Marlee Delia
Marlee Delia
Product & Experience Designer / Co-Founder of Shine On Collective
Pasadena, CA
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a Los Angeles based Product Designer and Co-Founder of the immersive experience company, Shine On Collective. ”
I’m all about using storytelling to create human centered interactions in digital and physical environments. My designs solve problems, tell stories and use game and puzzle mechanics to engage users.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I have a background in immersive theatre where I create compelling interactions and stories that people can lose themselves within. As a Product and Experience Designer, I take these same concepts and translate them to digital and physical experiences. In 2016 I co-founded Shine On Collective, a female-driven immersive experience company. We create unique, immersive productions that incorporate the audience into our cast of characters. Besides our own productions, we've also worked on experiential pop-ups for big brands like Amazon Prime Video and LEGO.
How do you stand out in your field?
During Covid I created an immersive story box with my incredible collaborators at Shine On Collective. We wanted to build a story that could be delivered to you and unravel itself throughout the evening. So we created Welcome Home, a game-like immersive experience that is carefully crafted to guide players through a narrative world. The experience is explored through letters, phone calls and found objects, and puzzles reveal stories and secrets. And we even got a really cool write up in the LA Times about our experimentations in the game design space.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I’m always dreaming up new ways to create meaningful experiences, that are packed in a box or start on a screen, and become imaginative and story-driven. I’m currently finishing up some commissioned puzzle experiences for a few different restaurants and bars as well as designing new features in the food space for the tech startup, EAT Club.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
These have been hard times and people are looking for catharsis and ways to process hurt and pain that is happening in their daily lives. Lately, I’ve been creating experiences that give people the feeling of doing something a little bit worthwhile in the midst of a lot of helplessness. Even if it’s a moment of pretend.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
It took me a while to embrace all of the parts of me and figure out how to squish them all together. I might be designing a game one day, or creating a user flow for an app the next day but everything I do feeds off each other. I love exploring new ways to create agency in experiential spaces within entertainment and marketing. No matter what, I’m going to be that weird person thinking of all those crazy ideas.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I think as I entered my 30s there was a lot of fear and frustration about not being far enough along in my career but I’ve accepted that my journey is going to take whatever amount of time it needs to take. There will always be more to accomplish.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I’m a not-so-secret introvert so I would probably hire someone to help with sales related tasks that I don't love but are oh so important.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Dear childhood Marlee, be proud of who you are; It’s ok to not be perfect. And also beanie babies are not going to be worth any money! Rip the tag right off that thing!
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I love talking to people with different experiences and different perspectives! It’s the best way to learn new things.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I’m obsessed with food and dining experiences. If it comes in a bento box, I’m there for it.
I also love puzzles and stories. When I was a kid I was obsessed with playing house. I loved pretending to be someone else and getting lost in the world of pretend. I’m still trying to do that with everything I design.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
If you’re an entrepreneurial person with a ton of passion and you need some help bringing an immersive experience to life, I’m your girl. Let’s grow some worlds, design some story-driven puzzles, create an out of the box experiential app, and I don’t know, eat some cookies while we’re at it. There’s always time for cookies.
Who is a creative that has helped you elevate your work?
Anna Mavromati - an amazing writer and co-founder of Shine On Collective who makes every story sound beautiful and haunting.
Celia Sutton - a gorgeous and inspiring illustrator and artist with just the right amount of whimsy and suicidal rock.
Xristi Mavromati - a fantastic graphic designer and videographer who is one of the most talented visual designers I know and the core of every product logo at Shine On.
Kate Kohler - a soulful composer, pianist and vocalist who has created stunning original soundtracks and audio for all of our productions.
Tommy Honton - my incredible partner and experience designer who’s always there for me to bounce ideas off, tells me when things suck and is constantly challenging me to be my best self.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Send me an email! I’m always here for collaborations or just get-to-know-each-other chats. No hesitations needed.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Not being afraid to fail (or, more realistically, being afraid and doing it anyways).
This member profile was originally published in July 2021.