PlainJoe Studios โ Organization Profile
PlainJoe Studios (often branded simply as PlainJoe) is a multi-discipline design studio focused on helping churches, nonprofits, and other mission-driven organizations clarify and communicate their stories through strategy, digital experiences, and physical environments. The studio describes its work as creating strategic, interactive, and spatial storiesโbringing together brand clarity, media, and built spaces so organizations can connect with the people they serve in memorable, practical ways.
Based in Corona, California, PlainJoe operates with offices and team presence in California, Atlanta, and London, serving clients across multiple regions and project types. Their portfolio and service offerings reflect a blend of creative direction and productionโsupporting everything from early discovery and messaging to architecture, interior design, and custom digital platforms. This integrated approach is especially relevant for ministries and nonprofits that need alignment across identity, communication, and place.
A defining emphasis in PlainJoeโs work is strategic storytellingโhelping an organization surface its core narrative, values, and positioning, then express that consistently across channels. In practice, this can include naming and brand architecture, messaging and visual identity systems, and tools meant to support organizational alignment (including their Cast Culture offering). For churches and nonprofit leaders, that means the โwhyโ and โwhoโ of the organization is addressed before visuals and materials are finalized.
PlainJoeโs spatial storytelling capabilities extend that narrative into physical space. The studio lists services such as architecture, master planning, landscape and interior design, placemaking, wayfinding, and themed environmental elements. For churches, that can translate into worship and lobby environments, campus planning, and spaces designed to support hospitality and discipleship. PlainJoe also highlights experience designing childrenโs ministry environmentsโaiming for spaces that are engaging for kids and workable for volunteers and leaders.
On the interactive side, PlainJoe offers custom web development and UX/UI design, plus integrations and content strategy intended to support long-term communication needs. This can be a fit for ministries that require more than a marketing siteโsuch as resource libraries, eCommerce for curriculum or books, membership platforms, or other digital tools that extend the mission beyond weekend services. PlainJoe also publishes content and podcasts for ministry leaders through its Stories section, including podcast pages that feature current and archived series.
For individuals and organizations looking to engage PlainJoe, the most direct path is a project inquiry through their contact page, where they outline common engagement categories (master planning, architecture, concept development, design, media/web, and branding/identity). Interested partners can also follow their channels for updates, case studies, and podcast episodes, or explore their published work examples to better understand project scope and fit.
Key Links
- Website: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/
- About: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/about-us/
- Contact / Project Inquiry: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/connect-with-us/
- Our Work: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/our-work/
- Branding & Identity: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/branding-and-identity/
- Kids Ministry (KidMin): https://www.plainjoestudios.com/kidmin/
- News & Updates: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/news/
- Podcasts: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/podcasts/
- Careers: https://www.plainjoestudios.com/join-our-team/
Contact Information
- Phone: 951-735-4587
- Mailing address: 7345 Piute Creek Dr, Corona, CA 92881
Socials
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainjoestudios/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainjoe/
- X: https://x.com/plainjoe
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plainjoestudios
Leadership
- Mel McGowan โ Chief Creative Officer & Founder
- Peter McGowan โ Chief Storyteller & CEO
- Blake Ryan โ Principal, Partner
- Jeff Damron โ Senior Vice President Master Planning, Architecture & Design
- Dale Borgen โ Chief Operating Officer
- Kelsey Sibal โ Executive Director of Operations
- Shawn Stewart โ Executive Director of People, Strategy & Culture
- Phil Taylor โ Director of Strategic Development for North America
