Newsletter 012
We’re excited to announce that Marion Design Co. will have a new home! After six years of moving to four different locations, we will soon make our final move to our new studio at 326 South Washington. Located on the southwest corner of Marion’s downtown square (across from Larks Song and Ridley Tower at the intersection of 18 and Washington), this building is an ideal space for our new home. It’s been just two weeks since the announcement and demolition is well underway.
This long, narrow three floor building whose storefront stretches from the street to the alley, was originally a Hooks Drug Store. It then became a men’s clothing shop, followed by a trophy shop. The Pregnancy Help Center resided there until 2020 and it sat vacant until Chris Kennedy (Hartson-Kennedy Cabinet Top Company) and the BDP Group made an offer to purchase it through a condo partnership. It’s only fitting that this investment is a partnership of three different stakeholders. BDP will develop the second floor into apartments and the Kennedy’s will build out the first floor and basement as the Kennedy Art Center and Marion Design Co’s studio. Marion Design Co. will lease out the space and serve as the project manager for the community art gallery (a longtime vision of Chris and Kim Kennedy) and other ancillary uses of the two floors.
We’ll be posting the construction process on social media and keep you updated in our newsletters of the progress of the renovation. If you were one of our first 17 interns who helped us launch in 2016, you probably remember the 20 foot long oak table that we carried from the second floor to the bank lobby as a “community table”? That same concept will continue in this new space. When you open the front door of our new studio, you’ll be greeted by a table that stretches 20 feet, inviting you to sit down and have a conversation. We’re excited about the relationships that will be generated over conversations in this new space at the table!
If you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve likely had some influence on the revitalization of Marion’s downtown and possibly even worked with Marion Design Co. To you…we express a deep gratitude for the part you’ve played in the process of helping Marion Design Co. use design to empower our community toward a new vision! We have a great future ahead and will work hard to continue strengthening our relationship with you!
In 2020, the Community Foundation asked us to create a Design Thinking Session to launch The Third Path grant in an effort to strengthen partnerships between local nonprofits who were ready to work collaboratively on a project. Thirty five people from 10 different organizations joined us on Zoom (yes, the pandemic hit, affording us the opportunity to prototype a virtual design thinking experience) for a four hour design thinking session in preparation for applying for the grant.
Three projects engaging seven different organizations won the grant, earning them a three year award to help fund their projects. Now, in year two, they asked us again to help the teams envision how they might creatively continue their mission through a design thinking session. The completely new DT process was created by one of our alumni, Jenna Beemer (2020). She led the MDCO team through developing the methods, design materials, and overall experience for the participants. Her leadership set the stage for a very successful, engaging, and inspiring four hour session. We were able to meet face to face in the new Co Fo community building where teams worked through Snowballing, Storyboards, a Future Wheel and more! At the conclusion of the session, one participant from Carey Services asked, “Can I keep this future wheel in a frame and put it in my office?” It’s so rewarding to witness how the tool of design inspires vision and mission!
Three projects engaging seven organizations continues as Carey Services now provides accessibility equipment on behalf of the GC Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Thriving Mill Township and the GC Rescue Mission serve the community through a new building, and Hope House, College Wesleyan Church, and the GC YMCA are creating an outdoor community space with programming to meet the needs of local residents.
Peter Troutner, Creative Director and Chief Creative Officer
Presence permeates. When I first walked into Marion Design Co. in 2017 I was about to experience firsthand what I’ve come to know as the Marion Design Co difference “Presence changes perception.” That was true for me as I began to see the daily life of Marion from the Old Salin Bank. As I met the people of Marion I came to see a city alive and as I used the skills I have been given. I saw my own value to the community and that even my presence is important.
As we prepare for permanent presence in our downtown, I want to reflect and challenge. Each building or space which Marion Design Co has occupied has developed specific relationships, given life to new meanings, or cultivated interactions that brought insight into our downtown.
Salin Bank - The OG MDC, when we entered it was an empty space we made it our own - in that space we became the tellers of a new story for Marion brought to life by the voices our community brought forward to invest in our storytelling bank. No longer an actual bank (despite the multiple people who came in to deposit checks), but a metaphorical bank where investments blossomed.
Ride ’N Leather - The Design Dojo, when we moved in there was only a dream of a storefront and we filled the back of the space overflowing with creativity. Here we found some of our projects syncing to the relationships with those in the Ride ’n Leather community and the newspaper clippings in the back hallway. The space had an effect on us and we had an effect on the space as the store opened and grew.
Our homes - during COVID I remember Friday afternoon Zooms with interns and although we were all isolated from each other these calls became spaces for growth and desperately needed connection. Even here our presence virtually changed how we came to exist and show up in the rest of our lives.
Lark Song - Once again downtown and birthed as a business, we found our presence important in the life of downtown. New relationships formed and with Marion Made Mini our rhythms overlapped with people in our downtown and community.
The Jay house - Tucked behind the Library we kept on plugging along. New surroundings and new neighbors. Our neighbors different than previous locations but we brought to life the space and as I type I am seeing interaction in almost every room. Life is forming.
Kennedy Arts Center - Here we look forward, in many ways if you do a scatter plot of our locations this becomes the average and I find that a beautiful revelation. Interns who drew up plans in 2019 are now seeing the presence they had permeate. And we are excited about the new ways our presence permeates.
Since I first came to downtown I’ve watched it bloom as people - movers and shakers - stepped into the downtown with renewed vision and filled empty buildings and brought life back to our downtown. There is much more ahead.
And now a challenge: No matter where you find yourself today, take stock. Look around you - your presence has the ability to permeate and change perception. How are you showing up? In what ways does the way you show up change perception of those you are around? How are you bringing new life to the people and places you occupy? Good things can come from presence.
Go and be.
