NEWSLETTER 54
THIS IS OUR NEWSLETTER
GRATITUDE
As the year winds down, we’re reminded of how much there is to be thankful for—the people we collaborate with, the creativity we get to share, and the ideas that continue to challenge and inspire us.
This past month, Wendy had the chance to speak at the SMCCP Conference, where she led organizations through design thinking activities and meaningful conversation. In our gallery, People Make Place opened with a celebration of community and the artists who help us see our surroundings in new ways. And in the studio, we’ve been inspired by Isabelle Lucas, a senior student partnering with Marion Design Co. to reimagine how we share and express our design thinking services.
As we head into the holiday season, we’re feeling deeply grateful—for our partners, our clients, and everyone who continues to believe in the power of creativity to connect and transform. (And don’t forget to keep an eye out for our Black Friday sale—it’s our small way of saying thank you!)
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to, and what lies ahead.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT | 11.6.2
PSYCHEDELIC CELLAR T-SHIRT
Owned by Matthew Wilson, Psychedelic Cellar is a record store in downtown Marion that has quickly become a magnetic destination for music lovers. Matt has cultivated a welcoming space for vinyl collectors and has even hosted events that celebrate local musicians, drawing people from near and far into our downtown. Recently, we had the pleasure of designing T-shirts for his shop. It’s inspiring to see businesses like Psychedelic Cellar bring fresh energy and connection to our community, and we’re grateful to play a small part in their story.
Consider designing a t-shirt or any other merchandise as a unique, one of a kind Christmas gift for family, friends, or clients. Get in touch with us at hello@mariondesign.co and we’ll design something custom for you!
MDC EVENTS | 10.23.25
SMCCP ANNUAL GATHERING: DESIGN THINKING IN ACTION
At this year’s SMCCP Annual Gathering, Marion Design Co. led a hands-on workshop titled Design Thinking: Knowing Your Audience. Participants explored how empathy and curiosity can shape truly sustainable solutions by first understanding who they’re designing for.
Through five interactive activities, church leaders experienced powerful “aha” moments that armed them with new insight as they return to their congregations—helping them better understand those they serve and create lasting change in their ministries.
Marion Design Co. also offered participants a free Design Audit, a one-on-one meeting designed to help leaders identify opportunities where design can strengthen communication, storytelling, and community impact. We’ve loved getting to know so many people who are making lasting change in the lives of children and families through their ministries.
GRANT COUNTY VISITOR’S BUREAU | 10.29.25
DESIGN THINKING WITH THE GRANT COUNTY VISITOR’S BUREAU
Marion Design Co. recently partnered with the Grant County Visitors Bureau for a design thinking session focused on understanding: How can we best serve visitors of Grant County? Through creative activities and open conversation, participants explored what makes our community memorable and how visitors experience our local attractions, hospitality, and culture.
The session revealed powerful insights about the importance of storytelling, collaboration, and first impressions—helping shape a clearer vision for how Grant County can welcome and inspire guests from near and far. We’re excited to continue this partnership as the GCVB refines its strategy to showcase all the places and people that make our community truly unique.
KAC GALLERY | 10.3.2025
PEOPLE MAKE PLACE OPENING
At the beginning of October, the opening reception for People Make Place broke the record for our most attended event ever! It has been incredible to see collaborative art being fostered by a widespread community of passionate creatives—this exhibition features over thirty artists of all ages and walks of life.
This show in particular made for an engaging opening night, acting as a stage for people to try out the interactive elements for the first time. Children and families alike spoke on the telephones spread throughout the gallery, visitors marked their heights on Marion’s doorframe, and those who provided story-saturated paper shared the touching tales behind their submissions.
The vision for this show began with Henrik Söderström, Professor of Art at Indiana Wesleyan University, who imagined a way to celebrate the people of Marion through art and paper. By collecting meaningful papers at drop boxes across the city and churning them in the Hollander Beater, Henrik created handmade paper that quite literally carries the stories of our community. These sheets were then returned to artists to create upon, transforming local memories into visual expressions of connection and place.
It’s hard to put into words all that this exhibit entails, nor can it be properly understood without firsthand experience. This exhibit will be up until January 7th, so come and interact with it yourself to see how art is being made visible—and how our city and its residents are being celebrated. Dozens of artworks are for sale and include paintings, wood sculptures, and photographs created by Henrik, Will Carpenter, and Andrew Kondrat. These would make wonderful Christmas gifts!
And don’t miss it—Henrik Söderström, lead artist of the show, will be featured on the NPR podcast Pop of Culture, airing Friday and Saturday at noon, or listen anytime wherever you get your podcasts.
MDC STORE | 11.28.2025
BLACK FRIDAY SALE
It’s almost time for the biggest savings of the year! We opened our store with the mission to make beautifully designed products available in our rural community. Within the last couple years, our store has grown exponentially, truly encapsulating this mission more than ever before. We invite you to peruse our website to take a look at exactly what we now have available! But you’ll especially want to review our inventory to get an idea of what you’d like to grab during our Black Friday event, because we’ll be offering 30% off the entire store - from jewelry, to home goods, to books, games, and more.
This year, we’ll be offering the majority of our Black Friday experience online, with customers able to apply the 30% off code “BF30” to any order between midnight on Black Friday (Nov. 28th) and 5 pm the following Tuesday (Dec. 2nd). As an addition, we will be open for the sale in-person on that same Tuesday, so if you’d like to skip the shipping cost and select the “Pickup” option at checkout, we’ll have it ready for you then! Or, if you’re just the kind of person who prefers to shop in-person, we’ll be ready for you too. We’ll be open between 10 am - 5 pm on that Tuesday, December 2nd!
GOT AN IDEA? CONNECT WITH US!
If you’ve been carrying around an idea—big or small—and you’re wondering what it might look like brought to life through design, we’d love to hear about it. We believe design is about bringing the soul of your vision to the surface and shaping it into something that moves people. Whether you’re at the spark stage or halfway there, our process is built to listen deeply, uncover what matters most, and accelerate your idea into something tangible, meaningful, and ready to make an impact. Let’s start the conversation. Contact us at hello@mariondesign.co!
