THIS IS OUR BLOG.
Privilege of the edge.
It’s 2024 and it’s not comfortable. Sitting on the edge frustrates the senses. Should we feel comfortable or…
It’s 2024 and it’s not comfortable. Sitting on the edge frustrates the senses. Should we feel comfortable or anxious? Should we lean back toward what’s familiar or lean into the air of the unknown? My curiosity nudges me to the unknown.
It’s in the unknown that we discover people’s needs previously unrevealed.
It’s in the unknown that we discover our capacity never tapped.
It’s in the unknown that we seek God.
Newsletter 033
Were you at the launch of Marion Made in 2018? It was a hot August evening but the heat didn’t melt the excitement and energy of the standing-room-only crowd in the south alley of the downtown square. They poured out onto the sidewalk to hear Tim George MC, Luke Anspach perform original music, and Kristin Salate of Trace Fashion speak and, of course, catch a glimpse of the 20 outfits strutt down the runway modeled by local kids, teens, and adults.
This significant event, an idea sparked by one of our former interns, Yeabi Tabb (currently a grad student at Parson’s New School New York) was in response to a Marion Cinema House (Marion Design Co’s summer movie house) showing of The True Cost, a riveting 2015 documentary highlighting the poor labor practices of the fashion industry. We were passionate about informing our community of the impact this practice has on a local level.
Leading up to the fashion show, we hosted a one-day workshop with teens, college students, and the Quilters Hall of Fame. Within a three-hour period, teams created outfits for the fashion show made from sustainably sourced garments from local resale stores. The designers tore the clothes apart and remade them into beautiful creations ranging from fashionable ensembles to outrageous costumes (think dragons!).
The show was recreated in 2020 in the space where the Five Points Axe Throwing is currently located. This space, previously only accessible through the Boston Hill Center was vacant with only framing and tattered drywall on the walls. Our design team transformed the space into a high-end fashion show venue with colored lights, motion graphics, and a raised runway. Jer Nelsen (former IWU photography professor) and his team and IWU facilities gave their time and expertise along with donated light equipment, stage risers, and chairs to make it possible to create the atmosphere we imagined! After a lot of cleaning and quick construction for makeshift dressing rooms and more, the venue was transformed. The show was followed by a celebratory AfterParty with a DJ and dancing while eating gorgeous slices of pies made by Paul Allison. Check out the video of the show on our website!
Through the support of the Marion Arts Commission and the Indiana Arts Commission, we’re bringing the original workshop, fashion show, and AfterParty back to downtown Marion! The outfits will be on display for the Marion Made Fashion Exhibit at the Kennedy Art Center from February through April of 2024.
Here’s the schedule of events. Details will be released on the Marion Arts Commission, Kennedy Art Center, and Marion Design Co. Instagram and Facebook pages as they’re available.
Fashion Maker Workshop: Saturday, January 20, 2024
(Deadline to RSVP for the Workshop by midnight: January 16, 2024)
Open studio: Jan 24 and 27 for Fashion Makers
Marion Made Fashion Show: Saturday, February 3, 2024. Seating is limited! Tickets will be released on January 3, 2024
Gallery Opening of the Marion Made Exhibit at the Kennedy Art Center: Saturday, February 10
The outfits will be on display through April 2024
We hope you’ll attend and get involved! Here’s how! Donate a year-end gift to the Marion Arts Commission to help offset costs for the workshop, fashion show, and afterparty!
The 3 TIER options are:
Tier 1 $50 VIP reserved seating for two people
Tier 2 $100 VIP covers expenses for one model. We have 25 models slated to walk the runway! You’ll receive VIP reserved seating for two people at this tier plus your name and logo will be posted at the door and on the stage at the event.
Tier 3 $300 Toward prizes, catering, music and DJ staff, lights, and stage design. You’ll receive VIP reserved seating for up to 4 people and your logo and name will be posted on all promotional material.
Click the button below and you’ll be directed to the Marion Arts Commission website. Click the Donate button which will take you to the Community Foundation MAC Donation page. Select the ONE-TIME donation option. Write Tier 1, 2, or 3 and any other helpful information in the Special Instructions box.
We’re grateful for longstanding partners who have entrusted their stories to us through multiple projects! Dr. Amanda Drury, Professor of Practical Theology at Indiana Wesleyan University is one such person.
We just recently created the brand identity for one of her most recent projects funded by the Lilly Foundation called Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program. From building blocks as table decorations to signage, Dr. Drury and her team utilized the brand to strengthen the story and cast vision at a recent conference for 55 churches from all over the United States at The Alexander in Indianapolis.
From designing the Imaginarium brand to applying placemaking principles for a trauma-informed space at the Brain Kitchen and speaking with audiences about designs’ impact at conferences (click here to view the recording of a talk we gave at Princeton University, May 2022), she’s entrusted us with multiple projects.
Reservations for the gallery, conference room, and kitchen spaces are available for parties, meetings, and events at the Kennedy Art Center. Make your reservation for 2024 here!
Peter Troutner, Chief Creative Officer
Sometimes the fashion world and industry seem so far away - unattainable, unreachable, and unrealistic - but even here in our small midwestern city I’ve seen fashion take root, grow, and inspire people. Since the very beginning of the MarionMade fashion show, I’ve seen creativity blossom and flourish in the hands of citizens, students, and professionals alike.
It’s shown me that in the hands of ordinary people - we can reuse clothes and things around us to highlight the creativity of our people and how that can illuminate and share joy with a wider audience. In the second year of the fashion show I participated as a model and that is still one of my top Marion memories watching people show up get excited and work together to create beauty.
MarionMade has made it so that fashion is no longer something attainable or far away - from my first year designing an outfit to strutting the runway in year two I’m ready to get back in the action and see what others have to offer in a world of endless possibilities. I want to see how you reinterpret the things around you and gather diverse perspectives into a collaborative fashion experience anyone can try their hand at.
Newsletter 032
Design creates a framework for all kinds of stories and experiences. In the case of the Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program Conference, the brand we created took the form of conference signage, promotional materials, and even tablecloths! We have the privilege of working with a dynamic team that is leveraging the power of design thinking as a framework for innovation in the church. With a grant from the Lilly Foundation, Dr. Amanda Drury, (Indiana Wesleyan University) and her team are gathering leaders from churches around the country to develop new ways of supporting families in the church as they navigate the challenges they confront in today’s culture.
On Friday, October 20th, we hosted a gallery opening for an exhibit curated by Marion Design Co. and the Marion Arts Commission and made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission along with the Community Foundation of Randolph County through an Arts Project Grant. "How Do We Get Here" seeks to pull the first thread toward unraveling the intricate layers of history, culture, and design that have converged to create Marion's contemporary racial landscape. This exhibition recognizes that race is not an abstract concept but an integral part of our residents' everyday experiences.
At the heart of "How Do We Get Here" are the voices and stories of our residents. Through demographic surveying, personal interviews, and thoughtful questions of curiosity, we’ve created a context for individuals to share their experiences, struggles, and triumphs in the context of race. As an individual explores this exhibition, our hope is that "How Do We Get Here" not only informs their understanding but also prompts thoughtful reflection on the experiences and definitions of racism within our community. By acknowledging and learning from our past, we aim to collectively create a more inclusive, empathetic, and equitable future.
The four main sections of the exhibit are:
Marion’s Tapestry Dot Voting: As you explore the exhibition, you will find a designated area where you can place a dot sticker on categories that represent your race and ethnicity, as well as those of your family's origin. This simple yet impactful gesture will contribute to a collective visual representation of the rich tapestry of identities within our community.
Lived Experience: The photographs displayed in this portion of the exhibition serve as a powerful testament to the courageous residents of Marion, IN, who have generously shared their personal experiences and perspectives on the complex issues of race and equality. These individuals have participated in recorded interviews, where they were asked three fundamental questions that delve into the heart of the matter: What is Racism? Have you experienced racism? Are all races equal? The aim of this exhibition is not only to inform but also to prompt introspection and inspire change. It invites you to relate to the narratives shared by your fellow community members and to consider how their stories might compel you to take action in your own way. Each personal account is a call to empathy, a challenge to confront inequality, and an opportunity to contribute to positive change within Marion, IN, and beyond.
Do you see racism? This design display features historic and current artifacts which have faced criticism for their alleged racially charged design elements. The guest is invited to actively participate in this thought-provoking conversation by casting a vote by dropping an orange or purple marble in the glass jar next to each artifact with a vote indicating whether they think the object is offensive or not offensive. The objects include a Yellow Whistle, the Black Sambo children’s book, the Sleeping Mexican statue, a Redskins pendant, the Chiquita Bananas logo, Aunt Jemima syrup, and Saltine crackers.
Finally, each visitor has a chance or provide their response to three questions asking for their reactions to the show and how we move forward with hope. Over the course of November and December, we’ll continue to collect the community’s input.
We invite you to come see the show and interact with the exhibit. Your voice is critical to us understanding our community and how racism has impacted all of us. We invite you to come see the show and interact with the exhibit. Your voice is critical to us understanding our community and how racism has impacted all of us. We’re open T-F 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sat. 11:00-3:00.
“Unreasonable Hospitality” ( a term borrowed from the book title by Will Guidara) is a practice critical to every detail we plan when hosting guests in our studio at the Kennedy Art Center. BLOOM, a women’s conference hosted by United Way and Greater Grant County, asked us to host an event this year designed to celebrate the amazing women in our county. In the Korean culture, the dinner table is a central communal experience. It seemed only fitting that we bring that type of experience to our kitchen. After months of planning the menu with intentional interaction during the dining experience, we opened to doors to a full house of “open to try anything” individuals. Our team of volunteers and MDC leaders served our guests with professionalism and generosity. The energy and joy in the room was contagious! With the grill central to the dining experience, everyone enjoyed dining on Pork Buns, Bulgoki, nine types of Banchan (side dishes including Kimchi), Ramen and dumplings, Spring Rolls, Soju and Korean coffee, to drink, and Strawberry Mochi Mash with homemade sorbet for dessert. We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and the faithful volunteers who served with grace.
If you’re exploring options for hosting an event for the end of the year or to bring in the new year, consider hosting it at the Kennedy Art Center! Event rental details can be found at https://www.kennedyartcenter.co/event-rental. If you’re interested in hiring our team to create the experience by cooking for you, email us at hello@mariondesign.co. We custom-make every experience to fit what your hopes are for your guests.
What do Pella and Mason City, Iowa have in common with Marion, Indiana?
Both communities are working toward empowering their residents to celebrate its history and vibrant future. Last month we traveled for a three-day vision trip with other local leaders to learn about their growth and unique storytelling to tourists. We were inspired to celebrate what’s happening in our community and continue the momentum of collaboration. More plans are in the works!
We want to be home with family on Small Business Saturday, so we’re celebrating SBS all month! We’ll be featuring gift bags curated by our team with pairings from our collection of products designed to encourage and inspire through December 15th! Each package is a one-of-a-kind so once it’s gone, it won’t be offered again. A 15% discount is applied to the total package! These can be given as an entire set or divided to give as individual gifts. Buy one (or more) for yourself and several as Christmas gifts. Each week we’ll be launching new packages, so watch your email inbox for new package announcements. Come on in and check out the products and purchase instantly or we also hand deliver within a 30 mile radius for just $5! Shipping rates beyond local vary according to location.
Wendy Puffer, NCIDQ, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
At age 63 I have my dream job! There isn’t a title for it. I’d call it more of a mindset brought to life. What does it look like? It’s a blanket of hospitality that covers creative contexts designed to bring joy. In one month, I’ve had the privilege of serving people with an amazing team to design dining experiences, spaces, brands, art exhibits, faith-based experiences, community activities, classroom experiences, grant writing ideation, material and finish plans, product buying experiences, strategic planning sessions, and design thinking sessions. When I’m designing for life, there’s no limit to the conversations and opportunities available.
As we approach Thanksgiving, my hope is that wherever you’re doing your work, you’re making it your dream job. Whether it’s changing diapers or leading a multi-million dollar company, the dream is in the “why” of the job. The “why” is always found in the “who.” Who are you serving? Are they receiving the joy from you that the job affords? If not, then wiggle and shift the job a bit. Adapt the parts that you can control. Figure out why you’re doing it and if it’s serving those who deserve your attention. Wiggle and shift so you’re able to settle into joy.
All your heart. All your ways.
Our ways follow our heart. Our ways show up through our decisions, impulses, and…
Our ways follow our heart. Our ways show up through our decisions, impulses, and leanings.
Do you like what you see?
Do you like what others see?
Look at your heart. You might want to change your ways.
Newsletter 031
Marion Design Co. is a woman-owned, 80% women-staffed company. During this month of October, as we prepare to host a slō dinner for Bloom on October 26th, we celebrate the women leaders we have the privilege of working alongside. It’s fair to say that each of these women exhibits traits of wisdom and compassion in multiple ways, creating significant change in our community.
In a recent Harvard Business Review, it’s reported that Potential Project conducted a multi-year study of 5,000 companies across nearly 100 countries to learn how leaders do hard things while still remaining good human beings. The findings were summed up in two key traits: wisdom and compassion. Wisdom is defined as the courage to do what is needed to get things done. Compassion is defined as the care and empathy shown towards others. When combined, job satisfaction is 86% higher for employers who work for wise and compassionate leaders than those with a leader who does not embrace those characteristics.
The study also revealed that 55% of the women were ranked as wise and compassionate compared to just 27% of men. By a 2:1 margin, followers said that women leaders versus male leaders are able to do hard things in a human way. We can name several men who demonstrate both wisdom and compassion. This isn’t to diminish their character but to elevate the unique ability of women to merge these strengths exemplified through their leadership styles.
Marion has a significant number of businesses and organizations throughout our county that are led by women who demonstrate excellence through wisdom and compassion. In order to narrow the list for this newsletter, we’ll just mention those within a half-mile radius of Marion Design Co.
Tashema Davis at Echo Gallery | Linda Wilk at Hands of Hope | Tia Brewer at Hope House | Mary Eckerle at the Marion Public Library | Dawn Brown at Community Foundation of Grant County | Dawn Conwell at True Envy and Ashley’s Ice Cream | Stephanie Hilton-Siebert at Marion Health | Megan Gilmore at Larks Song | Kylie Jackson at Greater Grant County | Leanna Smith at the United Way | Lisa Dominissee at Radiant Health | Judy Bennet at Los Amores | Meagan Orr at Community School of the Arts | Michelle Doyle at Halstead Architects | Leigha Sprinkle and Kate Ott at Arrow Nutrition to name a few!
Let them know you notice the good work they’re doing. Write them a note, treat them to lunch, or simply say thank you. Your encouragement goes a long way! You might even consider treating them to join you at slō, a Bloom event!
Make it stand out
Design Thinking empowers creativity to soar! Our current schedule has been filled with half-day and full-day design thinking sessions, each one custom-created to meet the needs of businesses, organizations, and educational institutions' strategic and innovative planning.
We’ve found that “play” breaks down barriers that distract from mutual desires to achieve success beyond our wildest imaginations. If you’ve found your team or organization stuck in a rut, con and chances are, we can create a design thinking experience that will free your group to think outside the box!
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!
Art and design have the power to spark curiosity. Oftentimes we go through the course of a day confronted with biases that we’re not aware of. We can choose to stick our heads in the sand or open up spaces to have safe conversations. The Kennedy Art Center has chosen the latter.
Have you ever wondered what a preschooler, middle schooler, or even adult thinks about racism? Have you ever looked at products on the grocery store shelf and felt like something “just wasn’t right?” Have you ever wondered what races exist in Marion and how many might walk into an art gallery?
The upcoming Kennedy Art Center “How Do We Get Here” S gallery show is designed to spark your curiosity through experiential exhibits. Join us for the opening on Friday, October 20th from 7:00-9:00. While you’re downtown, also be sure and head over to the Firestone Building across from the Marion Public Library from 5:00-9:00 for live music and more!
*CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO PURCHASE ART FROM OUR CURRENT SHOW BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS OCTOBER 13TH!
Angie Thompson, Chief Financial Officer
One morning driving to work, I noticed a woman in the vehicle next to me frantically putting on her make up while at the stop light. She was obviously multi-tasking, but I could also tell she was a bit hurried as she quickly moved from mascara to another make up tool. Part of me started to say, “Well, I hope she is paying attention when that light turns green!”, but I quickly replaced that
with “Good morning fellow working female, I see you headed to work, putting on the finishing touches for the day, with a million other things going on inside that head of yours! You probably folded a load of laundry, put supper in the crock pot, and checked someone’s homework all before you left for your day!” I gave her a quiet nod in affirmation as we both pulled away from the stop light. It was my affirming way of saying, “You’ve got this! Go conquer the day!”.
Many times, in a female’s strive for leadership in her spheres of influence, she encounters non-affirming setbacks that take her off track mentally and physically. She may put a lot of effort and time into something that is done very well, only to not receive any feedback at all. When females are affirmed in their actions, they develop a sense of purpose, self-confidence, and identity. This leads to a level of risk-taking and creativity in females that a community benefits from.
So how can we help develop female leaders in our community? When we see females stepping out and entering new areas, encourage them! Send them a message, or a note, visit their business, and give constructive feedback. Acknowledge and show grace when people are trying new things. Leadership doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to learn and it takes an environment that fosters that learning. Let’s encourage young women to lead and dream. Give them opportunities to make decisions and to safely make mistakes. These things will only make communities stronger! Let’s say to each other, “I see you getting ready for the day! Go conquer it!”
“A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.”
- Maya Angelou
Wonder.
Often it seems that we have to undertake the longest journey to arrive at what has been nearest all along. Mornings rarely find us so…
Often it seems that we have to undertake the longest journey to arrive at what has been nearest all along. Mornings rarely find us so astounded at the new day that we are unable to decide between adventures. We take on days with the same conditioned reflex with which we wash and put on our clothes each morning. If we could be mindful of how short our time is, we might learn how precious each day is.
There are some people who will never forget today. - John O’Donohue
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!
Silence.
John Cage, the American composer, created the infamous 4’33” in 1952. This movement of three sets held the title Silent Prayer in 1948 until its launch. The performance featured…
John Cage, the American composer, created the infamous 4’33” in 1952. This movement of three sets held the title Silent Prayer in 1948 until its launch. The performance featured, pianist, David Tudor, who was instructed to play Tacit (Latin for silent) for three intervals - each separated by the abrupt banging of the opening and closing of the piano keyboard lid. The ambient unplanned sounds surrounding the audience (ie. coughing, shuffles, and whispers) during its debut contributed to the rhythm of silence revealing that even in silence, there is always something happening — contributions of being human.
We are alive, and it’s in this life that we are surrounded by the swipes, sighs, and glances of humans around us. If we pause in silence, our senses will be heightened to the rhythm of the sounds of slight gestures prompted by the people around us. We’ll hear life in it’s slightest. What a small but peaceful place to be.
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.
Power of beauty.
“I don’t think much about beauty when I work, but if the result isn’t beautiful, it probably wasn’t right.” — Buckminster Fuller
When everything is quantified, beauty is pushed to the periphery. It is confused with decoration, a dispensable luxury, a charming surface that hides whatever is important. This concept of beauty is false. We need beauty at the heart of everything we do. As a mathematician, beauty is one of the highest measures of intelligence. The greatest formulae and theorems are notable for their elegance. Beauty is the guarantee of balance, efficiency, organization, and inventiveness. Nature is beautiful because it keeps getting things right. Even hidden things need beauty. Steve Jobs insisted that even the motherboards inside Apple computers should be beautiful.
Beauty is a persuader. For smart ideas to win out over bad ones, we have to make them smartly seductive. Beauty does that. Beauty takes good and makes it extraordinary. The quickest way to make old solutions look outdated is to make new ones more beautiful. This is why good design is so critical to business solutions. Not only does it have the potential to solve the inner workings of a business (strategy, business model, vision casting, etc.), but it inspires the extraordinary. It makes everything irresistibly attractive.
Chances are, if you wear a dress or suit that you feel attractive in, you’ll present yourself with more confidence and courage. The same is true for your PowerPoint presentations, your printed brochures, your website, or your Instagram feed. It’s also true for your office, building facade, sidewalk, or checkout station. If you feel that what you’re offering your clients is more appealing, they’ll feel more comfortable and therefore potentially increase your sales.
Ironically, a lot of recent design work we’ve been completing has been for the church. They understand that innovation and beauty are an elixir for curiosity. From prayer books to devotionals to interactive boxes, churches are supporting the value of faith with beautiful design.
Beauty is key to effective design.
Art + science = design.
Design demands whole-brain thinking. We’re familiar with the concept of left-brain and right-brain thinking; the left brain is scientific and analytical, while the right brain is creative and intuitive. In design, it’s ideal to engage the whole brain — synthesizing both left and right, both art and science. Through extensive research, we bring together the quantitative and the qualitative with analytics and invention. If we understand the value of both sides of the brain, we’re able to listen more empathetically, rather than with judgment.
This mindset lends itself not only to creating visual beauty, but also to stepping into strategy and analytics. We can see a system and create multiple paths in our minds in order to solve a problem. This is important because we know there isn’t just one way to solve a problem, especially when people are involved… which is all the time! We have to remain empathetic and flexible since as humans, we often grow and change. The world is changing all the time, and our solutions must be able to change with the environment.
Critical, not cynical.
We must be critical, not cynical. Cynical thinking celebrates negativity and is passively destructive. When we think cynically, everything appears dark. Cynical thinking is neither positive nor negative. It has no “dog in the fight.”
What we need instead is the reasoned process of analysis, of fully understanding the nature of the problem and then finding the freedom to design solutions. The most powerful critique of a bad solution is a better one. As designers, our task is to create better solutions, and that process begins with optimism.
Optimism in action.
The 21st century demands that designers take responsibility. Our charge is to take responsibility for the profound problems in our world. Where we fail to design for all life, we design for failure.
So, as designers, we run toward problems. We are first responders who don’t have the luxury of despair and cynicism because we have to quickly generate practical solutions. Analysis for a designer is both scientific and intuitive, creating meaningful questions. Generating better questions is one of the most important contributions a designer can make. But that contribution is always followed by asking, “What is to be done?” This is fact-based optimism.
In the end, we have to believe in the beauty of our dreams.
Welfare of all.
In 1957, British historian Arnold Toynbee said that in the long sweep of history, the twentieth century would be remembered as "an age in which human society dared to think of the welfare of the whole human race as a practical objective." This idea, in a way, is an enlarged view of the power of design and the heart behind what we do at Marion Design Co.
As human beings, we like to think of ourselves as the center of the universe. However, when we take the time to humbly understand our place in the universe, we find it brings more joy to consider the well-being of others before ourselves. According to well-known graphic designer Bruce Mau, “The fundamental idea of design is to make the world a better place.” It’s with this perspective, considering the welfare of all life, that Marion Design Co. strives to approach every design solution and business decision we pursue.
When we design for the welfare of all life, the parts we have control over should have no ugliness or death for us or for any life our lives touch. Everything we have learned in school and life has prepared us for a life of love. The work you love needs you. Real work needs optimism, passion, and beauty. It needs a kind of energy and commitment that only love can produce.
Newsletter 028
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in dreaming of the most ideal way to solve a problem. And sometimes it’s easy to forget we can open our garage door.
One of the 11 principles for creating great community places, as put forward by the Project for Public Spaces, is to “start with the petunias: lighter, quicker, cheaper.” This principle relies on the idea of tactical placemaking — using the resources you have to create spaces where people can interact more naturally together. The idea is that even if you don’t have the resources or authority to embark on an expansive project, you can start with simple steps like planting petunias to make an outdoor space more inviting. Or bringing a table and chairs outside to give people more places to sit and talk.
Now that we’re settled into the Kennedy Art Center and hosting more events, it’s time to ask ourselves: how can we use the resources we already have to better foster connection and more natural engagement downtown? Specifically, how can we encourage more members of our community to enjoy spending time outdoors while downtown?
One idea we’ve had is to make better use of the glass garage door in the Kennedy Art Center’s kitchen. What would change if we opened that door more regularly? What if we took some of the tables and chairs out onto the sidewalk? What could happen if we took more simple steps like that to engage with our community, instead of waiting around for a more perfect solution to appear?
So what’s in a door? A door can be a threshold, a conduit for connection, and an opportunity for tactical placemaking and starting with the petunias. As you think about your own space — whether here in Marion or far away — what simple steps could you take to create spaces that encourage interaction? Reply to this email to let us know how you could use $10 or less to create an invitation for conversation!
Over the past month, we have loved getting to host more events in our new home at the Kennedy Art Center! Here’s a peek into some of our favorite events so far:
Mini Masterclass
Marion Design Co. has been thrilled to put on our first two Mini Masterclasses — creative workshops and art talks meant to inspire creativity while bringing our community closer together.
This series started off beautifully with “Cut Tear Glue,” a collage workshop hosted by our own Emily and Peter Troutner. We loved getting to see everyone’s creativity come out in the collages they put together!
Our second Mini Masterclass, “Fun with Fabric,” was hosted by Sue Munn, Debra L. Shepler, and Deb Geyer from the Quilter’s Hall of Fame. These talented quilters brought insight and imagination in their demonstrations on fabric collage and using hand-dyed materials in quilting.
Our third Mini Masterclass “Finding the Extraordinary from the Ordinary,” was led by Henrik Söderström and Bruce Campbell, professors at Indiana Wesleyan University, they taught us about the role of objects and how when we defamiliarize these objects we can see things anew. The participants created a group installation piece visible for the next week at the Kennedy Art Center.
Rotary Lunch
Marion Design Co. was also blessed to welcome the Rotary Club into our space for a delicious lunch and wonderful time of conversation. We loved the opportunity to create a lunch experience where guests could focus on their relationships with one another while we took care of the food, prep work, and clean up. We look forward to hosting similar events for more organizations in the future!
What’s Next
We are also excited to host the Marion Arts Commission’s monthly meeting on Monday, July 17, Greater Grant County’s Early Bird Breakfast, Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 am, and to participate in the downtown Magic Market on Saturday, July 22 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Magic Market is a street market hosted by Magic by Monica and Strive Studio.
We are delighted to now offer event rentals at the Kennedy Art Center! You can rent out part or all of the Kennedy Art Center’s first floor. We have four rental packages available to meet your needs for your next party, corporate or non-profit event, or family celebration. Check out the Kennedy Art Center website for availability and pricing:
The Kennedy Art Center’s second-ever art exhibition is scheduled to launch July 28th with an artist reception from 7:00-9:00pm. A Story in Stills will run from July 28 to Sept. 22, and will feature the work of photographers local to Grant County. This show hopes to spotlight the stories that unfold around us in everyday life, as well as the more glamorous or romanticized stories we spin for ourselves. Stay tuned for further details about the show’s opening reception!
Peter Troutner, Chief Creative Officer
No matter where we are - we as individuals have the power to share, teach, and foster conversation.
Recently while halfway around the world in Greece I had the opportunity to lead a group of kids and teens in a design thinking exercise to help them understand who they were as a group.
These kids and teens were Third Culture Kids or TCKs meaning they often split their lives between multiple cultures and sometimes don’t feel at home fully anywhere. While leading them through a design thinking exercise they were able to see that here among fellow TCKs they were understood and had a collective identity. Post it notes began to fill the wall as they found the humorous similarities such as the universal nature of rice and shared their inner thoughts to friends far away “just visit so that I don’t have to explain.”
The post it notes became sketches and ultimately a flag they could fully identify with. I marvel at the way a design problem can bring people to recognize their commonalities and find an identity together. Whether that’s around the world, in your business, nonprofit, church, or family - a culture of creativity can help you recognize what makes you who you are and the commonalities that allow you to feel at home and valued.
Post it notes and pencils may just have the power to bring people together and all you have to do is ask a question.
Simple sabotoge for production.
Insist on doing everything through channels.
Make lengthy speeches.
Refer all matters to committees for further study.
Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
Haggle over precise wording of communications, minutes, and resolutions.
Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting.
Advocate “caution.”
[Paraphrased from the Simple Sabotage Field Manual created by the U.S. Office of Strategic Services]
Creative millieux.
What is our local creative milieux? Our commonalities of interdisciplinary practice in separate industries will operate best in a context that allows collaboration with one another. We need a place to show and tell, to review each other’s products and offer jobs that cross-fertilize — sharing skillsets.
This is where creative buzz develops.
The co-mingling of artists, artisans, designers, photographers, actors, students, educators, and writers in cafes, restaurants, and clubs, and gallery openings contributes to the blurring of the social worlds of work and lifestyle that is a distinctive dimension of creative industry clusters in our cities.
Let’s keep working together to discover our local creative milieux!
Newsletter 027
Since celebrating our grand opening with so many members of our community on May 5, we have been amazed by the number of visitors who have stopped by Marion Design Co. and Kennedy Art Center. We’ve had people set up appointments to get advice on leading teams, running small businesses, using effective design in marketing, discerning when to take risks, and more. We’ve also had the chance to conference with individuals about creative endeavors that sit close to their hearts.
Keep it coming! Our doors are open for you and all your ideas and questions.
Do you have an idea for a design project, a spark of inspiration about how to bring our Marion community closer together, or a vision of how we could help your brand flourish? Visit the Contact page on our website to book an appointment to discuss how we can serve as a consultant or advisor for your great ideas.
After a full year without a cohort of interns, we have been excited to welcome three new interns in the past month: Danielle Hembrock, our interior design intern and a rising senior at Ball State University; Anna McCreary, our graphic design intern as well as a Ball State senior; and Emily Dexter, our copywriting intern and a recent graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University. Over the past couple weeks, we have enjoyed settling into our new downtown space and beginning to collaborate on a variety of projects together.
We have much to look forward to in the coming months! Danielle most looks forward to gaining more hands-on experience in her field. Anna is excited to keep learning and meeting new people. Emily looks forward to expanding her skill set and further engaging with the Marion community. And we at Marion Design Co. are excited to share our new space with an incredible new team!
How do you design a space to be welcoming, educational, and inspiring all at once? Designing our new home at 326 S. Washington St. has been several years in the making, and our partnership with Chris Kennedy has produced great results.
The next time you stroll through Kennedy Art Center, take a look around you at the layout, the furniture, and the design elements that make the space feel cohesive and energized. We are proud to have partnered with Kennedy to develop the interior and exterior design of the studio and gallery as well as Kennedy Art Center’s visual brand identity.
Together, these two design processes resulted in both a space and a brand that reflect the legacy of the Kennedy family in Marion, bring energy and inspiration to our corner of downtown, and encourage the community to come together in new ways.
Kennedy Art Center and Marion Design Co. are excited to announce the opening of Kennedy Art Center’s second art exhibition: A Story in Stills: A Conversation Through Photographs on July 28th. This show will feature work by local photographers, highlighting pieces that ask us to consider the stories coming into focus around us. What do the scenes of everyday life have to tell us, and how does the everyday relate to more glamorized images?
If you are interested in submitting your work to be featured in A Story in Stills, contact kennedyartcenter@gmail.com. We especially hope to feature the work of photographers local to Grant County!
Wendy Puffer, Chief Executive Officer
Inspire all, not just the inspired.
326 South Washington is a place of inspiration transaction. Inspiration is not exclusive to those who inspire. It’s a gift whose value is elevated when it’s given away. Giving only requires doing the work. If you’re doing the work, others will notice and be inspired.
As a child, my morning wake-up call was always filled with the sound of my mom’s transistor radio blaring classical music and the clanging sound of her baking or the quiet presence of her painting wood or fabric. She was a maker. She didn’t know it, but I was inspired.
Now, as I work from a studio filled with art, next to other makers, pleasantly interrupted by spontaneous visitors, I’m inspired. Working from home was efficient, but it could lack the inspiration that comes from collaborative work. While working in a downtown building that peers through large picture windows toward other buildings revitalized by faithful risk takers, I’m constantly reminded of the long view toward empowering our community to do good for all, not just a few. We all need inspiration. And our greatest source of inspiration is each other. I feel blessed to get to work in a place where collaboration thrives — a place of inspiration transaction.
Learn from AIR.
In the new Amazon movie, Air, the story is told of Nike recruiter, Sonny Vaccaro who relentlessly pursues rookie basketball great, Michael Jordan. He risks his career and the entire basketball division of Nike in pursuit of something that’s never been done before. The creation of Air Jordan, a line of shoes completely created around one basketball player.
What teeters on the edge of foolishness was the wisest move the company would make. At a time when the company had solidified its place as third in the line of shoe sales, far behind Adidas and Converse, it had to make a choice. The choice to stick with what it was comfortable with or lay it all on the line including its entire budget on one never-been-done-before idea by one man.
While this story brings many lessons, the focus of this post is on the eventual collaboration between Sonny and his reluctant colleagues who grew in courage as they said “yes.” What’s significant about this path was that the courage, pride, and energy were generated by a unified focus of the team to create the pitch. There were no guarantees they would strike the deal with Michael Jordan, in fact, it was very clear that he was not at all interested in what they had to say. But by doing the research, knowing what rules to break, and building relationships, Sonny’s passion became the story to follow and the project to join.
As you watch this film, identify with one of the characters from Nike that fits you best. Every player was critical to the success of the outcome in the Air story. Sonny would not have won without the engineer, the CEO, or the marketing friend. At what point in the process of pursuing a crazy idea would you typically step in to fill the gap, strengthening the power and validity of the risk?
Be a player. Step in at any time to reduce the risk by your participation. Change always requires risk, not by just one player, but in community as one powerful force driven by the desire to create good. Chances are, in the same manner as this story, good will happen on the fringes of your goal to improve lives for many more than anticipated!
Multiply.
Rather than working hard to add…multiply! Multiplication recognizes what each element has to offer and leverages its capacity. Addition is an end in itself. Multiplication continues and expands beyond its original capacity.
What does this look like in community? When a leader creates a strategy with a multiplication framework, she’s transferring ownership of each branch of growth to those who invent the ideas. She’s not afraid of risk because she recognizes that when something fails, growth will take a turn toward life. When energy is fed the water and light it needs, it keeps moving toward growth. Good ideas live. Ideas that die make way for growth.
Keep moving. Trust people. Multiply for growth.