Where Fine Art and Design Coexist: How Studio MPLS Makes Beautiful Brands

In some projects, it’s easy to see a blend of impeccable design and fine art. Studio MPLS, however, believes the disciplines of design and fine art should always go hand in hand—that one should solve a problem like a designer, but through the eyes of an artist. But what does a studio look like when it operates with artists that specialize in packaging and branding?

Dan Olson, Founder and Creative Director of Studio MPLS, started the studio back in 2009 after leaving Duffy and taking some time to reflect on what he wanted to do. People inquired directly with him about taking on projects, so much so that he decided to hire a small team and start Studio MPLS. 

Even before then, though, art guided design for him. “I’ve always thought that art should lead the way,” said Dan. “At other places I’d been, I always felt that if we were thinking in an imaginative, artful way, we would differentiate ourselves from others out there.”