Core77

Route 77: The Great Core77 American Road Trip

By David Seliger - June 12, 2012

in design.edu | Articles

There comes a point in every designer's life when he sets out in search of inspiration beyond what his everyday life can provide. Sometimes this inspiration comes from talking to a mentor; sometimes this inspiration comes from a walk down a street never taken; and sometimes this inspiration can only come at the end of a great adventure into the unknown.

I'm at that point in my life when I need adventure and inspiration of my own. Only two days ago I graduated from college and for the first time in my life I can honestly say that I have no five-year plan. Over the next few weeks, before I pack my bags and move down to Brooklyn, I will fulfill a lifelong dream: to do the great American road trip.

I've grown up watching movies like Into the Wild, The Motorcycle Diaries, or even It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and wondering, when can I have my own adventure? Well, my time has finally come. But this will no ordinary road trip—I will be doing this road trip Core77-style. In every city that my cadre of road trip adventurers and I visit, we will bring you the latest and greatest in design and innovation to come out of that destination. As young designers, this will be the next step in our education.

Our itinerary includes 25 states we'll be stopping in at least as many cities along the way, including:

» Boston, MA
» Philadelphia, PA
» Washington, DC
» Richmond, VA
» Charlotte, NC
» Atlanta, GA
» New Orleans, LA
» Austin, TX
» Las Vegas, NV
» Los Angeles, CA
» San Francisco, CA
» Portland, OR
» Seattle, WA
» Boise, ID
» Salt Lake City, UT
» Denver, CO
» Omaha, NE
» Madison, WI
» Chicago, IL
» Detroit, MI
» Pittsburgh, PA

Do you live in one of these cities? Do you know of any designers or innovators that we should check out? Want to meet up? Drop me a line at: core77dave [at] gmail [dot] com.

Also follow our adventures on Twitter with the hashtag #route77.

See you on the road!

Notes from the Road: Route 77 Travelogue
» Introduction
» Digital Storytellers (Philadelphia, PA; Washington DC; Richmond, VA)
» Defining the Future of Design in Charlotte, NC & Atlanta, GA
» Shaping Communities through Design in New Orleans, LA & Austin, TX
» The Future of Cars (Phoenix, AZ & Los Angeles, CA)
» Artefact and Astro Studios (San Francisco, CA)
» Ziba and Pensole (Portland, OR)
» Red Camper and Matter (Denver, CO & Boise, ID)
» The Midwest Doesn't Suck (Chicago, IL, Omaha, NE & Madison, WI)
» Why I Love Detroit
» Cop Cars and Sideshow Performers (Connersville, IN & Pittsburgh, PA)

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Johnny Boots

12 years ago

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If you're in Louisville, you have to do the Bourbon Trail. It could possibly be one of our (america's) most iconic products outside of the Louisville Slugger. Why limit yourself to "designed" products. Our national parks are some of the best in the world. Make sure you dont have too rigid of a schedule. Some of the best drives are those where you made a wrong turn and ended up seeing beautiful farm houses and rolling hills, cliffs and waterfalls. Stay off the major freeways!
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Sandy

12 years ago

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Dave,
Glad to hear you'll be rolling through Madison, WI! Stop by and see us at Design Concepts. We're an innovation and design firm here in town. We'd love to introduce ourselves and take you on a tour of the city, too. Lots of great work being done in the area.
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Bruce

12 years ago

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Richmond:
The Martin Agency
Hamilton Beach
MWV (Mead Westvaco)
SMBW Architects
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Bruce

12 years ago

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Dates?
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Rebecca

12 years ago

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Come to Louisville, KY! GE Appliances is located here and we're working on some exciting things! We'll give you a tour of the design studio and some of our factories. We've been in the midst of major factory revamping and product redesign. Lot's of designed and made in the USA pride here!
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Andrew

12 years ago

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5 weeks will give you some breathing room.

C. F. Martin in Nazareth PA is still making amazing guitars by hand and offering tours. The Gibson Guitar factory in Memphis is cool, and the Louisville Slugger factory in... well, Louisville, is well worth touring if you're in the neighbourhood. There are still plenty of people making great and iconic things in America.
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Dave Seliger

12 years ago

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@andrew - It's actually five weeks, but you're right, it's not a lot of time! Unfortunately it's what I have to work with so we are squeezing in as much design and fun as possible!
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Andrew

12 years ago

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3 weeks? 25 states in 21 days doesn't leave much (read: any) time for exploring, or much other than driving and rest stops. Do yourself a favour and take more time if you can.

You are going to want to do more than glance at places like Austin, Detroit and Atlanta. I definitely agree you should add Milwaukee to the list, as well as Memphis. The list is too long for one trip.

I was going to suggest checking out Yee Haw Industries in Knoxville, but I just looked at their site and we're too late, after 15 years they closed in April. I'm glad I got to meet them and have a tour.
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Cameron

12 years ago

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Also maybe Kohler a bit north of milwaukee. Very design-driven company that still makes some stuff here.
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Ryan

12 years ago

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If you are going to Chicago and Madison you should stop in Milwaukee.
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Susan Yashinsky

12 years ago

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Dear Dave: How fun!! We are an EXTREMELY innovative trend firm located about 40 minutes outside of Detroit and would love for you to visit us!!! Check us out at www.spheretrending.com! Safe travels. Susan
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