What do numbers, flowers, dots and tittles have to do with Marion? In the same manner that marble, concrete, wood, and building materials comprise the landscape of the city, they tell a story. Objects are embedded with stories. Our own designers have created a series of postcards that reflect stories told through objects (available on our website to purchase). The postcards are simple white backgrounds with black shapes and forms to emphasize the simplicity and clarity of the embedded story without distraction. The simplicity makes room for the story. It may be as obvious as buildings named by their exact location or as illusive as an etching row of rectangles or concentric circles of lines that identify natural and manmade objects found on the streets of Marion. The story lies in the objects history, the person’s interpretation who drew it, and your response as you gaze at it. Objects are opportune for layers of stories over time. 

This newsletter will introduce varying methods of intentionally curating objects in your life during this season. What stories might you discover as we introduce objects curated to bring joy and generosity to your closing of 2022 and welcoming of 2023?

The three key elements we consider as we select materials for our Marion Design Co. Store to sell are:

1. Beauty in the form. The object must reflect design principles that enhance the users visual and tactile senses when in use.

2. Classic in nature. While the object’s intent may be promoted as new, the function and form carries with it a classic human element that continues into the future. Whether it be the function of versatility (Baggu bags) or the proportion of balance (Baron Fig pen).

3. Design within reach. Good design should be available locally. While most of our items can be purchased online from a retailer many miles away, our intent is to bring those objects closer to home so you’re able to support Grant County’s local economy through your patronage and examine the objects before you buy. If good design is within reach, it’s more likely to become a part of your story.

The industrial revolution gets a bad rap. With the invention of manufacturing, machinery and the increased production process has been blamed for reducing the meaning of objects. Why do we blame technology? Technology brought us the electric hot pot! We’ve come a long way from the plug in metal hot pots we used to use in college (likely against dorm room policy). Technology also brought us the coffee percolator; that large metal and plastic decanter found at most church pot lucks that made industrial Folgers an important part of our stories. 

Today coffee making is designed, through technology, to slow us down in our hurry up culture. The “pour-over” with its narrow, gooseneck spout and limited size curate a constrained, intentional cup of coffee. As the coffee slowly saturates the just-ground coffee beans, pauses are necessary to allow the water to seep at it’s own speed through the dense grounds. Every drip is saturated with smooth aroma and flavor. The perfect cup of coffee. We’ve selected the Fellow products with gatherings, conversation, and aromatic experiences in mind. With their beautifully shaped Move and Everyday mugs and the elegant Stagg and Clara series, we believe you’ll want to slow down for the moment to enjoy your cup of coffee with a friend. 

Our visible accessories on Zoom have been limited to what’s “above the shoulders.” We can sit at home in a top-level meeting with our pajama pants on and no one will be the wiser. The most significant fashion statement one can make might be what’s on the face! 

Consider London Mole blue light blocking glasses. They meet our standards for beautiful form and function. Not only do they protect your eyes from the harming computer screen glare, but the fun styles will bring joy to the meeting! From red, to yellow, to tortoise, to clear rims and styles from aviator to scientist, you can literally have a pair for any mood or look you’re going for. We also carry some sunglasses, as well! 

While we’re waiting for our new studio to be completed, we wanted to make these items along with many other available to you. Product lines we’re launching this month are: Frank and Funny greeting cards, Baggu reusable bags, Baron Fig journals, pens, and notepads, Newgate clocks, and of course, Our own custom designs, Fellow, and London Mole. We’ll add more lines when we open our Marion location, but in the meantime, buy local by purchasing online at mariondesign.co/shop and we’ll delivery to your home in Grant County. If you subscribe to our newsletter and live outside Grant County, we’ll arrange shipping with you.

We hope this list sparks a new way of approaching how you curate the objects in your life. Jump on our website and bring joy into someone life with an encouraging word or beautiful experience presented through an object gift! We’re grateful for your support of our studio!

We have one more session in January with the hopes of moving toward design soon after. We’ve been encouraged by the high attendance and significant conversations that are generating excitement about the future of the areas along Marion’s downtown riverfront from the downtown square to Ballard field. 

We also just completed the design and manufacturing of 24 bike racks that will be installed in the spring around the downtown square. Inspired by the city’s branding (created by MDCO in 2016-17), the bike racks were manufactured by Diamond Metals (Marion) after a committee of local leaders including Riley (Tangeman) Sapp, Mikayla Mirazza, Michelle Doyle, and many others.

The tile installers are under the heated tent installing tile on the exterior as we speak. The gas is ready to be turned on and the dry wall installation has begun. While there’s still a long way to go, we’re seeing progress with the first floor renovation. Next time you’re downtown, let us know and we’ll give you a tour! Something new happens everyday!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

We’d put cookies out for Santa before we went to sleep. My sister, brother, and I would camp out together. We’d start the day with stockings, cinnamon rolls, and the Nativity story. The anticipation for such a magical day was always worth the wait.

Anticipation is my word for this season. From a business perspective, MDCO is anticipating the opening of our new building. Each day something new is installed or delivered. Our excitement is growing as we watch our dream of this space become a reality. MDCO also launched our store on November 26! We worked hard to pick products that fit our mission. We sit in waiting to see how that will turn out. We hope that people will visit our site and purchase our products.

This season is also the anticipation of Jesus Christ. Advent comes from a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival.” As followers of Christ, we are a people living between two advents: the coming of Jesus as a baby and His future triumphant return as the King of kings. During the Advent season, we remember that Jesus Christ came as the Light of the World. We also remember the life Jesus was born to live, the salvation He brings, and the ongoing kingdom work He invites us to join. During this holiday season and as we wrap up 2022, we invite you to join us as we remember the coming of Jesus Christ and what it means for our salvation. We also invite you to anticipate with us the joy of what 2023 holds for Marion Design Co.

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9).

Brittany Long, Chief Operations Officer and Project Manager

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