MRLD
MRLD, or More Reason — Less Decoration, is a creative studio combining thoughtful ideas with beautiful design. As a multidisciplinary practice, MRLD’s work spans strategy, branding, print, digital, art direction, installations and events.
From collaborating with some of the world’s largest brands like Google or Depop, to working with a boutique business, MRLD create genuinely rich, authentic and experiential moments that elevate each brief and transcend trends.
Custom serif logo by MRLD
New York event for Depop
Interactive website for photographer Aisling McCoy
Notecard design detail
Inside the Company
MRLD was founded in 2021 by Mary Leonard, an award-winning creative director based in London. The studio combines Mary’s experience in luxury branding with her time working with innovative technologies, to create work with a human-centric core that focuses on the “why” as much as the “what.”
Founded during the global pandemic, MRLD’s main focus has always been to create a supportive, optimistic and open culture. The studio prides itself on equality and working on projects that everyone is proud of, regardless of their discipline, level or location.
Mission and Values
As the name, More Reason — Less Decoration, suggests, MRLD creates work with a concept-first ethos. This allows the team to nimbly create projects across scale, industry, aesthetic and medium — producing projects defined by process and appropriateness, not a house style or trend.
As well as creating commercial projects, MRLD dedicates time to causes and organisations they believe in. This is done through personal projects, pro-bono work or pushing sustainability across their commercial practice.
More Reason — Less Decoration is MRLD’s guilding mission
Culture and Benefits
The team at MRLD believes the work they do, their team and their clients define them as a studio. They place the highest value on working with the most talented, open, curious and kind individuals.
As a young studio, their culture is still developing. This means every person they work with helps shape and evolve the studio’s identity. By the end of 2022, MRLD aims to provide a 20% day every fortnight for the team to work on pro-bono causes they care about.
Upcycling Stations at Depop Live
Detail from the South London space
Bored.Solution is an example of a 20% experiment by MRLD
Entry-Level Opportunities
As a growing and currently digital-first studio, MRLD empowers everyone to take ownership of the work regardless of level. It is the studio’s core belief that when given the chance, great ideas can come from anyone. They want to foster an environment where the team can experiment and play without fear.
In terms of entry-level opportunities, the studio is working to develop a holistic approach, ensuring that the opportunities they provide are meaningful, challenging and supportive.
The MRLD team is involved in mentoring and lecturing with organisations like D&AD, The Dots, and UAL. They also offer portfolio reviews.