Newsletter 030
A design proposal is typically a fairly simple ask. Design a brand identity for a school. Design a building space for a retail shop. Design a more efficient business strategy. Simple. Right? Not if you’re building change from the ground up. If real change is going to happen (not just pretty renderings that portray an unreachable future), we have to start at the foundation of why the problem exists. As with our health, the symptoms of pain or discomfort lead the client to seek a quick, simple solution. But before the diagnosis can be declared or medication is dispensed, the patient must go through a battery of tests and pages of questions seeking answers through investigation so the physician can synthesize the information leading to discovery. Once discovered, even then, some mystery may still exist.
As we pursue the ambitious task of digging through the groundwork of relationships, habits, assumptions, culture, and fear, the simple design problem is colorfully layered with information that requires creative tenacity. All design problems and solutions can’t exist without people. Not perfect people. Just people. People with personalities, preferences, and aspirations. They are the experts.
As design thinkers, we understand that the solutions we pursue must be discovered in partnership with the people who live with the problem. We’re the outsiders invited into the lives of the passionate strugglers. We bring with us the tools and aspirations to listen through custom tools and experiences created just for them and their context. From Big Blue Blocks© to mocktails and sticky notes, we blend objects of play and exploration to achieve measurable outcomes. It’s a privilege to be invited into their stories through the design process.
This month we’ve worked with so many partners in the context of design thinking. From Zoom sessions across the nation to local onsite sessions, we’ve met with so many of you! While the end goal may look like a designed box of activities, a new workspace, or a new brand identity, the process of partnership with the experts (you!) through design thinking is critical to a final design that will create lasting change. It’s worth every wrestling minute to spark curiosity that reveals true discovery! Reach out to us with your design problem if you’re interested in discovering how design thinking could lead to meaningful change in your organization, business, or community!
Traveling all the way from rural Alabama, we had the privilege of spending a few days this month with Pastor Micaiah and Associate Pastor Brian Tanck. As graduates of Princeton Theological Seminary and pastors of Scottsboro’s Cumberland Presbyterian Church, their innovative approach to engaging their congregation in the faith journey is unprecedented. They created thirteen experiential activities that emerged as a result of our design thinking session together that were designed to increase our understanding of the needs of families.
The hospitality at College Inn and cozy coffee at Lola’s refreshed them as they started each day. We combed through materials, exploring design possibilities to engage families in a meaningful way. Over meals (yes, at least two at Los Amores, one at Payne’s, and another at Casa Brava) and meetings in our studio, we not only shared stories and talked design but also the joys of living in a small rural community. As they return to their home, we are excited about accelerating what they’ve developed through design so that individuals can hold, interact, and engage with stories from the past to bring about insight for today.
Take an evening to slow down and join us on Thursday, October 26th from 6-8 pm for an unhurried dinner experience of sharing at the table. Dinner will be served at Marion Design Co. in a Korean-inspired style and the menu will feature Asian-American cuisine. Relax with new and familiar friends while savoring new and familiar flavors!
Tickets are $50 per person and include a multi-course meal experience. Only 30 seats are available so don’t wait! Register today on Eventbrite. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 19th or until tickets are sold out!
Make it stand out
Our collection of inspiring books offers a refreshing break from spreadsheets and emails! Join us in the middle of the day for a change of view while working. For just $5, you can choose from a drink in our fridge or a fresh latte. Walk in at your convenience and scan the QR code for Venmo to share the space or buy some art!
Emily Troutner, Chief Design Officer
When I was first introduced to the design thinking process when I started at Marion Design Co. in 2022, it gave me anxiety (and still does sometimes!) because there often isn’t a clear end goal in sight—it’s all about the exploration of the creative process that gets you there. As someone who likes to know how step A logically leads to step B in a clear orderly fashion, design thinking pushed me outside of my comfort zone but in a good way. It’s helped me embrace the unknowns
and recognize the potential for unconventional, innovative, and human-centered solutions that can be found in the midst of ambiguity. By stepping outside of the familiar and seeing things from a new perspective, the design thinking process unlocks hidden possibilities that otherwise may not have been discovered. Absurd ideas often hold gems of truth, seemingly silly exercises can lead to deep observations, and collaboration with strangers develops greater empathy.
What is something you’ve done lately that has pushed you outside of your comfort zone? If you ever find yourself stuck in a creative rut or looking for innovative ideas, I encourage you to try out some design thinking exercises (even if at first it may feel uncomfortable)! Reach out to us and we’d be glad to help give you some ideas. They can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and learn something new!
