Inspiring Conversations with Michelle D’Cruz of MDC Design Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle D’Cruz. 

Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely. My founder story actually began long before I discovered a love of design. As a child, I was unbelievably shy—so much so that I struggled to open up and communicate with others. That was, until I connected with the arts.

I still remember the first time I picked up a musical instrument. It was as if I’d unlocked an unknown part of myself and discovered a sense of freedom that I never knew existed. That was the beginning of my lifelong commitment to the arts. Eventually, my love of music led to a foray into visual and digital arts, and at some point, they all began to intersect. And really, life bloomed from there. That multidisciplinary approach became an entry point for me—a way of expressing myself with confidence, with creativity, and with heart. And, led me both to a deeper understanding of myself as well as to forge meaningful connections with others.

What I’ve come to understand since then, is that we as humans learn, interact, and communicate in vastly different ways. And, I do believe that design thinking—and the arts as a whole—can help to provide entry points for new modes of thought and connection. That’s the perspective from which MDC Design Studio was borne. We strive, each and every day to use human-centered design principles to amplify the amazing work of community-driven organizations. We are collaborative and multidisciplinary in approach and simply light up at the prospect of using our creative capacities to share resources, further connect communities, and help tell the story of our beautiful city and state.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing worth doing is ever easy. And, this has been no exception. We are a woman and minority-owned company and a women-led team, and that has come with plenty of challenges. But I can honestly say that we’ve come out the other side with an exceptional amount of conviction and an incredible portfolio of projects. We are serious about the work we do, as well as with whom we work. And that’s led us to incredible collaborations that are founded on mutual respect and trust. 

Early on, I also think it was confusing for folks to understand how design and design thinking could be applied to education, non-profit ventures, public health initiatives, and ongoing efforts around sustainability. It took time for us to demonstrate that design can be both striking and thoughtful at the same time—and that it is simply a tool through which we help elevate the insights and needs of community members and community-driven organizations. We are fortunate to be able to do what we call “joy-making projects” each and every day! No week is the same, and I find that to be truly incredible. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a Cincinnati-based, full-service, creative studio—a collective of designers, artists, writers, planners, makers, and doers who approach communications challenges through a multi-disciplinary lens. MDC was founded explicitly with the desire to apply human-centered design philosophies to community-centered projects.

We are known for our inability to shy from a challenge while forever maintaining a commitment to integrity, work ethic, creativity, and collaboration. Most recently, our team has been focusing on two distinct avenues of work—creative support within arts, non-profit, and public health sectors, and the creation of fully immersive environmental design experiences. We absolutely LOVE what we do, and show up for our clients above all else.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
At the end of the day, even great design runs the risk of falling short if it doesn’t speak to the core values of those whom it is intended to reach. So, I would say that the ability to pause, listen, and truly hear the needs of our clients and their extended communities is among the most important of qualities. We can learn so much from others! So, we work alongside community members and community organizations to collaboratively problem solve and shape critical decisions.

Beyond that, the development of sincere and authentic relationships remains absolutely crucial. Our team has spent years building trust with one another and with our community partners. Clients have become friends and friends like extended family. And, I can honestly say that I look forward to collaborating with my core teammate, Stephanie, each and every day. I value and respect all that she brings to the table. Together, we show up with heart and conviction—and that translates directly into our work.

Contact Info:

• Email: michelle@mdc.studio
• Website: https://mdc.studio
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mdc.designstudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MDC.designwithpurpose