NEWSLETTER 57
THIS IS OUR NEWSLETTER
CHANGE IS COMING - AND WE’RE HERE FOR IT.
Since we planted roots in Marion in 2016, we've noticed something: every three years or so, change finds us, and every time it does, the work gets better and our connection to this community grows stronger. 2026 is no different. We're stepping into this next season with fresh eyes, honest reflection, and a lot of excitement, refining how we serve our clients and our community with even greater depth, intention, and excellence. The rhythm is familiar, the energy is high, and if history has taught us anything, the best is still ahead.
Read more for a look at what we’ve been up to, and what’s ahead.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT | TECHNOLOGY RECYCLERS
TECHNOLOGY RECYCLERS CAMPAIGNS
Some clients just get it, and Technology Recyclers is one of them. We've had a blast bringing their brand to life across a full suite of print collateral. From brochures and postcards to driver handouts and magazine ads, every piece carries the same vibrant color, conceptual spark, and playful personality that makes their mission feel less like a chore and more like a movement.
Each format came with its own creative challenge, condensing a brand story into a takeaway card, commanding attention on a magazine page, giving drivers something worth a second glance. We leaned into bold visuals and a voice that's as fun as it is focused, making sure every touchpoint felt cohesive, energetic, and unmistakably Technology Recycler’s personality.
MDC FOCUS WEEK | 01.26.26
BLIZZARD. FIREPLACE. BLUEPRINT. OUR 2026 TEAM FOCUS WEEK
The season's biggest snowstorm didn’t stop us from gathering for our team focus week, including three team members who traveled from New York City, Denver, and Indianapolis to be in Marion. We kicked off our team focus week at Wendy's home with the fireplace going and good food on the table, before diving into our Working Genius profiles, followed by a kind of workplace dating game that helped us understand how each person is wired to contribute, where we each thrive, and what we need from one another to do our best work.
From there, we carried that momentum back to the studio for the remainder of the week, where we took a close look at our design process from the inside out, revisited and refreshed our website, and asked hard questions about where we can be more intentional, more efficient, and ultimately more present for the clients who trust us with their stories. We're heading into 2026 as a more self-aware, better-aligned, and better-connected team — and that's good news for everyone we get to work with.
Check out our updated website below!
MDC TEAM | 02.05.26
WENDY IN CALIFORNIA: LEARNING, RESEARCHING, AND BRINGING IT BACK HOME
While the rest of the team held down the studio, Wendy headed west to San Diego and Palm Springs for a purposeful few days of growth and inspiration. She connected with fellow business leaders through Pinnacle Global Network, a peer community and mentoring organization focused on helping CEOs scale their businesses with greater clarity, strategy, and support. The conversations and tools she's bringing back directly strengthen how we lead and how we serve.
And in true MDC fashion, the trip doubled as a research opportunity. Wendy immersed herself in Palm Springs Modernism Week, one of the top five international architecture festivals in the world, celebrating midcentury architecture, interior design, art, and culture through hundreds of tours, exhibitions, and presentations. For a studio rooted in the belief that great design has the power to transform communities, there's no better classroom. She's back, and she brought the ideas with her.
BALL STATE PBS DOCUMENTARY | 03.05.26
NOW ENTERING MARION PREMIERE
Ball State PBS has been working with various organizations in the Marion area to create a short documentary on our town: Now Entering Marion! Both Marion Design Co. and Kennedy Art Center sponsored this program, while also being featured ourselves. The Ball State PBS Team interviewed our Gallery and Hospitality Coordinator, Misty Fox, director of the Marion Arts Commission, Matt Wilson, and some of our recently featured artists- Henrik Söderström and Tashema Davis.
The Marion Public Library hosted a red carpet premiere a week before the final air date, in which participants and viewers were invited to come view the program along with a panel afterwards. It was an amazing night with a room packed full of community members and state representatives, and we learned several fascinating pieces of local history while seeing our friends and partners featured. Marion also broke several Ball State PBS records, including having the most fundraising and local sponsorships for a “Now Entering” series ever!
We invite you to check out the final premiere on BallStatePBS.org, your local PBS Channel, or on Youtube: March 5th, 2026 at 8 pm.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT | 02.19.26
IWU WELCOME CENTER
One of the most meaningful environmental design projects we've completed this season is the landscape and interior design for Indiana Wesleyan University's new Welcome Center. This will be the first thing prospective students and their families encounter when arriving at IWU's Marion campus.
Our work began at the ground level, quite literally, with a site plan that rethought traffic flow and introduced a new dedicated visitor parking lot, making arrival feel intentional and easy rather than like an afterthought. What was once an awkward, underutilized patio became one of our favorite transformations on the project: a dynamic, layered exterior facade that announces the building with confidence: steeped in IWU's brand and inviting visitors in before they ever step through the door. Inside the main lobby, we designed a large-scale photo grid of campus life that stops you in your tracks: a bold, human-centered installation paired with interactive touch screens that let visitors explore IWU's story at their own pace. Every layer of this project, from the parking lot to the lobby, was designed to reduce friction and increase wonder. Knowing that a family's first step onto campus will be met with a space this intentional — one designed to make them feel seen and welcomed before a single conversation begins — is exactly the kind of work that makes what we do so deeply satisfying.
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!
