Our work is often a story of connection. Perhaps a previous client has connected us to a new one or we have the opportunity to connect people, organizations, or ideas. 

We had the immense honor of getting to work with Kalina on a project that held a close connection to her heart and her story. Now years after an event which made her feel like she had lost a beautiful connection in her life - she seeks to connect with teens who have experienced similar loss and grief. In addition to being tasked with designing a series of advent devotionals, Kalina asked us to name and create a brand for the work she is doing. Any time someone trusts us with their story we feel incredibly honored - especially when the work is so intimately wrapped up with a person’s individual story. 

Kalina brought us a story of grief, loneliness, and loss - one of tears - like Mary’s tears at the foot of the cross. Lilies of the valley was the visual connection to a grief that still allows growth and beauty to arise from the heartache. Legend has it that as Mary’s tears fell from her eyes they took seed and in its place lilies grew.

The other phrase Kalina brought us was “the elephant in the room.” This phrase takes on a whole new meaning when one has experienced the close loss of a friend or family member and this absence becomes a hole in every room we wish they were.

Our team took the lily and the elephant and reconstructed it into li-el. Li-el takes the two words and puts them together with an absence in the middle representing the loss and grief. The L’s form two walls - a room in which beauty can grow out of. And in that room is i.e. subtly referencing a placeholder for people to place their grief and perhaps take seed like Mary’s grief and see what comes out of it.

We can’t wait for this project to begin making connections, showing people they aren’t alone, and allow grief to let some beauty in.

As a designer, innovator, and problem-solver, her hope is to design solutions that create a positive impact and improve people’s lives. Having completed a master’s in a unique blend of design thinking, human-computer interaction, and transmedia storytelling Raquel feels empowered by joining the Marion Design Co. team. She states, joining the team “allows me to see my passion and skills come together as I use design thinking to learn more about people and opportunities for innovation!”

We just conducted our first Downtown Park Listening Session. With standing room only, through design thinking and discussion, we were able to hear everyone’s voice in some manner within a one hour gathering. This collaborative effort led by the City of Marion, Marion Design Co. and Halstead Architects was the first of several listening sessions we’re conducting as we empathetically apply what Marion and Grant County needs through our revitalization efforts. 

We hope to see you at an upcoming session! Our next one is scheduled for:

4:30pm - November 14th
Obi’s Barbeque.

But once the last piece was removed, the glass was easily removed from the frame, making way for new windows with more clarity and better insulation.

I was struck by the similarity this process is to our community’s efforts to make real change for a sustainable future. Strongholds serve their purpose for the time they’re given, but they have a limited life. The pursuit of relationships with unified vision take time and effort but, when accomplished, they free us to have conversations and cast vision with unprecedented creativity. We’re living in that time! 

• Wendy Puffer, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer

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