“This class was very informative and introduced me to the business [side] of being a commissioned artist — something I never thought of before. It showed me everything I have to take into consideration.”
– Arianna Baylock, Design to Print Alumna
Every year, we hire young artists to design greeting cards. Marwen’s Design to Print course is an application-based, 10-week commissioned program that occurs annually in Spring. The course gives young people (ages 16-18) the opportunity to apply for and be hired as commissioned artists. They learn new artmaking techniques to create and design greeting cards, learn how to work with a client, participate in a panel critique, and gain insight on product marketing and promotions. Each young artist receives a stipend for their card design.
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Design to Print program, which is sponsored by the Zell Family Foundation. Hundreds of young artists have been commissioned to create more than 400 pieces of original artwork for card designs across three decades! Cards are sold at Marwen events, markets and festivals, in museum and boutique shops across Chicago, and at special pop-up events. Some of our vendors include Foursided, the Buddy Shop at the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Museum Shop at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Card sales directly support Marwen’s no-cost programming for Chicago youth, including virtual arts courses, college planning, and paid career programs. Shop Marwen’s collection of greeting and holiday cards!
Applications for Spring 2026 will open in Fall 2025. For more information, contact Maricela Ramírez at mramirez@marwen.org.
Marwen’s Design to Print Program
Share the Joy: Marwen’s 2020 Holiday Cards
In March 2020, Covid-19 abruptly ended all of Marwen’s Spring courses and closed the building, including all 8 studios. Marwen’s new series of holiday cards almost didn’t happen. But nothing was going to stop young people from making art! Here’s a peek at when we personally delivered each artist their new cards and their reactions.