preloader

We Design The Nonprofit World

PlainJoe partners with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to architect and build breathtaking spaces that radiate your unique story and fit your budget.

We imagine, design, and create immersive experiences that lift the Spirit.

What We Design

Churches

Elevation Church

Museums

Museum of the Bible

Sports Facilities

Sports Illustrated Resorts

Student Centers

Mariners Student Center

Health Centers

Bethany Children's

Branded Headquarters

Fig Title & Escrow

We Are PlainJoe Studios

We are a team of designers, artists, architects, strategists, specialists, and problem solvers dedicated to designing branded experiences in the faith and nonprofit sectors.

We specialize in creating interactive architecture and physical spaces that connect stories, create value and captivate audiences, ensuring that every project we undertake is not only functional but true to your unique story and budget.

Storyland Studios team photo at Universal Studios

Meet the Team

Blake Ryan headshot
Blake Ryan
Chief Executive Officer
An entrepreneurial leader, Blake Ryan champions vision, culture, creative innovation, and collaboration to fulfill commitments to clients and employees alike. During his nearly 20 years of leadership, PlainJoe has experienced healthy growth, organizational transformation, and service expansion.
Peter McGowan headshot
Peter McGowan
President & Chief Storyteller
Peter McGowan is one of the founders of PlainJoe. He is a champion of bringing clients' unique stories to life by broadening their visual vocabulary beyond words and helping shape the cultural influence of their organizations. His experience includes Nissan, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Disney, Universal, and LEGO.
Mel McGowan headshot
Mel McGowan
Chief Creative Officer & Founder
Mel McGowan creatively leads PlainJoe's unique, multidisciplinary Spatial Storytelling® practice, which integrates master planning, conceptual development, architecture, interior and production design, graphics and wayfinding, and dimensional fabrication and installation.
Matt Ferguson headshot
Matt Ferguson
Chief Innovation Officer
Matt’s career began at the Walt Disney Company, where he led national brand and marketing programs for the Walt Disney World destination, Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, Golf and Dining, and ESPN Wide World of Sports. He has worked with dozens of multinational companies.
Our team has worked at
Disney logo
Qiddiya logo
IBM logo
ESPN logo
Universal logo
Lego logo

Our Projects

Saddleback Church Worship Center

Designing an indoor-outdoor gathering space for safe, year-round worship
Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, faced a significant challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With restrictions impacting worship services nationwide, Pastor Rick Warren and his leadership team were compelled to rethink their gathering strategies to ensure congregational safety without sacrificing communal worship. With Plainjoe’s help, the church's main 3,000-person worship center was transformed, revitalizing the space while adhering to health guidelines and leveraging the mild Southern California climate.

Bethany Children's Health Center

Transforming a beloved children’s hospital through heartfelt spatial storytelling.
Hospitals and clinical environments can feel intimidating to patients, especially young children. Bethany Children’s Health Center in Bethany, Oklahoma, partnered with Plainjoe to create a themed experience that brings joy to kids and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. The hospital serves children with complicated medical conditions, some of which are severe and terminal. As a result, many of these kids return for repeat visits over a long period of time, or even remain at Bethany for extended stays.

Alliance Redwoods

Elevating adventure at Alliance Redwoods with Sonoma Treehouse Adventures
In partnership with Plainjoe Studios, Alliance Redwoods embarked on a journey to reimagine its offerings, creating a themed-lodging environment that would blend nostalgic camping traditions with cutting-edge adventure experiences. The collaboration led to the creation of Sonoma Treehouse Adventures, a 24-hour immersive adventure designed to captivate guests with the beauty and thrill of the Redwoods.

Evangel

Helping a growing church meet the needs of its community and congregation.
As Evangel looked to grow their church community, it became important to address not only the issues of accessibility, but the inviting nature of the building itself. When we began our collaboration, the facility was older, dark, and not incredibly welcoming. Its architectural design was ultimately working against the church and its leadership's goals, so the Plainjoe team stepped in to reimagine a new transformation.
Our End-to-End Process

This is how PlainJoes's designers and architects bring your unique story to life

1. Imagine

PlainJoe's Imagine phase begins with engaging with key stakeholders and clarifying project goals, setting the stage for a transformative “BIG IDEA” that captures the essence of your unique narrative.

We create a detailed StoryBoard and Master Plans that unite various design disciplines.

This ensures that the final-built environment effectively balances functionality with an engaging user experience while connecting to your unique story.

2. Design

In the Design phase, PlainJoe transforms the approved concept into detailed schematics that truly reflect the project's vision and goals.

We carefully create all production and construction documents, giving clear guidance to the consultants, vendors, and contractors who bring the project to life.

This final documentation acts as a vital roadmap for fabrication and construction, ensuring everything stays in tune with the project's Big Idea.

3. Create

PlainJoe's goal during construction and production is to bring your story to life in exciting spaces, sticking to budget and timeline while collaborating closely with our construction partners.

In the pre-opening phase, we ensure everything's ready with training and equipment checks for a smooth launch.

Even after the grand opening, we're here to support you with branding and guest experiences, as well as any future expansions.

From our clients

Dan T. Cathy headshot
Dan T. Cathy
FOUNDER & CHIEF VISIONARY | TRILITH

PlainJoe is a forerunner and pioneer in the industry, but also dear friends and partners. They have been essential to us at Trilith, offering their expertise and invaluable insight in spatial storytelling, experience design, and overall feasibility. We have worked extensively with PlainJoe since early 2021, when we engaged them to craft a brand story based on the concept of Gateway to Inspiration. A key part of this process was understanding the opportunities, the audience, the competition, and the financial potential of Trilith as a destination. We, at Trilith, are more inspired because of our past and ongoing relationship with PlainJoe.”

Tony Baxter headshot
Tony Baxter
CREATIVE ADVISOR | WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING

“To find a company like PlainJoe with the right mix of talented people possessing necessary skill to make things happen is a tremendous asset. Knowing PlainJoe's top creative leadership personally, I can attest to their fostering a culture that is passionate about every project they produce.”

Anthony Esparza headshot
Anthony Esparza
FORMER CCO | SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT

“The art and design generated by PlainJoe are first class, but most of all, the team members are good listeners and flexible. They will hear your direction and stay close to your goals — both financially and from guest experience perspective. I think you will appreciate their collaboration and approach to getting things done.”

Brett Wilkes headshot
Brett Wilkes
SVP ENGINEERING & DESIGN | LEGOLAND RESORTS (NA)

PlainJoe has worked with LEGOLAND for quite a while and they have completed several projects for us in the past and working on current items as well. They have always been responsive, competitive, and overall great to work with.”

Book your Free Design Consultation today

What is a strategy consultation? A no-strings-attached hour with PlainJoe's senior strategists. We'll guide you through a clear plan for your specific project, and map out initial design and architecture solutions tailored to your budget.