Makers Gotta Make: Creativity, Community and Connection is a love letter to Portland’s creative culture, and poses a questions about how cities can protect the communities that make them vibrant.
In Portland, Oregon, a community of artists and entrepreneurs came together and transformed abandoned industrial warehouses into a thriving maker economy that captured international attention.
At the center of this creative explosion is ADX, a collaborative hub where artists, makers, and small businesses came together to share tools, ideas, and space.
But as rising rents, development pressure, and a pandemic reshape the city, the creators who built Portland’s identity are pushed to the margins.
Makers Gotta Make: Creativity, Community and Connection is a love letter to Portland’s creative culture, and poses a question about whether cities can protect the communities that make them vibrant.
Our Team
Executive Producer
Kelley Roy
Kelley Roy is an entrepreneur and community builder who founded Art Design Xchange (ADX) in 2011 to support Portland’s thriving maker ecosystem. She also launched the maker collective Portland Made and authored the book Portland Made, chronicling the city’s maker movement. For over two decades, she has been a driving force in Portland’s creative community, helping artists and entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses.
Through ADX, Kelley has built a collaborative hub offering tools, training, and business support, while fostering connections that strengthen the local creative economy and expand opportunities for makers to grow and sustain their work.
Producer, Editor
Shannon Guirl
Shannon is a Pacific Northwest–based producer and editor who’s spent over a decade telling stories across documentary, television, and digital media. She’s worked on projects like Bowling for Columbine, Shut Up & Sing, The First 48, and maker profiles forEtsy- shaping raw footage into thoughtful, engaging narratives.
Based in Portland, OR, she’s also a longtime maker, designing midcentury-inspired lighting and enjoys collaborating with local makers and creatives.
Whether she’s behind the camera or in the edit room, Shannon brings a hands-on, intuitive approach, blending story, craft, and community into work that feels both personal and impactful.
