Office Evolution houses largest private collection of AAFF posters

By Isabelle Zeaske

April 18, 2025

Some of many AAFF posters on display at Office Evolution in Ann Arbor. All photos by Isabelle Zeaske.

“Everybody enjoys having good art, whether they know they do or not.” Business Center Manager Jen Michalik spoke to me at the headquarters of Office Evolution, a local business providing office and coworking space–and the home of the largest private collection of Ann Arbor Film Festival posters. The space is light, bright, and welcoming, with plenty of nooks occupied by focused workers, coffees in hand. But the star of Office Evolution is its art, with a framed piece on nearly every wall. David Whitinger, owner of Office Evolution, tells me all the art is from local Ann Arbor artists and is changed out annually to keep the space fresh and offer opportunities to up-and-coming artistic talent. “You know it’s not corporate art…[People] walk in and they like it because it’s different,” says David. And he’s right–the space is just as much museum as it is workspace. 

David’s tour of Office Evolution led me down a hallway featuring decades of AAFF history in the form of framed posters. One of the Office Evolution’s few permanent art displays, David wastes no time talking about his passion for the festival to anyone interested in the posters. His favorite, the poster for the 48th festival in 2010, features clean, cascading shapes in black and white with concentric circles that remind me of old film reels. When I visited, David had a space reserved for this year’s poster, which he picked up while enjoying the AAFF’s festivities. 

The poster for the 48th Ann Arbor Film Festival.

The hallway containing the posters was set off from the main area, a central hub featuring offices, individual working areas, and a coworking area (complete with a Hyperion Nitro Cold Brew coffee dispenser). People from across many industries use the space at Office Evolution, including tech, finance, legal, and automotive workers. Jen tells me Office Evolution supports companies of all sizes by offering a mailing address, private and professional offices, and plenty of space for individuals and groups to work. 

The art has been a part of Office Evolution’s culture since it opened in 2018. David shared how he had always been committed to supporting the local art scene, sponsoring the festival and offering a headquarters space for four years. When I visited, Office Evolution was displaying fifty original paintings for covers of the Ann Arbor Observer. David delightedly remarked on how people often recognize the covers, or at least the places the paintings capture. I overheard conversations about how the city has changed since it was first memorialized in paint. It seems fitting that these images of spaces we can no longer return to have a new life in a public space full of new connections and great coffee.

A space at Office Evolution, featuring an original Ann Arbor Observer cover painting and another work of local art. 

Office Evolution is open during business hours, located right across the street from Briarwood Mall. Members of the public are welcome to come in and see the dozens of pieces of original, local art as well as the display of Ann Arbor Film Festival posters. To learn more about Office Evolution, visit www.OfficeEvolution.com/Locations/Ann-Arbor. Read more about the history of the Ann Arbor Film Festival at https://www.aafilmfest.org/history-mission.