About Us
An empathy-driven design firm empowering communities through sustainable design solutions
OUR SERVICES
Each and every person has a powerful story. We believe in your story because you are the answer.
This Is Our Story
How can design empower radical change? How can designers employ empathy to develop relational design practices?
By building relationships and exchanging stories, the narrative of Marion began to change.
Founded by a collection of university professors in 2016, Marion Design Co. began with 17 students, amazing neighbors, an empty bank, and one 20ft. table. Without a real plan, but aware of a real need, we met with different members of the Marion community— both old-timers and newcomers.
As we listened to stories of both beauty and hardship, we came to know our community and our city more intimately. A community that was once the thriving metropolis of the Midwest was known as a bruised economy rooted in racial tensions. To many, Marion was the residue of a past with blighted storefronts, broken homes, and vacant warehouses.
When Marion Design Co. began its work, a story that stemmed from negativity and discouragement started blossoming into one of hope and vision. Our first project, creating a brand identity for the City of Marion, allowed us to deepen these relationships and walk with our community as we transitioned into a city with a common identity and tenacious hope.
Since this first project, we have moved buildings, worked with over fifty interns, expanded our portfolio beyond Marion, and continued to build and strengthen relationships. The impact of the Marion community on our own story has proven invaluable.
While it may look like a logo, a website, or a workspace, the work of Marion Design Co. is intentionally focused on collaboration, design thinking, and design advocacy, and is inseparable from the vitality of Marion and the stories it houses.
By creating sustainable design solutions, we provide educational freedom to the community. Only through collaboration can we empower the community, propel each other forward, and reveal the true identity of our amazing city and the true strength of the individuals who form it.
