Marion Design Co., a creative studio and branch of Indiana Wesleyan University’s
Division of Art + Design, is revving up to unveil and launch a brand new website for the City of Marion on Thursday, Dec. 21. The new website’s look stems from a lengthy branding process conducted by a group of IWU students, while the site’s features and function stem from a different yet connected group representing Marion Design Co.
Since the summer of 2016, Marion Design Co. has been working with the City of Marion to redesign the website. The collaborative group focused on three main goals to help website users stay informed, complete day-to-day actions, and connect to information. Unlike the past, City officials will be able to update content without commissioning a third party. The new website is mobile friendly and designed to be simple, intuitive, sustainable and reliable.
In step with other progressive communities, the City of Marion’s new website utilizes a free domain provided by the State of Indiana.
Co-founder of Marion Design Co. and Adjunct Professor of Digital Design at IWU Luke Anspach explains, “The City of Marion’s website is a natural hub for communication, information and accessibility to resources. Any social media platform connects back to the hub.”
He added, after the launch on Thursday, there will inevitably be “bugs” to fix. The team will work on making tweaks and updates based on feedback from initial exploration, and will continue to improve the new website. “As the site launches, it will take a couple of days to fully transfer. If the new site is not displaying immediately, don’t worry. It will indeed transfer over.”
“There are so many people to thank who have gotten us to where we are today,” said City of Marion Director of Marketing & Community Relations Layla Price. “From the individuals who helped create this partnership, to the professors and students who have worked so hard, to the funding partners… the City of Marion has a website of which we should be so proud.”
For more information on the IWU Division of Art + Design, visit https://www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-art-and-design/.