Newsletter 003
As designers, we value empathy and understanding in all aspects of our work. In the past few weeks, we’ve started a web design project for Compete Training Academy, a basketball training program founded by Jordan and Courtney Delks in Sweetser, Indiana. To better understand their programs, we took a trip to visit two sites: Oak Hill, where Courtney was coaching elementary students, and The Barn, the facility owned by Jordan and Courtney, where they do most of their training. The unique quality of their training programs, both in credibility and in character, sets CTA apart from their competitors.
As we’ve worked with Courtney and Jordan, they have generously shared their stories with us. When they purchased their barn, they were looking for houses. They had seen pictures of the inside of the house they were inquiring about but had seen none about the Barn. As soon as Courtney saw the Barn in person, she went to see if she could shoot a basketball without hitting any of the supporting beams. After a successful shot to an imaginary hoop, Courtney fell in love with the Barn and was ready to make an offer before even seeing the house. “By the grace of God,” She said, they purchased the Barn in 2017 and underwent renovations right away to make their facility.
At Marion Design Co., we encourage and strive for understanding for all of our projects. Since visiting CTA, seeing their work in action and the humble but catching atmosphere of their “barn-turned-gym,” we have gained a greater appreciation for Courtney, Jordan, and all of the programs they offer to all ages. We are so excited to tell their story and make something great together!
Follow CTA on Instagram and Facebook to browse their programs!
Today marks our final Marion Made Mini of the summer! We started Marion Made Mini back in May, with the goal of building community. Each week since, we have not only fallen in love with every baked good Kate Luttrull crafted, but we have also built meaningful relationships with our Marion neighbors
Jessica Moore, a placemaking intern, organized the event each week. Over the last two months, she has found joy in watching people come not just for food, but to connect with each other. Jessica sees this presence downtown as an accessible and physical representation of the revitalization Marion Design Co. is working towards in the heart of Marion
Placemaking design is at the heart of Marion Made Mini. As Jessica explained, “By having Marion Made Mini we make a space where people want to come and participate in Marion, which brings hope, inspiration, and aspiration for what Marion has the potential to become.” In the future, she hopes more businesses bring their stores outside on the square, continuing to create spaces for the community to flourish.
Thank you for your support week after week; we couldn’t have done it without you! We would also like to thank True Envy Boutique for hosting Marion Made Mini last week. We couldn’t have pulled it off without their wonderful staff!
If you would like to enjoy more of Kate Luttrull’s baked goods, you can follow her @gday.bakery on Instagram.
Peter Troutner, Creative Director and Chief Creative Officer
In many ways we exist to connect, collaborate, and co-create. It’s a reminder that the Co. in Marion Design Co. has a lot of meanings and that ultimately what we do is all about people. And it’s about telling those stories well.
Connect | Our city is a place of connection. As I’m writing this it’s a cool 75 and we pulled the tables out on the sidewalk to work. Cars drive by giving us looks and smiles. A cyclist just drove up saying he was late to the meeting it looked like we were holding. In passing, we got to hear his story and how he began cycling from Santa Barbara to Chicago and now is on his way to New York City. Just think: Marion, Indiana, became part of his story since he was looking for a coffee shop and we got to be part of his story if even for a moment as we sent him down to Sender Cafe.
Collaborate | We took the afternoon Wednesday to understand not only how we collaborate with our clients and community, but how we collaborate with each other. We met with Jessica Gormong and Keith Puffer to understand our Enneagrams and careers in order to better collaborate with each other as well
as our clients
Co-create | Walk through the doors of the studio and get ready to be a part of something. We want you involved in our story. As we design solutions, create graphics, discover place, and beautify space we know it’s because of you and your story that we get the chance to be here. Let’s tell a story together.
