Marion Design Co.
By building relationships and exchanging stories, the narrative of Marion began to change. Founded by a collection of three university professors in 2016, Marion Design Co. began with 17 students, amazing neighbors, an empty bank, and one 20ft. table. Without a real plan, but aware of a real need, we met with different members of the Marion community— both old-timers and newcomers.
As we listened to stories of both beauty and hardship, we came to know our community and our city more intimately. A community that was once the thriving metropolis of the Midwest was known as a bruised economy rooted in racial tensions. To many, Marion was the residue of a past with blighted storefronts, broken homes, and vacant warehouses.
When Marion Design Co. began its work, a story that stemmed from negativity and discouragement started blossoming into one of hope and vision. Our first project, creating a brand identity for the City of Marion, allowed us to deepen these relationships and walk with our community as we transitioned into a city with a common identity and tenacious hope.
Social Impact Design Studio, Community Research, Community Programming | 2016 –
For: City of Marion, Indiana
Team
Herb Vincent Peterson: Co-Founder, Direction, Research, and Strategy
Luke Anspach: Co-Founder, Digital Design
Wendy Puffer: Co-Founder, Place and Space Design
Henrik Soderstrom: Ideation
Learn More Below
www.mariondesign.co
Read More Below
www.medium.com@herbvincentpeterson
Since 2016, Marion Design Co. has welcomed interns from universities such as Indiana University, Ball State, and Taylor University, and more recently, the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University, offering hands-on experience in design, business, communication, art, and behavioral science. Now an official LLC and once a program of IWU’s Division of Art + Design, MDCo began with no budget or support, yet has provided over $800,000 in design services for social causes in Marion and Grant County. Within the first two years, the organization was valued at $1.6 million and continues to grow far beyond its starting $15,000 budget, supported by more than $100,000 in gifts, grants, and donations. Within the past five years, MDCo received a $1.1 million Lilly Foundation grant, working with the Kern Foundation and IWU Theology and Ministry to create design thinking tools that help faith-based organizations make a lasting impact in their communities.
The Programming
The Research
At the project's start, Marion Design Co. moved quickly, operating in donated space through the summer. By August, Grant County commissioners extended the team’s stay for a full year, recognizing their impact. The team dedicated themselves to connecting with the community—through surveys, interviews, roundtables, street visits, and bus rides—gathering voices and stories from every corner of Marion. By the summer’s end, they had engaged countless residents and hosted the first student-led strategic design session with key leaders, including IWU’s president and the mayor. This collaboration sparked a shared vision for Marion’s future. Through human-centered design and leadership, student designers helped Marion rediscover its strengths and inspired local leaders to find new, innovative ways to shape the community’s future.
