Case studies
A deep dive into Graham School
The University of Chicago’s Graham School caters to lifelong learners with an appetite for inquiry and discussion. We employed a mix of quantitative and qualitative research to develop an effective strategy for reaching curious adults seeking new intellectual challenges. MORE
Discovering Eastern Shipping Worldwide
To differentiate from larger global competitors, we worked closely with Eastern leadership to transform every aspect of the company’s branding. MORE
The evolution of Evanston Community Foundation
Founded in 1986, ECF has helped Evanston thrive in myriad ways. We have supported their mission by clarifying their messaging and amplifying their story. MORE
Campaigning for BPI’s next 50 years
On the occasion of BPI’s 50th anniversary, we developed a major fundraising campaign, dubbed “Strive for Equity,” with a focus on realizing future goals—and just enough historical context to celebrate the organization’s past successes. MORE
Brand architecture & identity for JCFS Chicago
Jewish Child & Family Services had been active for nearly 160 years and had grown to encompass a bewildering array of programs. We were charged with making sense of their brand family. MORE
Building the Clarus Hall brand
Before Clarus Hall had a name or any other trappings of a brand, we met with its founders, the management team of a brokerage agency named Producer Resources. They asked us to help them create a breakout brand that would make a splash in the industry. MORE
CHEST: new offerings in health care
The American College of Chest Physicians (which had recently rebranded as “CHEST”) retained Jell to assist with go-to-market strategies for new business-to-business ventures. MORE
Out of the stacks: Chicago Collections
Founded by librarians and archivists at twelve of Chicago’s most notable museums and universities, Chicago Collections Consortium had been flying under almost everyone’s radar during its formative stage. Our job was to launch the brand and position the consortium on Chicago’s cultural landscape. MORE
Strategy & action for OMS Foundation
The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation had ambitious goals. We developed a strategy and an action plan to transform the brand. MORE
The birth of Ocient
What do you call an unnamed startup that’s enshrouded in mystery and founded by one of Chicago’s top tech entrepreneurs? An enticing opportunity for brand discovery. MORE
Communications strategy for The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
The University of Chicago asked us to explore the brand position of the Harris School of Public Policy, then develop a new communications strategy to compete more effectively with a global perspective. MORE
Strategic storytelling: After School Matters
Every year, After School Matters offers more than 15,000 Chicago teens safe haven and opportunity for growth through life-changing after-school and summer programs. We’re proud of our role in shaping and communicating their brand story. MORE
Reviving a radio icon: WFMT’s Studs Terkel Radio Archive
Over the course of a five-year collaboration with WFMT Radio Network, we worked to renew awareness of Studs Terkel and celebrate his legacy as an interviewer. MORE
Illuminating Satori Energy’s brand potential
Founded in 2003 by David C. Wiers, Satori Energy had grown with a series of acquisitions into an industry leader, with over 50,000 accounts and more than $140 million in energy savings for its clients. We were asked to develop a brand strategy, collateral system, and digital services. MORE
Launching BSG Growth
After a successful run with his management consulting firm, founder Steve Sheridan asked us to help him launch his next venture—this time, targeting the needs of private capital. MORE
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Harris Theater in Millennium Park is one of Chicago’s most treasured cultural assets. We were honored to support their mission for over a decade. MORE
Celebrating Grant Park Music Festival
There are few living institutions linking Chicago’s storied past with its future. Grant Park Music Festival—the oldest and only surviving free classical music series in the country—is a prime example. We have been celebrating the Festival for years. MORE
Rebranding Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation
On the occasion of their 30th anniversary, we met with Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation to discuss a new look and feel for their venerable but rapidly evolving organization. MORE
Launch for Evanston Cradle to Career
Evanston Cradle to Career is committed to the idea that every child deserves a path to a fulfilling, productive life. Soon after its birth, we guided EC2C’s brand launch. MORE
Finding Chicago Wilderness
Chicago Wilderness is a regional alliance of over 250 member organizations working to preserve, improve, and expand nature and quality of life. Over the course of several years, we transformed the alliance’s public-facing magazine as well as the parent brand. MORE
Activating the Miniat brand
Miniat Holdings, a family-owned, fifth-generation purveyor of food products, sought a strategic partner to help drive the brand forward during a period of rapid growth. Internal brand activation was the key. MORE
Propelling Adler Planetarium
The arrival of Dr. Michelle B. Larson as Adler Planetarium’s first female president and CEO was an exciting step forward in the evolution of the Adler brand. We were proud to help tell that story to Adler stakeholders and donors. MORE