/|publisher=The Detroit Regional News Hub|accessdate=10 May 2012}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.skidmorestudio.com}}

Category:Design companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Detroit

Category:Design companies established in 1959

Category:1959 establishments in Michigan