Design Crushes in Des Moines
7/8/26
inspiration
Design crushes in des moines
a love letter to some of our favorite local spots creating (and curating) really good design.
People love to say the midwest is lacking when it comes to design, and Iowa especially. As a proud Iowan, born and raised, I'm here to totes disagree. Des Moines might not be the most bustling city on the map, but there are spots here I've genuinely fallen in love with over the years. I rounded up a few of my faves.
On the menu
Littleleaf
First up, and as a proud suburban mom, I will not apologize for this: I'm a sucker for a cute spot in Waukee. Littleleaf is exactly that. (More adorable places out west I can bring my kids to, please.) The hand-script logo is so fun, and those little fox illustrations? Adorable. They also do the occasional taco pop-up, which, paired with a margarita, is basically my love language. The brunch and the cereal milk latte are a 10/10.
Cheese Bar
A charcuterie board hates to see me coming, so consider this your warning. The food is a 10/10, and I could happily get lost here for an entire afternoon with a bottle of rosé and a pile of cheese. Plus the quilt vibes? Coastal grandma is here for it.
a cute shop
Indie House
Tucked into the East Village, everything in Indie House is fun and eclectic but still modern and cool-girl. I could get lost in here. Fair warning: I'm a sucker for a vintage rug, and they always have plenty.
on paper
Moglea
For the stationery lovers (hi, it's me), Moglea hand-paints everything and it is the cutest. The unexpected color combinations and the actual art packed into a single card is everything a designer could dream of.
after hours
Hello Marjorie
I'm biased, I got engaged here eight years ago, but Hello Marjorie is still one of my favorite spots in the city. One of the first true cocktail bars in the Des Moines area, with floral wallpaper, vintage vibes, drinks that actually deliver, and the most adorable photobooth.
Bartender's Handshake
Another cocktail favorite. My go-to drink is the To Thursday, and it's a 100/10. The whole place is eclectic and vintage-y in the best way, with fun branding and cute matchbooks down to the details.
Honorable coffee mention:
Lightbrite, Grimes
Best coffee in the metro, in my humble opinion. Bright white walls, comfy spots to actually get work done, and a go-to order I'll never quit: the Cardigan.
Brighten Made in DSM
We always love seeing our work out in the wild, and DSM has a couple of spots that are close to our hearts.
Playgrounds Cafe
Also in Waukee (yes, my beloved Waukee) and yes, a Brighten Made-branded business, so cute, am I right? Playgrounds is the go-to for sipping a coffee while your kids run wild for a couple of hours. Also, a perfect spot to meet a mom friend. Owner Natalie used her branding in the best way, quite literally bringing her brand colors onto the walls.
Batch Balanced
On the shelf inside Playgrounds (and plenty of other local spots), you'll find Batch Balanced. I worked with owner Megan on her branding and packaging about six years ago, and it's still as timeless as ever. As a busy mom who is always rushing out the door, I love that I can feed Navy a quick, high-protein breakfast on the go with zero mess. Make it once a week, keep easy snacks on hand (because breastfeeding hunger is no joke), and you're set. The icons, simple typography, and subtle color work overtime to keep each flavor feeling distinct but unmistakably Batch.
Bri, founder of Brighten made
