Studio Updates: Our Redefined Brand Values
It’s officially been two years since our studio’s rebrand and website revamp back in February 2022. Since then, we’ve seen a ton of changes with the studio and the way we do work. We’ve been meeting new people and taking on more interesting projects. Hell, we’ve even been getting some flowers of our own along the way!
With all of these changes that we’ve experienced, we felt compelled to take a retrospective look at the studio’s growth. How much has the studio changed in attitude? In spirit? As it turned out, it’s changed a lot, and with that, we felt it was necessary to revisit and revitalize our core values.
Where It All Started
When we initially unveiled the rebrand, the visual identity was in place but the verbal identity was still being developed (to be brutally honest, it was a bit rushed!). We knew what we wanted to embody, but didn’t give ourselves the opportunity to really solidify the words. As a result, our core values weren’t really anything but sentiments that we generally believed in.
Fast forward to now, we recognize that as a branding studio that continuously speaks about building brands outwards from the core, we also have to practice what we preach!
How We Worked Through It
Taking a much-needed cue from Bill Kenney of Focus Labs, we underwent a brief but intensive process that sought to hit deeply at the studio’s growth and experience, and manifest those insights into actionable and “ownable” core values to live by.
To start, we took an audit of people we’ve worked with in the past and present—what they mean to us, and how/what they contribute to a successful client experience. From there, we established why these inferences were important to what we as a studio are aiming to do. These notes would leverage themselves to create “value buckets” that we identified as being distinctive in their own way, but ultimately aligning with the studio’s mission and goals.
Across these three buckets were two generally held values: Integrity and Spirit. As a studio, we aspire to conduct ourselves with integrity throughout every aspect of our service, and we mean to do so with our unique sense of “spirit” or character. Why, because above all things, we want the people we work with—clients and collaborators alike—to feel like they belong here, and that they play a big role in the projects’ success.
From those general values and value buckets, we continued to wordsmith carefully and intently, until we came to the final 6 core values we now feel define the studio in all aspects of what we do.
Let’s take a look at them below:
SERVE WITH SPIRIT
With everything we do, we give it our all. From first handshake to final hand-off, we provide the best service we can by continuously showing up as the best versions of ourselves.TRANSCEND WITH TENACITY
We are constantly improving on ourselves and our abilities to do great work. We share knowledge with each other and take time to learn new skills. We excel in our expertise, yet thrive in the unknown.EMPOWER WITH EMPATHY
We strive to learn from others and set each other up for success. We listen intently and curiously. We prioritize open-mindedness to make better connections.CREATE WITH COURAGE
We aspire to push the envelope through every sketch, comp and prototype. We kill our darlings in the name of client and craft. We stray from cliche and shun the overdone.GROW WITH GRIT
We admire raw talent but put a premium on guts. We carry on through challenges and practice through perseverance. We embrace the underdog.“BE” WITH BRAVERY
We honor authenticity and hold space for others to be their true selves. We’re inspired by the emboldened and those who create positive change for the community. We’re not afraid to live our truth amongst others.
Onwards and Upwards
With newly revitalized brand values comes a continued aspiration towards progress and growth. We recognize that as a studio that builds creative business solutions, especially alongside other creative professionals, we have a responsibility towards our conduct and service to both. So with that, we thank everyone who has worked with us over the years, especially for the role you’ve played in our studio’s development. We will continue to work for and alongside you, as we strive towards building stronger and more confident brands.
(Shout out once again to Bill Kenney from Focus Labs for the seriously wonderful template & exercise!)
