HOW MIX WAS BORN

In March of 2002, our founder, Michaline Tomich was lucky enough to merge opportunity with experience and land our very first client, the global Church’s Chicken.

After putting in her resignation at a reputable Chicago branding firm and in the slowing economy following 9/11, she took the leap to tell the newly branded Church’s Chicken that she would “be in the neighborhood and love to take the CMO to lunch”. After buying a quick plane ticket, two Atlanta cafe sandwiches and some Cokes, she revealed a plan that the AFC-owned company found enticing. The conversation concluded that if Michaline “were a company” they would put the new packaging launch and rebrand idea into a one-year contract. This turned the idea into a flourishing small business. Years later, mixdesign remains friends with that CMO, Anne, whose trust in a young enthusiastic entrepreneur jump started a career path for many future mixers and many happy clients. Thanks, Anne! And thanks Micki for having the courage and faith to talk mix to life.

BREATH OF SERVICES

When mixdesign started in 2002, branding was at our core offering. However it soon became clear that consumers were expecting more as the web, social media, quick services, fast casual restaurants and faster higher expectation lifestyles were all the buzz. Rolling brand experience into brand design was a necessity and in 2004 mixdesign added interior design services to our offerings. Soon after it became clear that web development was also a critical brand experience component and mixdesign needed to provide these tools for rebrand clients. So web was offered starting in 2006. From 2004 to 2013 we worked with our installation crew remotely and in 2014 built our fabrication shop and brought on a full time build and installation crew to oversee our experience design builds and installation efforts. Today, these elements are a staple to all start ups.

Together, with cutting edge technology partners, our own installation and build team and the amazing brand talent still at our core, we are able to fully engage in the attraction and brand story telling necessary to bring awesome expectations to life.

THE STORY OF AGRICULTURE

With 18 years of restaurant design and branding under our belt it’s no surprise that our Indiana based firm harvested some conversations behind the scenes with midwest farmers. The “where does my food come from” conversation is an ever evolving question of both millennials and fast paced lifestyle expectations. Mixdesign is quickly embracing the agriculture industry needs to tell the story of food. Since our work with the National Pork Board and the design of the Pork Education Center at Fair Oaks Farms, we have continued the agriculture branding and story telling. This exciting kick off project has paved the way for the redesign of the the Dairy Adventure, work with the National Dairy Management Company, Pork Producer brand interest, branding of animal genetics companies and behind the scenes experience design for experiences at the State Fair level for multiple Ag Associations. We are proudly headed in the direction of Ag Branding and Design.

A NEW THINK TANK

In March of 2015, Mixdesign moved into a beautiful newly remodeled freestanding building. For 25 plus years sat this vacant, retired music store on Route 30 in Schererville. The A-frame building called for some creative love. As it turned out, this opportunity aligned with mixdesign’s build and install team growth and was gaining need for a full services shop. The new shop would be big enough for a wood shop, printing room, design area, event coolers, showroom, offices and conference space. After a year of design and remodel, our new home is perfect for our growing team and expanding services.

18 YEARS OF GROWTH

In March 2020, Mixdesign celebrated 18 years of growth. When asked, our owner will admit that the most rewarding part of this journey is to allow paths to cross and dots to be connected. We are a conduit for creative ideas coming to life. We have helped brands take goals to the next level through brand development, interior work, relationship building, sponsorship engagement, event planning and shop building efforts. But the true breath of excitement comes from connecting with people, the opportunity to be invited behind the scenes by our customers to help make their companies stronger. When we roll up our sleeves and listen, the opportunities become clearer and bigger and connecting people, ideas and solutions results.

Bringing It To Life

In May of 2021, Mixdesign officially opened our doors to our brand new building in Hebron, Indiana. Navigating a global pandemic, working remotely and long but rewarding construction process, Mixdesign was lucky enough to dream big and “bring it to life”. The building brings a lot of room to ideate, create and build our mobile experience projects, kiosk builds and even host events. We are so excited to be a part of the tight community of Hebron and what the future holds for us.