Meg Gleason together with her husband Chad, is proud founder of Moglea, a design studio based in Des Moines, Iowa, specializing in artful stationery and home goods. Their unique approach to handcrafted paper products and hand-painted designs makes each a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Creative Process: Hand-Painted & Unique
Moglea joyfully explores composition, pattern, and color to craft distinctive stationery and home goods. Each product undergoes a meticulous hand-applied production process, ensuring no two pieces are alike. Their commitment to integrating art into daily life leads to the incorporation of unexpected production techniques and visual elements, making the collections stand out.
Meet the Founders: Chad and Meg Gleason
From College Dreams to a Thriving Design Studio
Chad and Meg Gleason met at Iowa State University, where they pursued graphic and furniture design. Their shared passion for design led to dreams of working together, but the 2008 Great Recession shifted their plans. Instead of moving to New York City, they joined Chad’s family’s farm in Audubon, Iowa. While Chad worked on the farm, Meg launched Moglea as a letterpress stationery business from their farmhouse basement.
The Story Behind Moglea
The name Moglea was born during a 2009 road trip around Lake Michigan. A blend of “GLEA” from the Gleason name and “M” from Meg’s name originally represented her letterpress stationery business. The goal was to create a brand flexible enough to encompass a broad range of design-driven products beyond stationery.
Expanding in Audubon: Innovation in Paper Design
In 2012, Meg introduced Moglea’s first stationery line at the National Stationery Show, featuring hand-painted neon edges, paper collages, and natural dye techniques. The collection’s success required a larger studio, leading Chad to design and build a new Moglea studio in 2015 on their farmhouse property. Inspired by this project, Chad transitioned from farming to furniture and product design, broadening Moglea’s focus to home goods and furniture.
Relocation to Des Moines: A Growing Design Hub
By 2018, Moglea had outgrown its rural studio, prompting a move to Des Moines, Iowa. The new downtown studio includes all operations: design, wood prototyping, letterpress production, and order fulfillment. Today, Chad and Meg remain the creative directors, leading Moglea’s evolution in artful paper goods and home decor.
The Paper Line: Handcrafted Stationery with a Modern Touch
Moglea’s signature stationery collection features hand-applied paint techniques on extra-thick paper sheets, creating distinctive compositions. Our artisans finalize each piece on antique letterpress machines, using foil stamping, printing, and die-cutting techniques. Every product brings artistic elegance into everyday life.
Art for Everyday: A Unique Approach to Design
Moglea’s product line continually evolves as they embrace new creative methods and bold visual ideas. Each collection is artful, expressive, and shareable. Whether through hand-painted stationery, furniture, or home goods, Moglea remains committed to bringing art into everyday life.
Explore the Moglea collection today and discover the beauty of handmade artistry in stationery and home goods. To follow Moglea on Instagram, go here >
