Newsletter 029
As designers, we straddle foundations all the time. With one foot firmly grounded on our value system and the other stretching toward the unlimited opportunities design affords, we’re well aware of the giant question mark of risk presented to us every day. We’re used to staying flexible, while always relying on our firm foundation.
Recently, we’re heard a lot of buzz about AI generative design. Some have raised concerns about AI taking designers’ jobs, but we don’t need to see AI as a threat. We can hold fast to the same principles we always have: flexibility and foundation. And once we replace our fear with curiosity, we can see the opportunities AI provides us.
With AI generative design, we can now write faster, generate prototypes more quickly, and transition projects more easily from 2D to 3D. We can practice flexibility as we adapt to the presence of this new toolset. We simply have to maintain our foundation of human-centered design and realize how many skills we have that AI lacks. As human designers, we have the gift of taking our time — taking our time to build relationships, to follow our intuition, and to uncover original ideas.
What we’re getting at here is the idea of plasticity — the ability to be shaped or molded, to shift instead of remaining rigid. Like plastic, we are solid and yet moldable. We are both evergreen and current. As the abilities of AI generative design continue to develop, we can look toward the future with a sense of hopeful expectation. We can embrace change while staying rooted in our values.
One small way that Marion Design Co. is adapting to changes in technology and design is by updating our team members’ business cards. Before, our business cards looked quite traditional, with our contact information alongside our classic black and white color scheme. Now, our business cards incorporate QR codes to make sharing our information easier, as well as colorful illustrations to catch the viewer’s attention and add personality to the design.
Small changes like these can say a lot about a business, its priorities, and its willingness to adapt in an ever-changing landscape. Reach out to us if you’d like to update your business’ materials, learn how to use design thinking to adjust to changes in your industry, or imagine the future of your brand identity.
Marion Design Co. is hiring fall interns! We are looking for bold and talented interior and graphic designers to join our team. If you’re ready to learn, collaborate, and make a difference in your community, we want to hear from you! Applications are due August 30. Fall internships will run from September 8 through December 15. Find out more on our website:
Thank you to everyone who came out for the opening reception of “A Story in Stills” on July 28! Thank you as well to everyone who has stopped by to view the exhibit since then! We are so excited to display the Kennedy Art Center’s second-ever exhibition. The Kennedy Art Center is proud to display photography by five local Grant County artists as part of “A Story in Stills”: Jeremie Riggleman, Jamie Miles, Dallas Walters, Elayna Parandi, and Douglas D. Moneer.
The show will be up through September, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already! All of the photography currently on display is for sale. If you are interested in purchasing art, inquire at the Kennedy Art Center or view the collection online here:
Brittany Long, Chief Operations Officer and Project Manager
My husband and I recently moved into a new home. It’s the first home we’ve ever purchased actually. It’s very exciting! Our new home has a beautiful backyard that we’ve had so much fun filling with outdoor lights and seating. From our backyard, if you listen closely, you can hear the afternoon announcements being read over the loudspeaker at the elementary school down the block.
When I hear those announcements, it brings me straight back to my years as a Special Education teacher; and I can’t believe school is starting already. Maybe it’s because I spent most of the summer packing, moving, and unpacking, but it feels like the days flew by.
Are you someone who got excited about school? Or was school something you dreaded? Education itself is interesting once you become an adult. No longer is it something you are required to do but rather something you consciously choose to do. Even if you aren’t or haven’t pursued formal education farther than what was required, that doesn’t mean the learning stops. During the pandemic years, I decided to learn French. It gave me a challenge and allowed me to focus on something other than my regular day to day. What are you learning? Maybe you’re learning to help your children adapt to new routines. Maybe you’re currently pursuing some sort of degree. Maybe you’ve picked up a new hobby. Maybe you’ve attended or are planning to attend one of our workshops at the Kennedy Art Center. Whatever it is, I encourage you to keep at it! Keep learning. Keep challenging yourself. Keep discovering what you are capable of.
