NEWSLETTER 40
CELEBRATING 40 NEWSLETTERS
What does life look like 40 Newsletters later? When we launched our monthly newsletter, we had celebrated five years as an organization. Our dynamic team of interns from IWU helped us host IAC’s On-Ramp Workshop, create a new Marion Health brand identity, host Marion-Made Mini, and design many other initiatives and projects with the city of Marion and other significant partnerships.
Since 2021, we officially became a business and remain true to the mission we originated with. We’ve continued to use design to empower communities, businesses, organizations, and individuals to do what they do through the power of good design. We’ve created brand identities, design thinking sessions, illustrations, graphic and marketing materials, gallery exhibits, interiors and placemaking, websites and photography for 168 projects.
Our relationships have deepened with repeat clients and broadened with newly introduced clients. We’re grateful our journey has brought us to a new, permanent location at the Kennedy Art Center. We’re excited for the future and plan to continue serving our community and beyond! If we haven’t worked with you on a project yet, we hope to in the near future!
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: ECCLÉ
Ecclé empowers churches and artists by facilitating personalized training, mentoring, and resource exchange. To support its mission, a new identity design was developed to establish a strong foundation for the organization, ensuring its visual system conveyed legitimacy, trust, and the essence of its work.
The design concept drew inspiration from estuary ecosystems, known for their biodiversity and rich cultural significance. This metaphorical approach reflects ECCLÉ’s goal of fostering growth and connection within a relational framework, contrasting with transactional models. The identity employs non-Eurocentric design influences, integrating elements from diverse artistic traditions to create a visual language that resonates with ECCLÉ’s global and inclusive vision.
The logo features an organic shape reminiscent of estuary waterways, with negative space forming the letter "e" for ECCLÉ. The letterform’s customized serif typeface combines traditional gravitas with a modern sensibility, echoing the illuminated manuscripts and early printed texts that bridge theology and creativity. The design incorporates block shapes and flowing lines, reflecting the interaction between water and land in estuarine environments.
This achieves a balance of tradition with modernity and supports multicultural use. Distinct design patterns represent ECCLÉ’s three core service lines: Training (Fluvial Zone), Connecting (Mixing Zone), and Mentoring (Marine Zone). Each zone features unique patterns and motifs—ranging from weedy shallows to fish mixing ideas, and deep waves navigating challenges—offering clarity and differentiation for each service line.
Overall, the identity design not only anchors ECCLÉ’s brand but also captures its mission of nurturing creative potential and fostering meaningful connections, while offering a consistent and memorable visual system for future growth.
BLOOM 2024
Grant County is home to a large number of strong female leaders! Each year we have the opportunity to celebrate and inspire these women during Bloom, an annual event hosted by the United Way of Grant County and Greater Grant County. Last year Marion Design Co. hosted Bloom SLŌ, a Korean dining experience. This year we led a workshop entitled Stress by Design: How Spaces Shape Burnout during a larger one-day conference at Matter Park. Shaded by a beautiful natural canopy and surrounded by manicured gardens, we talked about ways to create spaces at work and home to reduce stress that contributes to burnout. Addressing all the senses, we discussed design tactics with lighting, acoustics, space planning, and materials to ensure we’re working in healthy environments. We ended the session with three questions to consider when evaluating your work spaces…
Who do I become while here?
How will this place transform me?
How will I know how to act?
If we understand what’s contributing to how we feel in a space, then we can make decisions on to adjust what surrounds us to help strengthen our minds and hearts while we work. If you would like an hour evaluation and consultation of your space, feel free to email Wendy at wendy@mariondesign.co to schedule an appointment.
EDITH FARNSWORTH HOUSE
After a full week of work, the team was ready to get some fresh air and be inspired by this classic environment. Wendy, Willie, Tabby and Jacob took a day trip and enjoy learning from a knowledgeable docent. Good conversation and beautiful design!
Exactly what we needed! Nestled along the Fox River an hour southwest of Chicago in Plano, IL is a classic international style house designed by Mies Van De Rohe. Described as a structure of Platonic perfection, this minimal weekend retreat contrasts the organic landscape, bringing nature in.
PICNIC ON THE PATIO: MARION ON THE MOVE
Attention all downtown and small business leaders: Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr. will be attending our next Marion on the Move meeting on September 5th, 2024, 12:00PM to 1:30PM at the Kennedy Art Center in Downtown Marion.
Next weekend, attendees will have the opportunity to share their ideas on the positive change they would like to see happen in the city. If you do not have a meal, no worries! A free lunch will be provided by us. We hope to see you there!
Unlike our Marion on the Move events - which are exclusive to local business leaders - Picnic on the Patio is open to all residents of Marion. Everyone is invited to bring their own lunch and engage in conversation with the community. GIve yourself the chance to meet some cool people in a cool space! To stay updated on when we are hosting Marion on the Move, follow us on Instagram at @mariondesignco. If you won’t be able to attend, but want to contribute, send us a message on our Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@mariondesign.co
MARION ARTS COMMISSION GALA
The upcoming MAC Gala celebrates not only a night for the arts, but an anniversary of Kennedy Art Center as well! May 5th of this year marks the 1-Year Anniversary of KAC. And although we’re a few months late, what better way to honor the Kennedy Art Center than an event meant to Make Art Visible? Kennedy Art Center was made with this very goal in mind, with the Marion Arts Commission playing a crucial role (KAC’s president, Chris Kennedy, was a founding member!) This gala hopes to fundraise for the cause of artists here in Grant County, so that Marion Arts Commission can continue to provide grants to those who want to make a difference. This evening of art and elegance has plenty more to offer, though, including stilt-walkers, silent and live art auctions, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and more! This event is open to the public, with both tickets and sponsorships available. Read more on the Marion Arts Commission website.
