Interested in other digital agencies in Chicago? Check out our top list of firms in the following industries:
Interested in other digital agencies in Chicago? Check out our top list of firms in the following industries:
Best Branding Agencies in Chicago This Year
You’re probably visiting this page because you’re a business owner or CEO looking to create a cohesive brand or recreate your current themes.
While you probably don’t need any more convincing to make this change, the statistics surrounding the importance of branding speak for themselves. In one white paper, it was found that personalizing your website by presenting cohesive and consistent branding across all platforms increases revenues by up to 23%.
A branding agency is made up of a team of creative business experts who know what it takes to create a branding strategy that will propel your business to the next level. They tend to offer services that fit into three different categories—visual branding, brand messaging, and corporate identity—so it’s important to know what you’re looking for beforehand. Knowing how important a cohesive brand is, however, many agencies will offer several different services in one package to make things as easy as possible for your business.
Even if you understand what a branding agency is, there are hundreds to choose from in Chicago, which can make narrowing down your choices difficult.
If you were to do it manually, this process could take weeks or even months that could be spent focusing on other parts of your business.
This is why we’ve curated this article full of the best branding agencies in Chicago from the last year. Instead of frantically searching the internet, take your time to read through the options and find the best branding agency in Chicago that fits your requirements.
Regardless of whether you are looking to create a visual brand, or want some help with understanding your brand’s message, there’s an option here for everyone. The ones we have provided work with a selection of different industries and business sizes, so you’re bound to find one that suits your company well.
88 Brand Partners
88 Brand Partners offer a full creative service that elevates and expands your brand in the digital space. Their team of specialists integrate strategy, marketing copy and design to facilitate the a meaningful connection with viewers.
- 88 Brand Partners were the recipients of the Davey Awards in 2016.
- 88 Partners is committed to giving back to the community through their pro-bono program.
- Top clients include Discover and W Hotels.
Top Clients: Discover, W Hotels, Mayo Clinic.
Expertise: Advertising, branding, and broadcast video services.
Expertise: Advertising, branding, and broadcast video services.
L.C. Williams & Associates
What better way to ensure you’re not being controversial with your branding than to go with a company that also specializes in public relations? L.C. Williams & Associates is a mid-sized company whose team of experienced, invested and created individuals provides the same personalized results you’d expect from a much smaller firm.
Top Clients: Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Dyspraxia Foundation USA, Abbot Laboratories, Alzheimer’s Association
Expertise: Public Relations, Branding
Expertise: Public Relations, Branding
ColorJar
ColorJar is one of the best design companies in Chicago, offering branding that drives real results and enhances the audience’s experience. They’re known for revitalizing mid-market brands when it’s most needed to push businesses above their competition across several different industries.
Top Clients: Blue Plate, Discovery Channel, Funny or Die, ParkWhiz, Sandbox Industries, Navy Pier
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Corporate Identity
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Corporate Identity
Cultivate
Cultivate works exclusively with business-to-business companies. Developing a B2B mobile application is a completely different ball game than a B2C app, and Cultivate knows exactly how to optimize an application based on your needs.
- Cultivate has been published in Forbes and Ad Age.
- The company was recognized as a 'Best B2B Service Provider in Chicago'.
- Cultivate is an entry at the Chicago Build Expo.
Top Clients: The Chicago International Film Festival, The Boxcar Children, Fenwick High School, Truant Brewing
Expertise: Branding Strategy, Mobile App Development
Expertise: Branding Strategy, Mobile App Development
Paragraphs LLC
Paragraphs LLC is one of few award-winning graphic design companies in Chicago that specialize in helping struggling enterprise businesses with their identity crisis. Whether your online and in-person branding is completely different, or you’re just looking for something more cohesive all round, this agency can help.
Top Clients: Baxter Healthcare, Exelon Corporation, IBM Watson, Hyatt, Coca-Cola FEMSA
Expertise: Branding, Graphic Design
Expertise: Branding, Graphic Design
Digital Kitchen
Digital Kitchen utilizes a unique approach to web design -- they incorporate experiential design and rich brand storytelling into their work. Regardless of your vertical, they will help you create immersive narratives and boost conversions.
- Their trademark approach is to incorporate film and video into their designs, which has earned them collaborations with HBO and AMC.
- Digital Kitchen has been around since 1995.
- They have also been the winner of the Webby Awards.
Top Clients: Alta Forest Products, AMC, Deschutes Brewery, HBO, Microsoft
Expertise: Web Design
Expertise: Web Design
Multiple Inc.
Multiple Inc. is focused on creating branding that clearly defines your business’ purpose and reinforces the positive relationships clients have established with you. This is done largely through their partnership team, which sits down with you to research and visualize your new branding.
Top Clients: Rotary International, Columbia College Chicago, Constellation Brands, Adello Biologics, DePaul University
Expertise: Brand Message, Brand Identity, Corporate Identity
Expertise: Brand Message, Brand Identity, Corporate Identity
Kivvit
Kivvit is a branding agency that opened its original headquarters in Chicago in 2002, and has since expanded to four other US locations. Their reach and expertise allows them to share their creativity and experience with clients in many locations, and the agency services a variety of industries and businesses of all sizes.
Top Clients: Volta Energy Technologies, Reach NJ, Google, My Ballot Initiative, University of Chicago Medicine
Expertise: Public Relations, Branding
Expertise: Public Relations, Branding
Mabbly
"Mabbly" is an acronym -- it stands for "Modern Agency Borne By Loving You". Born from a mom-and-pop SEO firm, Mabbly has worked with a number of high-profile clients. The firm prides itself on their high morale, personal touch with clients, and stellar results.
- Microsoft chose Mabbly to help the launch of its Civic Engagement platform, propelling it to strong thought-leader recognition and over 2 million Twitter views.
- The company worked with Limitless Coffee, which eventually landed its products in Walmart.
- Mabbly prides itself on data-driven yet human-centered design.
Top clients: Northwestern University, Microsoft, Limitless Coffee & Tea, SPR.
Expertise: Brand identity, UX/Design, and development, search engine marketing, digital advertising, public relations, video production.
Expertise: Brand identity, UX/Design, and development, search engine marketing, digital advertising, public relations, video production.
BatesMeron Sweet Design
BatesMeron Sweet Design is a full-service creative agency that specifically focuses on branding and marketing strategies. Keen to bridge the gap between digital strategy, creativity and idea execution, its competitive team of experts goes above and beyond what’s necessary to provide clients with outstanding results.
Top Clients: Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chicago Flower and Garden Show, Hula Berry, Trading Technologies, Kitchfix
Expertise: Branding, Direct Marketing
Expertise: Branding, Direct Marketing
ArtVersion
As their name would suggest, ArtVersion bring a more artistic approach to the development of your website. Their team of creative strategists and visual storytellers have supported both Fortune 500 companies and startups with bringing their ideas to life.
- ArtVersion has served a number of industries including fashion, finance, and sports.
- They've been named in the Top 100 Branding Agencies by Agency Spotter.
- ArtVersion has a 5-star rating on clutch.co.
Top Clients: Volvo, Mack Trucks, TransUnion, Federal Reserve Bank, Rush University, Shell
Expertise: UX Web Design, Branding
Expertise: UX Web Design, Branding
Conjure
Conjure is one of the very few graphic design companies in Chicago that specializes in providing expert branding for businesses. With a company ethos that believes designs can truly make a brand, they’ve employed the most experienced team to propel every client to the next level.
Top Clients: Sounhaus, Protein Bar, DURAVANT, Limitless Coffee & Tea, Blackwood BBQ
Expertise: Branding, Graphic Design
Expertise: Branding, Graphic Design
Soulsight
As its name suggests, Soulsight is a branding agency that focuses on finding your business’ soul and using this to refocus your branding efforts. Through extensive research and relationship-building with your business’ leaders, they create strategic designs that emotionally connect your customers to you.
Top Clients: Blue Moon, Gold Peak Tea, Miller Lite, Campbells, Taco Bell
Expertise: Branding, Digital Strategy
Expertise: Branding, Digital Strategy
Otherwise
Otherwise is a smaller, boutique branding agency that works almost exclusively with small and mid-market real estate companies to bring their branding to life. Working with smaller organizations allows them to help newcomers to branding and identification issues understand the impact branding can make on their businesses.
Top Clients: Three Sixty West, Sailrock South Caicos, Chicago Humanity Festival, Cornerstones Health
Expertise: Branding, Advertising, Market Research
Expertise: Branding, Advertising, Market Research
Brandtrust
Brandtrust is a branding agency that works with businesses of all different sizes to create designs that help you unlock the needs and desires of your ideal customer. They work from methodologies rooted in applied social and behavioral science to teach you about your audience from the data insights you provide.
Top Clients: Cadillac, Intel, KitchenAid, Jack Daniels, The Hartford
Expertise: Branding, Market Research
Expertise: Branding, Market Research
Someoddpilot
Someoddpilot is an award-winning creative agency that embraces a business’ culture and that of their consumers, using both elements to create branding strategies that work. They offer a very personalized and collaborative service, sitting down with your business to really understand its story and the industry you are part of.
Top Clients: CAT Footwear, Saucony, The Second City, Sperry, Merrell, Budweiser
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Messaging, Brand Strategy
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Messaging, Brand Strategy
a5 Branding and Digital
If you’re a brand looking for a no-nonsense website design from people who can deliver it clearly and concisely, the team at a5 Branding and Digital is your best shot. Their expertise starts from local organizations and extends out to engineering firms, fintech services, healthcare and non-profits that are located in Chicago and throughout the country.
Top Clients: Chicago’s Children’s Museum, Chicago Park District, Visit Oak Park, Field Museum
Expertise: Branding, Web Design
Expertise: Branding, Web Design
Pivot Design
Having been in business creating brand experiences that inspire people for more than 25 years, Pivot Design is the perfect option for established organizations. They have a combined team of over 40 creative and knowledgeable branding professionals working across their three offices, providing your business with expertise from around the US.
Top Clients: American Library Association, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Northwestern University, Microsoft, Institute of Chicago
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Messaging
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Messaging
Simple Truth
Simple Truth is committed to working with you to discover the ideas at the core of your business. They believe that this is key to creating an authentic, comprehensive branding and best identifies how you stand out from competitors.
Top Clients: Adtalem, Allstate, AvalonBay Communities, BrightStar Care, World Business Chicago
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Brand Messaging
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Brand Messaging
JB Chicago
JB Chicago is dedicated to helping organizations of all sizes create cohesive brands that succeed by asking help you discover what’s truly unique about your business. Together, you and JB Chicago’s creative team create a framework, which helps you discover the fundamental truths about your brand and helps you shape your business and branding efforts.
Top Clients: DISH Network, GoodBelly, Hooray Puree, Monk Fruit, Kapow Events, TripleCare
Expertise: Branding, Advertising
Expertise: Branding, Advertising
March Media Chicago
For small businesses looking to create brands that make a statement, March Media Chicago is the perfect match. They work with businesses facing challenging times or uncertain developments in their industries to create new and unique solutions to fix common problems experienced by small market holders in particular.
Top Clients: Sumi Robata Bar, Personalized Communications, Slim’s Chicago, Four Seasons Japanese Restaurant
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Corporate Identity
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Corporate Identity
Killian Branding
Killian Branding is one of the most established branding agencies in Chicago, which has allowed their team to gain vast experience across many different industries. Their main goals when working with clients are to use branding as a tool for visibility, to differentiate you from your competitors, and to make you a genuine competitor no matter your size.
Top Clients: Shelter Inc, Sterno Delivery, Formula Fresh, Purition, Family Credit Management
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Brand Naming
Expertise: Brand Strategy, Brand Naming
C2 Creative
C2 Creative is a branding agency looking for uncommon and courageous clients who aren’t afraid to help craft strategies and design meaningful brand experiences. The team behind it is just as daring and consists of problem solvers that come up with brand-based ideas through highly efficient partnership working teams.
Top Clients: HERE Technologies, DaVita, Chowly, Motorola, Pogue Construction
Expertise: Marketing Strategy, Branding
Expertise: Marketing Strategy, Branding
Concentric Design
Concentric might be a small firm, but they are considered one of the best design companies in Chicago. Specializing in visual identity, corporate identity, and brand strategy, their small team is an advantage as it allows them to create deeper relationships and a more thorough understanding of your business.
Top Clients: Hertz, United Airlines, Teach For America, The University of Chicago, Taskfully
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Strategy
Expertise: Corporate Identity, Brand Strategy
Bandwidth Marketing Group
Bandwidth Marketing Group is as much a creative consultancy business as an agency, and always looking for the client who wants what they have to offer: aggressive, thoughtful marketing and branding strategies.
Top Clients: VillageMD, Guaranteed Rate, Abbvie, WRS, Incingo, Illinois Technology Association, Grubhub
Expertise: Brand Messaging
Expertise: Brand Messaging
Strike 2
Strike 2 is an agency that believes reinventing the way businesses work and collaborate is key to success, especially when it comes to branding. They start all relationships by sitting down to work through with you your business goals and visions for the future, and use these to guide the branding process.
Top Clients: Brightfield Group, Batesian, Bozii, Sprint Social Champion
Expertise: Advertising, Branding
Expertise: Advertising, Branding
Gertrude Inc.
Gertrude Inc. is a global development company based in Chicago that collaborates with businesses to create purpose-driven branding outcomes. They do this by gaining a deeper understanding of your business’ stories and how it is seen in the eyes of your clients, which is a critical part of the branding process.
Top Clients: Ocean Spray, Ketel One Vodka, Pepsi, Diageo, Red Bull
Expertise: Branding
Expertise: Branding
Legacy Marketing
Legacy Marketing is a branding agency that has been around for almost two decades, and is constantly reinventing and developing its team of experienced branding experts. This has led them to work with some of the largest companies in the United States—and globally—to bring those businesses to life through innovative branding strategies.
Top Clients: TGI Fridays, Manchester City US Tour, USG, Wilson, Jameson
Expertise: Branding
Expertise: Branding
The Getty’s Group
The Getty’s Group is an award-winning branding firm largely regarded as the leader for hospitality-based branding. Mostly working with high-end hotels, including several in Chicago, they use a collaborative approach that is infused with creativity to bring the best stories out of their clients.
Top Clients: The Edwin Hotel, Reikart House, The Blackstone Hotel, The Thompson Hotel
Expertise: Hotel Branding
Expertise: Hotel Branding
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