Developing Creative Collateral

Even the most strategically brilliant of campaigns can often succeed or fail based on logistic matters. Print collateral, such as brochures, media kits and fact sheets are often needed. Interactive materials such as web pages is increasingly important, and there are often opportunities where presentations and displays are useful.

We pride ourselves on the effectiveness of our material. We value clear, straightforward writing, and clean design, and we think it is important that copy and design are integrated. We want to make sure that a piece of collateral is on-target and on-message even before a single word is read, and we want to make sure that the design and writing invite further inspection so that every word gets read.

Whether our clients are dealing with a mass audience, a specific neighborhood, or even a single important official, we want to have effective materials that tell our story and that help advance the overall goals of the client in a cost-effective manner.

ReClaim — Logo

The logo and the slogan tell the story of this company. They reprocess asphalt roofing materials (tar-based material) to manufacture pot-hole patching material.

The typeface, with its flowing curves, echoes the recycling arrows that are at the heart of the company’s identity.

The symbol itself graphically depicts the flow from roof to road, and leads the eye directly into the slogan which explains the other elements so concisely that the eye follows the flow again out of pleasure.

View logo

Illinois Road Builders Association
Earth Day Card

The road builders hired us to reshape their public image, and to develop a reputation as a progressive voice on policy matters involved with transportation.

The Earth Day card was an inexpensive way to send several messages to policy leaders across the state:

it showed that the road builders were willing to participate in the debate on environmental matters,
that they were able to marshal facts and arguments regarding that debate,
and that they were part of the solution to some of the environmental problems facing the region.

>> View PDF

NSWMA — Identity Brochure

The National Solid Wastes Management Association represents the private sector firms which handle waste collection and recycling.

Facing increased regulation and, in some cases, competition from public agencies, the NSWMA embarked on a campaign to build greater understanding for their expertise and contributions to environmental efforts in the region.

This brochure was used on a tour of local public officials to explain their position, and it proved highly effective in communicating their message.

>> View brochure

Jobs for Illinois Graduates — Identity Materials

JILG is a statewide program helping high school students to stay in school, to graduate and to move into successful careers and higher education. Unlike the many programs which focus on career development, JILG focuses on providing the skills for career success and graduation.

The program has been primarily funded by the State of Illinois, but is now changing its strategy to attract broader philanthropic support.

Our strategy was to develop a logo that stressed the acronym, a tag line that communicated the essence of their program, and a look that echoed the quiet confidence and strength of the philanthropic bodies with whom it was going to be working.

>> View PDF 1 | View PDF 2

AHEAD Coalition — Legislative Bulletin

The AHEAD Coalition represented Illinois’ construction industry in a contentious legislative debate regarding workers’ compensation that resulted in the most significant reforms to that set of laws in over a decade. Following passage of the legislation, the associations which comprised the coalition needed to inform their memberships of the complex new provisions of the law, and to assure them of the value of their contributions to the process.

This bulletin was developed so that it could be delivered within a week of when the bill was signed into law. When previewed with the leaders of the associations were so enthusiastic that they all: