What we do

We bring brands and their stories to life—in the form of strategic brand management, creative direction, and impact. We are Quercus.

How We Work

Whether it’s a wide-eyed start-up, a school with a rich history, or a not-for-profit fighting climate change, every brand has a story to tell. And all it takes is the right focus to bring that story to life. We focus on building beautiful brand equity backed by stellar results by developing genuine partnerships with our clients.

Quercus Design is a creative design studio based in New Orleans. Psst… Quercus, pronounced kwur·kuhs, is the Latin genus for “Oak Tree.” As a youth, Mary Louise often played in a 150+ year-old Oak tree — her first studio high above her backyard!
Want to learn more about our roots? Explore the studio.

What Clients Say

The behemoth that is the Spyre Center website is not only beautiful aesthetically, but also packed with salient features and pertinent information that speaks to our mission. The site reads so well and one can navigate the varied parts of who we are and what we represent with ease. Practically speaking, one can also move on to book a class or become a member or call us with further inquiry. The objective we set forth for creating this website was not a simple one, and ML handled it all with aplomb, hard work, patience, and talent. The results could not be better.
Show Project
Deborah Peters
Founder
,
Spyre Center
Mary Louise led Bricolage’s community outreach and constituent workshops with staff, students and John McDonogh alumni. Remarkably, she listened to varied points of view, drew connections across occasionally in conflicting community values, and emerged with a new Bricolage brand that united disparate communities under a single identity honoring our separate pasts and looked to a united future that we could all share.
Show Project
Josh Densen
Founder
,
Bricolage Academy of New Orleans
Non-profit organizations often underestimate the importance of good design as a way to reach the community. For Green Light, it is crucial to be able to educate, instruct and engage.  In our long-term partnership with Quercus Design, Mary Louise Killen helped us grow our programs. The results are a product of passion and not just a marketing tool.
Show Project
Andreas Hoffmann
Executive Director
,
Green Light New Orleans
As New Orleans’ first 50/50 dual-language immersion program, Esperanza Academy prides themselves on being authentic and unique. In formulating our new logo we wanted it to capture the true essence of our community we serve. Mary Louise Killen, thank you for leading and providing a product we are truly proud of. We truly appreciate the follow up conversations and making sure our logo is represented well.
Show Project
Natasha Doughty
Principal
,
Natasha Doughty
Mary Louise goes beyond your mission statement to bring your space and materials to life. With Bricolage, she stayed close to the growth, evolution, successes, challenges, students, and staff. Her goal was to know the school experiences, so the design work reflected Bricolage's mission, values, and people. Her eye for style, color, and photography made Bricolage at home no matter the campus location.
Show Project
Holly Robbins Hermes
Chief Development Director
,
Bricolage Academy of New Orleans

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