Scott Waraniak and Marcus Mullins followed a fairly typical path when the graduated from the
College of Creative Studies a few years ago. They took their graphic designs degrees and headed for creative class jobs on the coasts.
Waraniak spent a couple of years in Los Angeles and spent more time thinking about where he came from instead of where he had moved to.
"The entire time we were out there Marcus and I talked about starting our own studio in Detroit," Waraniak says.
Words turned into ideas which turned into action. Waraniak and Mullins came back to the Motor City a year ago and launched
Space Camp. The fledgling boutique firm specializes in design, branding, and animation work for video productions. Check out Space Camp's demo reel:
Some of Space Camp's initial projects include the creation of videos on behalf of Team Detroit for the launch of the new Ford Explorer. It has also done other automotive work, but the company is looking to diversify its client base this year.
"We just want to keep growing," Waraniak says. "We want to find a way to bring new people on."
Local job creation was a significant factor in the inspiration for Space Camp. Waraniak and Mullins lament that many of the job opportunities for them and their peers were on the coasts and not closer to home. The company recently moved to
Penobscot Building in downtown Detroit to make some room for its first employees.
"It was frustrating watching all of this talent being outsourced to Los Angeles and New York," Mullis says. "We want to create reasons for people to stay."
Source: Scott Waraniak and Marcus Mullins, partners, designers and animators of Space Camp
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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