Wednesday 24 Jul 2013
Designed for It: Why KW is *the* Startup Community
Fluxible takes place in one of Canada's hottest spots for entrepreneurial talent and opportunities. Technology in the Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) region has grown to a $30-billion industry, according to Iain Klugman, CEO of Communitech. Now Taylor Jackson, a local photographer, wants to let the rest of the world know.
Jackson has been snapping gorgeous photos of friends' bands and weddings for over 7 years because he loves telling stories. When the opportunity arose to tell the story of his own community in the form of a documentary film, he jumped at the chance. Startup Community will capture all this vibrant region has to offer in helping start-ups succeed — and in a show of support from the community, the film quickly surpassed its fundraising goals on Indiegogo.
We caught up with Taylor to learn more about Startup Community.
Q: What made you want to create this film about KW?
A: The energy here, the collaborative nature... I've never been to another city like it. The start-up culture has interested me for quite a long time and I've been absorbing as much as I can. While I've never worked in a start-up (Until now... this video counts, Taylor!), I have friends within the start-up community here. I love watching from the sidelines — a lot happens quickly here — and was just looking to tell the best story for our community.
Q: What role does design play in our start-up community?
A: I think that art in general, including design specifically, is such a huge part of this space. It's one thing if we can build up a tech silo, but if we can build up one with a focus on design, we can build a better brand for our community.
Q: KW in one word?
A: Different. The entire goal of this project is to show the world why we're different here.