NEWSLETTER 41
UCDA KEYNOTE: PRESENCE CHANGES PERCEPTION
This weekend Wendy spoke at the UCDA Conference in Indianapolis (University and College Designers Association). Her keynote, "Presence Changes Perception" was catered specifically to designers in professional, educational, and student contexts.
Using examples from the Marion Design Co. story, attendees were introduced to three new Design Thinking tools and the following principles to guide them:
A. Presence changes perception
B. Assets are found inside a problem where passions already exist.
C. Every problem carries just enough assets to meet the needs.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: COLLABORA LOGO & WEBSITE
This year, six essential non-profit organizations in Grant County are coming together to collaborate! We’ve been working with this group with Design Thinking sessions, strategic planning, and design services to develop a unique look and feel that resonates with their commitment to innovation, connection, and flourishing.
What does innovation look like? As we craft ideas and shape them together, it takes combining and creativity. The logo with its looped and flowing double “L”s showcases the connectedness and fluidity of collaboration and shared spaces. Reminiscent of Ancient Greece and the agora or gathering spaces, the “O” is made up of dots like the columns surrounding these agoras. Additionally, the dots are representative of individuals coming to the table and producing in the center a new, fresh, and collective vision—strong, unified, and lasting for generations.
In August and September, we worked with Collabora and its members to release their new identity, a new website, and a series of announcement billboards! This new design work will get a lot of mileage in the near future as Collabora continues to establish itself in Grant County.
UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION
The Marion Design Co. team was thrilled to participate in United Way’s 2nd Day of Action. This special day was all about bringing community together to make meaningful impact through various service projects, all benefiting the Grant County community.
This day of service also doubled as the official launch of “Tidy Tuesday” in which business and property owners on the square in Marion are encouraged to come together on every Tuesday at 10am for 10 minutes to clean up the store fronts of our buildings and our neighbors.
MARION ARTS COMMISSION GALA
The support of this community for the arts was evident as a result of the MAC Gala! Since the event more than $25,000 has been raised to help fund artists building businesses in Grant County and events such as the MAC Gala to promote the arts. This exceeded the Marion Arts Commission fundraising goal for the event! The Marion Design Co. team, a number of key volunteers from the MAC board, IWU students helped us all to bring a bespoke vision for this event to life. We used placemaking principles, unreasonable hospitality, and custom printed materials to give the event a refined and elegant polish. There are several works still available from the Gala Auction up until November on display at the Kennedy Art Center. Stop by and buy one for your home, business, or as a gift knowing that your donation is going toward a successful art practice.
