We work with you to build a brand of substance.
The most valuable kind.

People admire brands of substance for their integrity. For the way they help us see ourselves and the world differently. For their seemingly effortless abilities to be essential, imaginative and distinct. For the unmistakable clarity of their voices and expression.

Businesses admire them as assets. A brand of substance is valuable for its ability to communicate promise and purpose with impact. To touch the human wellspring of memory and emotion. To inspire organizations to accomplish great things. To give a new product or service instant credibility.

Clients call on us to create, sustain, evolve and reimagine brands of substance.

Let’s build your brand of substance together

  • Integrity

  • Meaning

  • Currency

  • Distinction

  • Imagination

 
 

Brands run in cycles.

Our services are designed to build brands in each of the four stages.

 
 
CREATE A NEW BRAND

Creation of de novo brands to seize business advantage.

  • Market research
  • Strategy and concept
  • Naming and identity system
  • Frame, narrative and voice
  • Packaging design
  • Launch planning and activation
  • Website design and build
SUSTAIN A DEVELOPING BRAND

Identify and connect with new audiences to fuel brand expansion.

  • Segmentation research
  • Positioning and value proposition
  • Advertising and marketing activation
  • Content marketing strategy
  • Investor and stakeholder communications
  • Employee branding
EVOLVE AN EXISTING BRAND

Help brands change with the times, the landscape or competition.

  • Competitive and environmental scan
  • Strategic brand communications audit
  • Line extensions and expansion planning
  • Brand architecture and repositioning
  • Reframing and key messaging
  • Identity and expression refresh
RENEW A MATURE BRAND

Breathe life into dormant or misunderstood brands.

  • Brand revitalization
  • Blue ocean / market mapping
  • Reputation management
  • Innovation strategies
  • Partnerships
  • Relaunch activation
 

We know how to move mountains. And how to not make mountains out of molehills.

 

COLLECTIVE MODEL

Think of us as an open kitchen. We collaborate inside and out. We work across all disciplines, assemble client-centric teams and engage experts globally to ensure meaningful experiences and tangible results.

INTELLIGENCE & INSTINCT

We move fluidly between art and science. Brands thrive when these worlds collide. We leverage the interplay between intuition and data, to strike the perfect balance of not only what works, but what’s possible.

FIDELITY THROUGH EXECUTION

Consultancies often hand over the deck and disappear. Brands of substance sweat every detail. So we work with you and through our collective to ensure creative quality as intended. 

 

Leaders serving leaders.

Our partners are senior-level brand, design and strategy experts. From beginning to end, we serve as leaders on every project. Because substantive brand thinking requires experience and perspective.

 

JAMES KOVAL

An award-winning designer, marketer and brand expert, Jamie's ability for building brands and businesses has been evident from an early age. His strength lies in seamlessly blending strategy and design to create enduring brand experiences. Jamie was co-founder and Chief Design Officer of Cooler Screens orchestrating brand, product design and the successful launch that helped secure $100MM in funding. Jamie previously co-founded and served as President of renowned design firm VSA Partners for nearly three decades, leading clients including Allstate, BMO, Brown-Forman, Chicago Cubs, CME Group, Coca-Cola, GM, P&G, and RH, playing a pivotal role in growth and ultimate sale to private equity.

 

STEVEN RYAN

Steven is highly-regarded for his ongoing focus on the intersection of technology and aesthetics. This fascination has been the driving force shaping his career, starting first in the realms of performing and fine arts, ultimately leading to communication and interaction design. With over 35 years of experience as a creative lead, entrepreneur and educator, Steven has dedicated his career to exploring the application of technology for design to create unique and memorable experiences for clients such as CME Group, Converse / Nike, Cooler Screens (as VP of Design), IBM, Motorola, and Morningstar, among others.

 

PATRICK PALMER

Pat is a widely-known brand and communications strategist with deep research and data acumen. Most recently, he was Managing Director of Purple Strategies, a reputation and crisis management firm. He also was Partner and Head of Strategy at VSA Partners, leading many of the world’s most valuable companies, including KraftHeinz, ABInBev, Google, Nike, IBM, and Allstate. Known for his ability to distill complexity into actionable strategies, Pat spent much of his 30+ year career in agencies, including Leo Burnett as EVP and Global Director of Strategy, where he led Coca-Cola, MillerCoors, GM, and Bridgestone, among others. His teams have been recognized for excellence with multiple Cannes Lions and Gold Effies.

 

CLIENTS