THIS IS OUR BLOG.
Newsletter 026
Kennedy Art Center
& Marion Design Co.
Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting, and Art Exhibit.
May 5, 2023 5:00-8:00 pm.
Ribbon Cutting with Greater Grant County at 5:30
Come celebrate with us this Friday night at 326 S. Washington St! Downtown will be filled with a familiar energy reminiscent for those who remember downtown as a “place to see and be seen.” Artists tend to create that space with their art. The gallery will be filled with paintings, sculptures, quilts, stained glass, and mixed media created by dozens of local artists’ and Kennedy family members. As you mingle and network, you’ll experience live music, charcuterie boards by Char & Co., a cash bar by Don’s Tap, tacos by Los Amores, and flowers by the Flower Cart Lady.
Artists whose work will be on display are:
Tashema Davis
Jonathan Bouw
Will Carpenter
Diane Owen
Daniel Tomas Hall
Sue Munn
Chris Kennedy
John Reishus
Debra Shepler
Don Artamas
Henrik Soderstrom
Emily Troutner
Peter Troutner
Debbie Luttrull
Jamie Miles
Hannah Richardson
Deb Geyer
Bruce Campbell
Laura Stevenson
Claudia McGinness
Jeremie Riggleman
Keith Lowe
Wendy Puffer
William “Bill” Kennedy
LaCroix Kennedy
Paul Kennedy
Joan Kennedy Seeger
Mercedes Kennedy Wells
Harriette Kennedy
Ken Kennedy
We’re grateful for the Marion Arts Commission’s generous sponsorship of this event and the participation of local businesses to enliven this significant event!
A paintbrush laden with paint glides across the canvas, a pencil scratches gently on the surface, clay molds to the shape of the potter’s fingers, iambic pentameter reveals itself in the rhythm of a poem, notes swell from the lungs. Each reveals a unique stroke - recognizable to the medium with which the mark is made. And from all these unique marks, unique stories are told by unique artists - showcasing a world once visible only to them. The Kennedy Art Center is where art is made visible - where each stroke before lays the ground for new strokes to come.
The brand is built upon a series of strokes that act as marks made on the world and uses a custom typeface built by Marion Design Co.
Our story starts with eight siblings - each incredibly gifted in their creative abilities. Pastels, acrylics, watercolor, poetry, sculpture, jewelry, florals, cartoons, the human voice, pencil, fashion, teaching & business - just the beginning of creative expression. Marks left by one generation now carried by the next. The Kennedy family makes a strong case for the value and ability for our work to make a mark on the world around us. Since the Kennedy Family set their roots in Marion they have left their mark, from early beauty shops in our downtown, a thriving countertop & cabinet business, education, the arts, and now the Kennedy Art Center.
Angie Thompson, Chief Financial Officer
We have started to see the word “gather” in many different places over recent years. We see it on signs in living rooms and kitchens, at events, and in organizations. It always makes me wonder, do we need to be told to gather in these spaces or does this happen naturally because of the space provided?
There have also been many alternatives introduced to gathering since 2020. We can now meet separately on our phones, in conference rooms, through screens, or through group messaging apps. While these have worked in situations when we couldn’t be together, there is something about connecting with people face to face and in person.
In the book, “The Art of Gathering” by Priya Parker, she makes observations on how we meet and why it matters.
“We gather to solve problems we can’t solve on our own. We gather to celebrate, to mourn, and to mark transitions. We gather to make decisions. We gather because we need one another. We gather to show strength. We gather to honor and acknowledge. We gather to build companies and schools and neighborhoods. We gather to welcome, and we gather to say goodbye.” (Parker, 2019)
This weekend we are gathering to open the Kennedy Art Center. We are gathering to celebrate and to welcome the community. We are gathering to acknowledge and laugh and relax with those who have helped this process come to fruition. We are gathering to open and begin a new journey.
So come and gather with us! We are providing a space and letting you know to “gather here”. This is not a situation where we can gather through a screen or in a message. We want to gather with you in a new and beautiful space and invite you into our journey. The art of gathering for Marion Design Co this weekend, is to share this moment with our community and to invite you to continue with us. We can’t wait to see you!
Parker, P. (2019). The Art of Gathering. Penguin Random House, 1.
We hope to see you at the Grand Opening on this Friday - May 5th, 5-8 pm!
Clever.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the famed detective launched in the 1960’s, embodies the idea of cleverness. He was a master of design improvisation, adapting quickly to come up with a new approach without straying from the original concept. This is a valuable skill in design where unforeseen challenges arise.
He utilized the most current technology to go beyond his own capacity to see clues…the handheld magnifying glass. But it only worked if his hand was holding it and his eyes were peering through the lens. It didn’t work without him.
With the lightning-speed invention of technology in 2023, we need to use our current advances for the original purpose of design - to help people live better lives. We need to hold on and keep our eyes looking through to see the subjects most critical to solving the problem. Technology is still just a tool to “design for life.” It’s cleverness comes from the human utilizing it.
Stay put.
In today's world, people often view mobility as a sign of success. We are encouraged to move to bigger cities, chase career opportunities, and explore new places. While there are certainly benefits to this lifestyle, there is also a downside: we can become disconnected from the places we call home. In the rush to move forward, we forget that the communities where we live can only be as vibrant and welcoming as we make them. However, there is a simple way to combat this phenomenon: stay put.
Staying in one place may not seem like the most exciting option, but it is a powerful way to make a difference in your community. By committing to your city, you can become an active participant in its growth and development. Here are a few ways to get started:
Get involved in local politics. Local elections often have low turnout, which means your vote can have a significant impact. Research the candidates and issues in your area, attend community forums and debates, and make an informed decision at the ballot box. You can also volunteer for campaigns or even consider running for office yourself.
Support local businesses. When you shop at a locally-owned store or eat at a neighborhood restaurant, you're putting money back into the community. New businesses are popping up all over Grant County. These businesses are often run by people who live in the area and are invested in its success. Plus, you'll likely find unique products and experiences that you can't get from chain stores.
Attend community events. With the weather warming up, we have plenty of festivals, concerts, markets and other events. Attend these events to meet new people, learn about local culture, and support local organizations. You can also volunteer to help organize these events or even start your own.
Volunteer your time. There are countless organizations in every city that rely on volunteers to make a difference. Find a cause you're passionate about, whether it's helping the homeless, mentoring kids, or cleaning up local parks, and offer your time and skills.
Be a good neighbor. Simple acts of kindness can go a long way in making a community feel welcoming and connected. Introduce yourself to your neighbors, offer to help with chores or errands, or organize a neighborhood potluck.
By staying put, you can help make it a better place to live for everyone. You don't have to do everything on this list, but even taking one or two steps can make a difference. Remember, it's not about being complacent or settling for less. It's about being an active participant in shaping the place you call home.
Follow the proportions.
We have two ears.
Two eyes.
One mouth.
Follow your response according to the proportions in that order.
Newsletter 025
Since our launch in 2016 at the old Salin Bank, we’ve been looking toward the future of a time when we would have a more permanent location in downtown, Marion. That time has come!
It’s only fitting that our process of landing at 326 has come with important partnerships along the way. We want to take a moment to recognize those people who have generously shared their space or other resources to lift us up at various times. We could not be in this time and place without each one of them!
Luke Anspach and Herb Peterson (currently Anderson University, SC) for being fearless and saying yes to God’s prompting.
Layla Price (City of Marion) who first introduced us to John Lawson (former Grant County Commissioner) who advocated for us to move into the Salin Bank while it was unoccupied.
Dawn Brown (Community Foundation of Grant County) who walked in our door the first week with a binder and a new account with $50 to start our organization.
Todd Guy, John Lakanen, and Harriet Rojas who found resources at IWU to keep us in business and help pay interns.
Henrik Söderström (IWU Art + Design) for so generously sharing his imaginative joy during the summer to keep us going and inspire our students with no expectations for compensation.
IWU Housing who provided our summer interns discounts for summer housing.
Mike Burton (Grant County Commissioner) who showed up everytime we needed help with something in the building.
Michael Moffit (IWU) who found the money to buy the giant vinyl poster “You Are the Answer” that greeted downtown travelers on our first building.
Dr. Wright and the Executive Council at IWU for saying yes to that first design thinking session.
Danny Robinson (City of Maron) who set up our wifi system and troubleshooted whenever it went out.
Mayor Jess and Chief of Staff Mike (City of Marion) who supported us throughout our journey and helped us tell the story of Marion through the initial brand project.
IWU Art + Design Division for saying yes to our crazy ideas and allowing God to use us to influence our students in unexpected ways.
Heidi Peterson for writing grant applications to help support us and providing valuable feedback for our interns.
The Fossils. This group of men (they met regularly on Tuesdays together for lunch) were our first group of community members who launched our summer of design thinking lunch sessions that allowed us to hear the stories of people who love our city. Thanks for the pizza!
John Jones for being an advocate for us with stakeholders time and time again to explore all of the options possible for a downtown studio location.
Evan Gilmore (United Way of Grant County) for being our technology guru and teaching us how to use the laser cutter.
Amanda Drury for partnering with us on projects that opened the door for supplying printers and furniture in the space.
Doug Daugherty for being an advocate and purchasing the bright yellow chairs that enhanced our library.
Chris Kennedy who met with us in 2018 with the vision to partner with us to create a permanent place for Marion Design Co. and a place for community art.
The kind man who secretly cleaned our windows at the Salin Bank.
The many community members who brought us lunch and snacks as we led the team in research day after day.
Pat Mitchell, owner of Ride and Leather made space for us next to their shop to create a studio where we led interns, met clients and conducted classes.
Rod Reed, Ron Mazellan, and many others who helped do the heavy lifting as we moved our stuff from location to location.
Scott Miller and Faraz Abbasi for saying yes. Their generosity and willingness to take a risk on our vision was so important to landing us on the downtown square.
Megan Gilmore and Larks Song who generously allowed us to call their studio home for a summer as we worked with interns and clients. It was a perfect location to launch Marion Made Mini (a weekend bakery featuring Kate Luttrull’s amazing baked goods).
Mary Eckerle and the Marion Public Library Board for allowing us to rent out the Jay House at a very reasonable rate so we could continue working in the city with interns.
These are just a few of the people who have made a significant impact in the story of Marion Design Co. Our interns, clients, & community members are the foundation of the day to day work that we are committed to. If you fall in one of those categories, YOU bring the life to our studio and the vision that allows us to use design to improve people’s lives and do the work God’s called us to do.
Soon we’ll be in a building birthed from a partnership of vision between Chris Kennedy (former President of Hartson Kennedy and current Marion Arts Commission Chairman) and Marion Design Co. We are beyond grateful for the tireless advocate Chris has been on behalf of Marion Design Co. and the arts in Marion. We look forward to carrying on the vision for decades to come…now that we’re in the building!
This month marks our first step into the national network of WBENC. Wendy and Emily attended the WBENC conference in Nashville, TN. to glean insight from female business leaders from across the nation.
In an effort to network and learn how we can best lead MDCO effectively, we’re working to make connections on a larger scale. Not only did we meet with women who are making a difference in their communities but we also had the opportunity to grab breakfast with one of our intern alumni, Jared Strand!
Brittany Long, Project Manager and Chief Operating Officer
As we wrap up March and prepare for April, I want to reflect on what Women’s History Month means to me and give you a little history on the subject. In 1981, Congress passed Women’s History Week which was celebrated the first week in March. In 1987, Congress passed Women’s History Month on behalf of the petition submitted by the National Women’s History Alliance.
In the years following, various presidents have honored significant women during the month of March. The Women’s History Month theme for 2023 was “Women Who Tell Our Stories.” The National Women’s History Alliance stated:
The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade. From the earliest storytellers through pioneering journalists, our experiences have been captured by a wide variety of artists and teachers. These include authors, songwriters, scholars, playwrights, performers, and grandmothers throughout time. Women have long been instrumental in passing on our heritage in word and in print to communicate the lessons of those who came before us. Women’s stories, and the larger human story, expand our understanding and strengthen our connections with each other. (https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/2023-theme/)
As an organization, we were founded by a woman and are run primarily by women. The work of our CEO, Wendy Puffer, embodies the devotion of producing art, engaging in conversation, and creating opportunities for the younger generation. Who are the women in your life that have made an impact on you? For me personally, I look at my mom, grandmother, sister, aunts, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law. These women encourage me and uplift me. I am also impacted at work by the women who either supervise me or partner with me in our daily work. I encourage you to reflect on the women in your life and the impact they have made on you personally and in their communities.
We hope to see you at the Grand Opening on May 5th, 5:00-8:00 pm!
Remember the time...
Me neither.
Borrowing a phrase from one of our Frank and Funny greeting cards we sell, I have to laugh at the reality of this phrase. It’s strangely funny when considering the memories that we recall and the one’s that sink into the black hole of personal history. It would seem to make sense if the only memories that stuck were the one’s that seem most significant.
A meaningful conversation. A personal accomplishment. An unexpected surprise.
But that’s not always the case. Some of our most permanent memories are those moments that don’t seem worth remembering and may even be unpleasant.
The smell of the semi-truck of pigs rolling down Highway 18 at 10 am during team briefings. Walking in the back door with a sense of satisfaction after pulling out the weeds that were once between the sidewalk cracks the day before.
Memories such as these stick because they’re embedded with stories with people we love. These particular memories are just a couple of the many embedded in the memory of Marion Design Co. as we move into a new chapter and reminisce about what got us here.
We’re so grateful for the people who have created the memories that embed a foundation of hope and a bright future for design’s capacity to improve lives in our community! We look forward to celebrating all of that on May 5th during our grand opening!
Nothing to read.
What if the world existed without words? Would communication exist?
If words were not a form of communication, everyone would know how to draw!
Empower others no matter what.
As we celebrate women in design during Women’s History Month, a repeated story of women seeing beyond what is to empower what is to be is critical to the future of design’s impact on our world.
Seeing through the limitations and narratives to emerge on the other end ensures the story is true and authentic. This is critical for a balanced culture. It starts with your present community. Where there are roadblocks, set up ladders that step over the obstacles. Put your energy into building ladders rather than knocking down roadblocks. The roadblocks will be removed when the crew who placed them there discover they’re of no use. They will self-destruct when the fuse is no longer lightable.
Build ladders to go up and over. Ladders create a path for others to climb and move forward.
Be the wall artists want to be on.
The Art of Making It (Roco Films), inspires us to examine our responsibility as the keepers of gallery walls in a rural downtown. It’s not about the art. It’s about the people on both sides of the wall. Who created it and who did they create it for? Is our wall a megaphone or a microphone? Our wall is a conversation. Yes, it’s a dialogue between the art and the audience.
Cozy chairs in the gallery permit the viewer to have a seat, wait, and listen for the art to speak. Once words are transmitted, the viewer is no longer just observing. They’re now a part of the conversation.
We look forward to welcoming you into our studio to have a conversation over a cup of coffee about the art created by our community!
Newsletter 024
This newsletter highlights new and fresh approaches while recognizing our origin story as we celebrate our second year as an LLC on March 15th and 7th year since our original launch!
What does it take for a garden to grow? Hard work - cultivating the soil, planting seed, and continued care.
What does it take for a faith community to grow and innovate? Hard work - navigating creativity, building connections, and constant care. The Innovation Culture Index run by the Center for Youth & Ministry Training seeks to assess the attitudes and innovative potential in churches through a series of nine indicators.
We were brought alongside to refresh the visual interest in their survey and create a more seamless experience for calculating the data analytics of survey responses.
Building upon the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) we mind-mapped and thought about the condition of the soil and created a visual landscape that would shift throughout the survey to tell the story of cultivation, planting, taking root, and flourishing.
Each of the nine indicators that are central to the survey was considered with care as we dove into visual metaphors that pertained to growth, gardening, and soil. The final survey became as much a clear and helpful tool as it did a storytelling piece and work of art.
KENNEDY ART CENTER &
MARION DESIGN CO. GRAND OPENING
& MARION ARTS COMMISSION ART STROLL
Sponsored by Marion Arts Commission
GRAND OPENING
MAY 5, 2023 | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Art Exhibit, Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting
326 SOUTH WASHINGTON ST.
MARION, IN 46952
ART STROLL
MAY 6, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
WASHINGTON ST. between 1st & 3rd Streets
MARION, IN 46952
Kennedy Art Center, Marion Design Co. and the Marion Arts Commission invites the public to MAKE ART VISIBLE in downtown Marion, IN! This event features the grand opening of the Kennedy Art Center and Marion Design Co’s new art gallery and design studio on Friday, May 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The ribbon cutting by Greater Grant County is scheduled for 5:30 pm. We’ve invited leaders of arts organizations throughout Grant County to display the art of their directors in the gallery including the Marion Arts Commission, Fusion Arts Alliance, Grant County Arts Alliance, Quilters Hall of Fame, Orchestra Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University, and Community School of the Arts, and more.
An art stroll, sponsored by Marion Arts Commission and led by Tashema Davis, will be open on Saturday, May 6th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm featuring local artists of all ages from schools, organizations, and businesses in locations along Washington Street between 1st and 3rd streets in downtown. Visual arts will be on display at Echo Art Gallery, Psychedelic Cellar, Radiant Health, Grant County Abstract and more. Musicians will be performing at various locations along the stroll and Tappan That Sound will be curating the sounds on the street.
As spring approaches, the long awaited custom designed bike racks will begin peppering the downtown square. As with many recent initiatives in Grant County, this project began as a collaborative effort through various stakeholders across our city. Makayla Mirazza, Riley Sapp, Michelle Doyle, Wendy Puffer, Michael Mathias, and several others represented multiple organizations and businesses to explore the opportunity to encourage healthy forms of transportation. Wiley Metal was a key partner in research for the best materials and feasible structure to ensure they were designed with safety and longevity in mind. Anthony Combs at Diamond K worked with us to implement the design so the colors were cohesive with the city brand and the product could withstand our weather conditions.
This first phase will address placing the racks on the central sidewalks that make up the square. Following phases will begin spreading the bike racks to surrounding areas.
It’s only fitting that as we look ahead toward moving into a permanent location in downtown Marion, that we reflect the original partnership that launched Marion Design Co’s existence. On March 15th, it marks the second year we’ve existed as an LLC after a five year partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University. We have so much to celebrate and a wonderful future ahead with relationships broadening and deepening across our region. Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to empowering Marion Design Co. to pursue a strong future as we serve our community and clients.
Jared Strand
Photobooth and Experience Designer
at The Majestic Photobooth Co.
Jared Stand grew up here in Marion, Indiana inspired by the rich history of local architecture. This led him on a career path to implore design for social impact with an emphasis on placemaking. As a placemaking intern at Marion Design Co in the Summer of 2021 and the spring of 2022, he dove headfirst into the work he did bringing his unique set of skills to a variety of projects. One of the most valuable things that he learned from his time with MDCO was the balance of work and life. As his first professional design experience, he says “it allowed me to cut off the project focus when not on the clock- something that wasn’t really possible on school design projects. This separation allowed much healthier and productive work inside and outside of MDCO!”
Wherever you meet Jared he has a big smile on his face so if you bumped into him during one of our Marion Made Mini pop ups in the summer of 2021, you were likely greeted by him. Organizing and planning these with fellow intern and friend, Jessica Moore was exciting as the downtown sidewalks were activated with local baked goods, cafe tables, music, and people!
Many of the projects at Dream Academy were his favorites giving him real world experience with a variety of projects. He used the laser cutter to create play objects, interviewed and selected local mural artists to work in their play space, created material layouts and concepts for their kitchen, and more.
This January, Jared moved to Nashville Tennessee where he began a roll as Photobooth and Experience Designer at The Majestic Photobooth Co. (@majesticbooths http://majesticphotobooths.com). He says. “In this position I get to design each of the various elements that goes into the construction of our photobooths- this includes things like wood laminate selections, printed panel designs, curtains, etc. I have also been tasked with the occasional placemaking/interior design project, and with a big “top secret” project in the works at our headquarters!” This position perfectly fits his experience and talents and he sees the small studio experience he got at MDCO with his teammates as setting him up for success in his current team. His love of historic architecture has not left him as he makes a home in a new city. He now lives in a historic 1930 home and has been super energized by the ability to curate and design his own space.
Peter Troutner, Creative Director & Chief Creative Officer
There is a lightness that comes with spring - that first warm day you can leave your coat behind. Time slows down - you can enjoy a walk not hurriedly sprinting for your destination. We emerge from our winter hibernation and encounter life - new buds, birds returning, and our neighbors out and about again.
Our senses come alive - no longer just the chilling sensation of winter wind, but now the smell of the world beginning to thaw and blooms bursting forth.
There is always such expectation with the coming of spring, wondering when it will make its final emergence and not fake us out and plunge us back into another day of winter. Here at Marion Design Co we feel this expectation palpably as we are on the verge of entering our new building - ready once again to be on the downtown square to step outside our doors and greet our neighbors. We too are seeing new budding projects, clients returning for more, and friends excited to share in this space with us. Hopefully like spring- it’s a place of life - where art becomes visible and perhaps warms your heart allowing new ideas to take seed and grow.
The ease and power of gratefulness.
Saying thank you costs nothing and only requires a whisper of time. But it has the potential for moving mountains. People need to know their actions have been seen.
The threshold toward gratefulness is always accessible, rejecting no one.
Walk through. Look back. Don’t forget. Say thank you.
Look ahead. Keep walking. Do it again.
Our Manifesto.
Research to the heart
Heade the call
Be a good steward
Act generously responsible
Cross the threshold
Always learn
Create a safe place
See the people we work with
Elevate others
Check the box
Explore then jump
Care about each task
Take creative risks
Follow through
Finish well
Go beyond expectations
Teeter on the edge of the box
Sit in the moment with people
Interruptions are moments of pre-planned destiny
Be efficient
Listen before responding
Trust your intuition
Act
Give it
Take risks Have faith
Love.
How can love be defined with authenticity if it’s not grounded in truth?
Wait. What’s truth got to do with love?
Truth serves love. Love serves truth. Apart from truth, love is just infatuation. It’s fleeting and quite distant from authenticity.
Be in a state of truth. The natural response will be love.
(*Do not confuse arrogance as being in a state of truth. This condition can be more accurately defined as deception.)
Variable practice.
Artists rarely want to work with just one medium and style. There’s value in a varied practice that can be situationally determined (H. Fletcher). The fluidity that socially engaged practice requires enlists photography, drawing, rendering, 3-dimensional modeling, prototypes and mockups materials ranging from paper to plaster.
It’s an exciting time to be an artist!
Newsletter 023
There’s no greater experience than to enjoy one another’s company over an elevated, intentionally prepared meal. Our leadership team, including spouses, met in January for an 8:30 pm dinner at Bongi’s in Perkinsville, IN. It’s a tavern that requires reservations months ahead of time, thus the Christmas party one month into 2023. Well worth the wait. With the hustle and bustle of Christmas deadlines behind us, we were freer to focus on celebration. Our waiter was so colorful, enhancing our experience. His ability to rattle off every scrumptious detail of the food pairings was impressive. His enthusiastic communication made every item on the menu feel like the best possible option, making it hard to select just one dish.
The combination of the company of our team and the rich and flavorful dining experience was a perfect example of something “made better than it was supposed to be made” because of one person’s full investment in the experience of dining. We expected a really good meal, but we didn’t expect the friendly character sprinkled over the menu descriptions and the humor perfectly placed during our interactions.
It’s with this kind of genuine intention that we work to approach the projects for our partners. We hope for delight when our approach to solving someone’s design problem is beyond their expectations. The solution has to tell the best parts of their story. It has to be genuine, creating something better than it was supposed to be made!
KENNEDY ART CENTER &
MARION DESIGN CO. GRAND OPENING
MAY 5, 2023
5:00 TO 8:00 PM
326 SOUTH WASHINGTON ST.
MARION, IN 46952
One of our greatest joys is utilizing design to tell the story of people in our community who are working together to do good things! We recently completed a brand identity for three Grant County Chambers who came together and agreed to work together as one organization rather than three separate entities. The Marion, Gas City, and Upland Chamber Directors, Kylie Jackson, Liz Adams, and Dianne Hovermale and their board members came together to agree on a unified new name, Greater Grant County.
From their vision, our hope was to create a brand that reflected their mission to be a catalyst for business growth, convener of leaders & influencers, and a champion for a stronger Grant County. Through the divergent and convergent research, synthesis, and ideation process we narrowed our concepts to present to the team of directors. After consulting their boards and reviewing their vision, they finalized their preference to reveal the final logo and brand guidelines.
Our proposal began with a question and concluded with a declaration of celebration. What does it mean to propel growth? To be a catalyst? To accelerate? Greater Grant County is the one stop shop that helps push people, community, businesses, and the economic growth from the ground up. Through an arrow that comes from the “G” it makes the corners of our square county expand and grow. What emerges is greater than what it was before. Ultimately celebrating the people of Grant County - we emerge connected, raising a rallying cheer, “Go Greater Grant!”
Ongoing relationships built on trust and vision are fundamental to our mission as a community based design studio. Layla was one of our first connections as we launched our work in downtown Marion. She advocated for us to the County Commissioners so we could work from the old Salin Bank on the corner of 3rd and Washington. This became our studio home for the first three years of our work. She continues to partner with us as we pursue revitalization of downtown Marion and work with clients to elevate the quality of design emerging from organizations and businesses.
AUDRA FRIEDEN
Magnolia Graphic Designer
Audra Frieden is a Colorado native with a passion for skateboarding, running (competed on the IWU women’s track team) and design that inspires. As a placemaking and graphic design intern at Marion Design Co. in the summer of 2021, she states that one of the most valuable things she learned from her time in Marion is how much presence changes perception. Before moving to Indiana, the narrative she would hear about the city of Marion were predominately negative. However, the more she became immersed in the city and community through her time at MDCO, her love for the city grew. Working with the MDCO team each day to stand shoulder to shoulder with other community members who were invested in the city inspired her and excited her to learn how much opportunity Marion really had to offer. Her time at Marion Design Co instilled a deep passion for human centered design, pushing her to always think about the core needs she’s trying to address and empathize with the people she’s designing for.
One of the projects she enjoyed the most was creating a set of postcards with illustrations of the city of Marion for the Christmas in July event. “I loved it because it felt like a tangible way to celebrate a place that is full of wonderful people & opportunities. I wanted to create something that inspired people to develop a deeper connection and new appreciation for their city,” says Audra. Her postcards are still available in shops around the city.
Audra is currently a graphic design intern at Magnolia in Waco, TX, where she’s designing for retail marketing and guest experience. She’s always been inspired by the design and content from their magazine, Magnolia Journal, so after graduating with her BFA in Visual Communication Design, she applied for Magnolia's internship program and was able to get connected to the creative team.
She’s currently finding inspiration from staying connected with friends in the creative world (many of whom are from her MDCO cohort!), observing historic architecture in the cities she’s spent time in over the last year and getting involved in community-based organizations in Waco such as Mission Waco.
Wendy Puffer, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer
I have a love/hate relationship with imposter syndrome. My efforts to blend in with the crowd have often left me with the exact feelings I opposed. I recall hanging out with the smart kids in high school, carefully veiled by their reputation with my secret stash of average grades. I was an imposter of my own doing.
Now, as one who’s raised teens, I’ve embraced the imposter syndrome of risk. For me, the feeling has become a signifier that tells me I’m sitting on the right side of risk. I’ve shifted the title from identifying my need for approval of outside sources to embracing an innate intuition to meet people’s needs. In order to keep my intuition in check, I’ve discovered key disciplines critical to growth so I have the courage to shout a risky “yes" to the right things.
Top on my list of courage builders is reading. I read something everyday. Each morning, always with a cup off coffee in hand, my reading begins with the most effective text of courage, the Bible. From stories to anecdotes, it sets me on track for how to approach the day.
The reading I do throughout the day comes from diverse resources in order to leverage various blocks of time to take in inspiration or key insights for my latest interests. Thanks to technology I’m able to read in the dark, while exercising, in the car while driving, during work, or resting on my sofa. Currently I’m reading Hangry: A Startup Journey (written by the founder of Grub Hub), To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink, Good to Great by Jim Collins, Maps of the World according to Illustrators and Storytellers, Atlas of Cities by Paul Knox, An Incomplete and Subjective List of Terms and Topics Related to Art and Social Practice, Art is Life by Jerry Saltz, and The Gift of Failure by Ari Rategegar. I just finished Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Auner, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff, Dare to Lead by Brene Brown, and To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue.
The voices in these books include messages I agree with - don’t agree with, theories I resonate with - have no experience with, world views familiar - unfamiliar, and words that I embrace - or resist. I’m ready to continue teetering on the edge of risk. It’s where I belong and, I’m discovering from my reading, where many others choose to live.
Mind the gap.
The spatial gap between the door and the platform at a train station is critical. If it didn’t exist, each train entering the station would screech with an unbearably high-pitched sound. No human would be able to tolerate it. While the phrase, “mind the gap” is a warning, it is also a statement of permission. The patron has permission to take a bigger step, to notice what’s below, and to avoid danger.
What gap exists for your good? Notice it. Avoid danger. Take a bigger step.
Interstitial space.
Consider the value of the “spaces between” - the hidden microcosm of mechanisms that operate function for the here and now while on standby for the next new thing.
Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute was the first building to utilize this groundbreaking architectural horizontal membrane. Borrowing from the biological phenomenon of our human body’s built-in interstitial space, he integrated an entire floor between each occupied floor for easy access to mechanical, electrical, and technological components to allow for systems that were easily available to change as the occupant’s needs changed.
What would happen if we zeroed in on the spaces between organizations, political parties, and businesses, creating a conduit outside of each entity (designed for nimble change) that buoyed the relationships between the units?
In the body, interstitial space is the continuous structure of fluid that surround the cells throughout the body. They are capable of carrying disease, waste, or particles of healing.
What if we, as a community, focused on the spaces between rather than the units that are difficult to change in an effort to dispose of waste and diseases of the past, bringing about healing? Chances are, we’d be drawn to spend more time between our units, exposing ourselves to discover agreements rather than rejection (often prompted by assumptions).
Let’s agree to step into the confession, forgiveness, and healing conversations interstitial spaces could provide.
Plinth.
London’s Trafalgar Square is flanked by four elevated plinths. The two southern plinths house two military generals. The two northern plinths are larger and were originally designed to hold equestrian mounted figures. The northeastern plinth was completed with George IV mounted stately on his horse. The northwest plinth was to hold an equestrian statue of King William IV, but as with many projects, the money ran out.
When the money runs out, some of the most impactful projects emerge as was the case with the fourth plinth.. After 150 years of debate regarding the fate of the plinth, the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts) commissioned three works of art to be displayed on the plinth. This commenced the fourth plinth as a public place for artists. Acting as an “artistic megaphone,” topics of significance by international artists are permitted in public conversations sparked by the visual prompt looming overhead on this 23’ tall platform at the base of the National Gallery stairs in the square.
Currently, Antelope by Malawi born artist, Samson Kambalu, is on display through 2023. This resin, stainless steel, and bronze sculpture is based on a 1914 photograph of pan-Africanist Baptist preacher John Chilembwe and European missionary John Chorley. It challenges the meaning of classic materials of the past with the contemporary culture wars of today. Both men, one double the size of the other, wear hats as an act of defiance. At the time, black men were not allowed to wear hats in the presence of their colonial rulers. In this context, they stand proud at the same elevation of their oppressors.
What social plinth in the public square is ready for your artistic voice?