Creative Others Collective Inc. Handling everything from brand design to building physical and digital elements, they’ve worked with some of Canada’s best known brands. With a knack for outside-the-box thinking and installations, they’re making their mark on our city’s creative landscape. Please enjoy our conversation below.
What’s the story behind Creative Others Collective Inc.?
I moved here five years ago as an Architect but found myself drawn to ideation and creativity through many mediums such as, branding, web design and strategy, and physical design and fabrication. It was exciting to explore outside of Architecture. My journey took me through a role as a marketing manager for a restaurant chain in Ireland, which I continued remotely after relocating. Here in Vancouver, I took on a project for Translink at the PNE, which opened doors to more opportunities. During one project, the client attributed all the work to me which didn’t sit well with me. In reality it was a collaborative effort and I wanted everyone to feel equally accredited. That’s how “Creative Troy” evolved into “Creative Others.” Around the same time, I reflected on my core values and landed on community, creativity, and integrity and built Creative Others rooted in those principles. I’ve since surrounded myself with people who share these values, and together, we’ve thrived.
Why did you choose Strathcona?
The affordability was a major factor. MakerLabs offered reasonably priced studio space and access to tools, which made it an ideal starting point. I previously had a desk downtown, but it lacked soul. The dream was always to have a street-facing retail space to connect more closely with the community. So we’re delighted with our new studio.
What are some of the high points of being here in Strathcona?
What challenges do you face in the neighbourhood?
The open drug use, alcohol abuse, and occasional violence are significant issues. We’ve had to call the police for violent incidents, and one of our team members was recently chased, which was very unsettling. As a result, we often escort each other when moving around the area. While we’d love to create community-focused window displays or collaborate with art schools, the current environment makes it difficult to pursue such initiatives as we have to keep our street facing studio low profile so as not to attract unwanted attention.
What challenges do you face running your business?
Rising costs are a primary concern. We can only increase our rates so much before pricing ourselves out of projects. Competing with businesses that leverage cheaper labor abroad or use alternative methods adds to the difficulty. While we aim to maintain fair margins, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to balance costs and value.
Do you feel like you’re part of the ecosystem?
Yes, though there’s room for improvement. We are part of the Strathcona community but often discover businesses we didn’t know existed. A more comprehensive directory could help foster stronger connections.
What are your thoughts on zoning policies in Strathcona?
We understand the need for more residential spaces in the city, but proper planning is crucial. It’s possible to integrate high-density residential buildings with industrial areas like ours, but the streets must be improved to attract residents.
What are the advantages of operating in a light industrial mixed-use area like Strathcona?
Our work relies on access to industrial resources like MakerLabs for building and fabrication. The collaborative atmosphere here is invaluable, allowing us to work with skilled professionals and learn from other businesses.
What initiatives would you like to see from the BIA?
A structured monthly meetup for businesses to connect and support one another would be fantastic. Additionally, an app-based directory with robust tagging and categorization would make finding and collaborating with other businesses much easier.
