STORY KIT: INVESTIGATORS

OptIN approached Marion Design Co. with a bold vision: create a tool that helps families practice Christian faith formation at home through storytelling. They had already developed thoughtful content, theological framing, and a general visual direction. What they needed was a cohesive system—one that translated rich ideas into an intuitive, engaging, and scalable experience families could actually use.

Family Rhythms
Modern families are busy. Between school, sports, church, and daily responsibilities, adding “one more thing” can feel overwhelming. The kit couldn’t become another obligation—it had to integrate naturally into rhythms families already have, including time in the car or around the dinner table.

Meaningful Engagement
At the same time, the experience needed to work on multiple levels: fun and tactile enough to capture kids’ attention, yet meaningful and reflective enough to engage adults. It had to equip caregivers—not replace them—by giving them simple tools to model storytelling, listen well, and name God’s activity in everyday life. 

Scalability
Beyond the initial prototypes and small runs, the kit needed to scale. It had to be easy for multiple churches to adopt and distribute directly to their congregations, while also remaining affordable and adaptable for families of varying sizes to adopt on their own. The design also had to be flexible to allow families to engage with the kit as a complete experience or acquire one level at a time.

Brand Alignment
Finally, everything needed to align seamlessly with the existing OptIN brand—visually, verbally, and strategically—so the kit felt like a natural extension of their mission rather than a disconnected resource.

Our task was to unify content, structure, interaction, and brand into one cohesive, story-driven system that empowers families to practice faith together—simply, meaningfully, and sustainably.

We began the project with a collaborative design thinking session with OptIN to explore creative, out-of-the-box ideas to serve as a launching pad for the story kit. OptIN then shared a rough prototype along with the written content they had already developed, giving us a strong foundation to build from. From there, our process combined research, iterative design, and close collaboration to transform the concept into a cohesive, engaging experience.

Our research was thorough and multifaceted. We examined existing family kits, conducted Bible character studies, and researched investigative-themed visuals to align with the kit’s “investigator” theme. We analyzed instruction manuals, user experiences, and target audience demographics to ensure the kit would be accessible, fun for kids, and meaningful for adults. We also thoroughly vetted production methods, vendors, and price points to design a scalable and affordable solution for families and churches.

Throughout the process, we maintained regular check-ins with OptIN, sharing prototypes and gathering feedback to inform each iteration. Small-batch testing helped us validate ideas in real-world contexts, while written activity plans ensured every detail was intentional before moving into production. Each component was carefully developed and refined piece by piece, balancing usability, visual engagement, and theological integrity.

Every step—from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and final production—was guided by a commitment to create an engaging, meaningful, and scalable tool that brings faith storytelling into everyday family life.

The final design solution is a visually engaging, theologically rich, story-driven kit that brings OptIN’s vision to life. At its core, the kit is a large box housing four smaller boxes—one for each level of the experience—each with instruction guides and color-coded visuals to simplify navigation and enhance usability. Every design element, from colors and patterns to typography and icons, aligns seamlessly with the OptIN brand to create a cohesive, approachable, and fun experience for both children and adults.

A key brand element—the custom bird characters we previously developed for OptIN—was integrated throughout the kit, appearing in illustrations and activities to encourage play, storytelling, and connection to everyday life. To reinforce the “Investigator” theme, we developed unique tools such as a decoding lens, reporter notebooks, evidence tags, case files, and interview clipboards. Custom illustrations of Bible stories and characters further enriched the experience, making theological content engaging while prompting conversation and reflection.

The system was designed for flexibility and ease of use. Each activity fits intentionally within its designated box, with consistent visual cues to guide families through the experience without confusion or frustration. Families can engage with the full kit or explore one level at a time, making it adaptable to different household needs.

Coordination with multiple vendors ensured a high-quality, cohesive product that was both visually compelling and cost-effective. By translating deep theological content into hands-on, interactive activities, the kit equips families to practice listening, storytelling, and reflection together—building skills that foster faith, conversation, and connection for a lifetime.