Matchstic

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I'm a department director at HCM

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

HCM is a collaborative design firm working at the intersection of inspiration and impact. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Rebrand Firm

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

·         Research our primary internal and external audiences to determine their perceptions of our brand.

·         Audit the organization’s print and digital communications to determine what explicit and implicit messages are being sent.

·         Develop a brand strategy that specifies the organization’s primary audiences, brand values, personality, value proposition, brand positioning, and brand promise.

·         Develop brand messaging and train staff on its use.

·         Conduct a naming study, including legal checks for trademarks, and lead the development of a potential new name for the organization.

·         Create a new visual identity for the organization and prepare a visual identity standard manual or brand book that governs the use of the identity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Naming Study

Visual Identity

Verbal Identity

Launch Plan

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Not only was  their project management excellent, but they actually kept US on time, which was an incredible accomplishment

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They went above and beyond understanding what makes us unique, and somehow, found a way to perfectly convey that both verbally and visually, without seeming like a typical trite brand strategy.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

Not at all

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on March 12, 2026
John Lange
Senior Director of Strategy & Marketing, HCM
Construction
Baltimore, Maryland
201-500
Dec 2024 - Mar 2026
$200,000 to $999,999
Verified
Project summary
Matchstic provided branding services for a design firm. The team was responsible for brand identification and alignment, brand communications, and assistance with brand launch execution.

Feedback summary
Matchstic successfully delivered a brand discovery report, brand identification, visual identity, brand guidelines, and a brand presentation. The team was empathetic, understanding, and took ownership of the project. Matchstic's project management and service quality were excellent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Director of Strategy and Marketing of HCM

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Built environment design including architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, graphic design and planning. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Brand identification and alignment
• Communications about the brand
• Brand launch execution assistance

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Create a new brand name and identity for Hord Coplan Macht.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Brand discovery with report presented to our internal brand team.

Brand identification

Visual identify

Brand guidelines

Brand unveiling and presentation to the ownership group and the firm as a whole 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We were assigned a project manager from the outset of the project, Lauren. She did an excellent job of keeping us on schedule and providing continuity of services across the entire project lifespan. This was important because two key members of the Matchstic team left the firm during this time, but the level and quality of service was maintained throughout. 

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Matchstic took a very deep dive into learning about us, and they took ownership of the project. In presentations, they would refer to themselves as 'we', putting themselves in our place and conveying that they felt part of what we were doing.  We felt this was a small, almost imperceptible, yet powerful way of demonstrating empathy and understanding of our goals, concerns and culture. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

Matchstic did an amazing job. Our only regret was the entire project was handled virtually. And although the meetings were well-planned and executed, we missed the human connection of in-person meetings. Understanding that in this current business environment, with talent spread all over, this was the most practical approach to the project, we felt it was none-the-less a little bittersweet we couldn't meet everyone in person.  We held an owners retreat attended by 110 people and two members of the Matchstic team attended in person to unveil the new brand. This was important and we recommend they consider doing this for other clients. 

STAR RATINGS

Overall rating: 5.0
Quality: 5.0
Cost: 5.0
Schedule: 5.0
Willing to refer: 5.0 The team was very well organized, talented and flexible. They conveyed their values while conveying ours to our audience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing for a water treatment products and services manufacturer. We serve many different markets, from industrial to municipal markets, and primarily work on technologies that help clean and purify water. I handle our company's marketing and product management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We needed help with a comprehensive brand refresh.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic provided rebranding services for us. We changed everything except for the name of the company, including our visual and verbal identity. We also worked on our value proposition and how we describe the company.

During the discovery phase, we provided Matchstic with all of our existing information and our marketing positioning. The team conducted a bulk survey, followed by one-on-one surveys with key customers. Matchstic also did an internal survey and one-on-one surveys with various stakeholders to get an understanding of the company, where we were going, and what we liked and didn’t like.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 teammates from Matchstic: Brittany was our project lead, Cody was a graphic designer, Clayton was our writer, Ashley did a lot of strategy work, and Lexi was our project manager

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

We found them through a referral. Our company is owned by a private equity company that had used Matchstic for one of their other portfolio companies.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking to them in January 2025, and the project kicked off in February 2025. We finished the project in January 2026.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We only just finished the project, so it’s too early to tell the results. However, we received a lot of positive feedback. We also observed a 50% boost in web traffic and a 100% boost in visits to our LinkedIn page. Due to the type of clients we work with, it's still early to determine the impact of Matchstic's work on that area.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic met deadlines and stayed on budget. We mainly met over Zoom and had a lot of email exchanges.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Matchstic's attention to detail was very impressive. The team ensured they dug into the concepts and understood them, many of which were very technical on our side. They displayed a desire to understand our needs deeply rather than check the box.

Moreover, Matchstic constantly challenged our assumptions and viewpoints. If they felt they needed to push a little harder, they did, which we appreciated. It’s too easy to accept a middle-of-the-road compromise rather than take a bit of a risk.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had a close-out meeting for the project, and we spoke about what worked and what didn’t.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ensure you set aside enough time to give the project the resource allocation it needs. We’re all very busy and have many things going on, but we need to clear our schedules and dedicate time to the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing and communications for TGR Foundation, the education-based nonprofit of Tiger Woods. We were founded in 1996 to empower youth to pursue their passions through education. We do that through TGR Learning Labs, which are educational facilities that serve students from under-resourced communities through educational programs and career readiness programming in the after-school, summer, and in-school day environments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We hired Matchstic to lead a rebranding effort around our TGR Learning Labs. We wanted to evaluate both the name and the brand identity. We were entering into a season of expansion. After 18 years of having just one learning lab, we opened our second lab last year, and we’ll have five open by 2028. We deemed it was time to ensure our brand was the strongest it could be to accompany that growth and reach and retain students, our end audience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic started with a discovery phase. We had several rounds of intake meetings and conversations with myself, members of our executive leadership team, our board, and students. We gathered facts about where we were and what we were trying to accomplish.

Then, we embarked on a research phase where we evaluated the name against a set of comparatives. We researched the existing name of TGR Learning Labs against other organizations in our field, our peers, and similar nonprofits. This was a multifaceted research project with qualitative and quantitative surveys on how people responded to the names.

With that data and feedback from the team, we took the findings to our committee. We decided to explore a new name further, although the existing name performed better than we anticipated. We weren’t willing to make a firm commitment that we were going to rebrand, but we decided to explore new names.

Matchstic then went into an extensive naming process. They brainstormed hundreds of names and ultimately presented three rounds of names to me, our CEO, and our board leadership. We whittled the names down to a shortlist. Matchstic then started to work on concepts for the brand visuals.

We presented the shortlist of names to the board committee. We decided to do another round of research, which Matchstic led. We tested the new names against the incumbent TGR Learning Labs. Ultimately, we decided to keep our existing name for a variety of reasons.

Once we decided to keep the name, we went to the final phase, which was to do a completely revised brand identity. Matchstic led the visual and verbal identity through a multi-stage process. They presented additional creative comps and messaging, got refinement feedback, and made the final presentation. We accepted the presentation and then handed off the deliverables.

After the main project was done, we retained Matchstic for a shorter, extra scope to help us create the actual design files we used to open our brand-new TGR Learning Lab in Philadelphia in September 2025. We had a very short runway and a lot of projects to get the rebrand done. We used Matchstic’s creative team for a 6-week project to do the deliverables we needed to use at our TGR Learning Lab in Philly.

What is the team composition?

We had a core team of 3–4 people. Blake was our main point of contact. Melissa acted as our account director, and 3–4 people were heavily involved in the naming and brand identity phase. We had an additional team of 5 people when we got into the creative phase.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

I found Matchstic through Google searches and peer-to-peer recommendations. I looked at some reviews on Clutch. I can’t remember specifically where Matchstic first came across my desk. It might have been Clutch or just a search engine.

We chose Matchstic over other service providers for a variety of factors. We enjoyed their team and the vibe of what they presented. We liked their methodology, processes, and protocols. We also liked how they presented the project.

Moreover, as a nonprofit with a high-profile founder, we liked that Matchstic had relevant case studies. They had worked with nonprofits and big-name personalities. We felt really comfortable that they were the right agency for the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Matchstic from October 2024–August 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Students, staff, and parents were wowed by the visuals when they walked into the buildings with the new branding. Everyone was very positive and really loved the look, feel, and creative aspects. There was a strong reaction when people went into the building for the first time. We got the same strong positive feedback in our other facility. The bright colors and messaging resonated with students. The brand was vibrant and fun.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic always stayed within budget. If we needed extra elements, everything was always cleared and communicated. They were always on top of deadlines and kept us updated. Some delays were really from our side. We communicated via emails, phone calls, and Zoom meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Matchstic was very creative, flexible, and nimble. They were willing to work with us through numerous changes, adjustments, requests, and requirements. They always took things in stride and were willing to push the creativity further based on our requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Matchstic to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We worked together with a team mentality. Matchstic really brought themselves in and invested in the project and our space. We could feel the sense of ownership they had with what we were trying to accomplish. They were committed to making the project the best it could be, rather than just getting it done.

Coming in with that expectation will help you get that out of them because that’s how they like to operate.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Sr. Director, Internal Communications and Employer Brand of a sports company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a sports and entertainment company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Develop an employer brand that articulates our organization as an employer of choice and defines what makes the organization special and unique.
• Using internal and external research, identify our key differentiators, articulate our value, and communicate the heartbeat of the organization.
• Create a strong and inspiring connection with employees and define the employee value proposition – what we promise to deliver as an employer of choice.

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Matchstic delivered the following:

• Internal brand audit
• External competitive audit
• Leadership interviews and employee focus groups
• Brand strategy
• Verbal messaging and guide
• Visual identity concepts

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have not fully rolled out the entire brand, so outcomes are still being evaluated. During the development (which Matchstic was responsible for - not the execution), we measured project success by timelines and alignmnet/buy-in from the core team and executives - all which were successful.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was excellent! Their project manager stayed on top of every single detail and provided clear next steps and timelines. Their approach felt intentional and supportive. Even when we needed to veer slightly from what we agreed upon originally, they kept us on track and worked with what we asked for while providing sound advice. 

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Matchstic had a great understanding of our organization; however, they still listened intently while in the research phase to learn. I was impressed by their intent (and ultimate deliverable) on creating a brand that was truly relevant and authentic. I was also impressed with the detailed care they took with each word and visual concept so every single thing was purposeful. They were easy to work with and took all feedback into consideration.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

There was nothing Matchstic should have done differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing for Miller Sports and Entertainment. Specifically, this review is for Megaplex, which falls under Miller Sports and Entertainment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We hired Matchstic for a Megaplex rebranding project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic helped us with a rebranding project. We wanted to refresh the brand, improve brand affinity, and elevate the guest experience across the board.

We went through the brand positioning and strategy. We did verbals, logos, typography, color, and photography. Matchstic also created some additional brand elements, such as sub-brands. They were also involved in trademarking.

What is the team composition?

We worked with an account manager, a brand strategist, a brand copywriter, and a brand designer.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

A friend referred Matchstic. I reached out and made an introduction. We went through an RFP process and interviewed five different agencies. Ultimately, we selected Matchstic to be our partner for the rebranding project.

We chose them because of their work and portfolio. Their process was very thoughtfully laid out, and we liked their deliverables. They weren’t the cheapest, but they were worth the investment.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–September 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve had a positive response to brand engagement. We’ve also increased our market share by three percentage points. Matchstic's work exceeded our expectations.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic’s project management was exceptionally good. They delivered on time and within budget. We primarily worked through email and Zoom meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Matchstic used a tried-and-true process for the rebranding experience, from exploration, brand positioning, strategy, and the identity of the brand. Their process was very succinct and fun, with a dialed system.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Pick Matchstic; you’ll be happy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Cyderes

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cyderes is your specialized cyber security partner built to defend the relentless threatscape. With deep roots in identity security, cyber operations, as well platform hardening, Cyderes offers a full suite of services for enterprise customers searching to be every day ready. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Rebrand
• Website, powerpoints, digital material, etc.
• Graphics and artwork

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Here’s a polished description of the work Matchstic did for your rebrand: 
 
 We partnered with Matchstic to execute a comprehensive rebrand that transformed our company’s visual and digital identity. Over the course of four months, they worked closely with us to develop a cohesive brand identity that truly reflects our mission and values. Their work included: 
 
 Logo Design : Matchstic created our new logo, which serves as the cornerstone of our refreshed brand. 
 Color Palette Development : They designed a modern and versatile color scheme that aligns with our brand's personality and vision. 
 Brand Identity Creation : Matchstic helped us establish a unified brand identity, including typography, visual elements, and overall guidelines to ensure consistency across all platforms. 
 Artwork and Digital Designs : They delivered high-quality artwork and digital assets to support our marketing efforts and brand presence. 
 Website Design : Matchstic played a key role in our website relaunch, providing wireframes, mockups, and design concepts that brought our vision to life. 
 
 Their collaborative approach and creative expertise were instrumental in making our rebrand a success. Matchstic’s work has not only elevated our visual identity but also strengthened how we communicate with our audience across all touchpoints.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They hit their timelines, every single one of them.  They also rushed a number of them to align with our business and when we needed things.  

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Our project manager was a ROCKSTAR!  I would hire her in a heartbeat.  She kept us organized, pulled when she needed too, and pushed in other moments based on timelines and where we were at. 

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

How easily they fit into our team, that was the magic.  They were an absolute join to work with and our team is going to miss working with them.  

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

No. They really knocked it out of the park and we are incredible proud of the work we did together.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Interim Executive Director of Remedy

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Remedy makes your pet's veterinary care affordable. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Refine the Remedy brand profile inclusive of the brand strategy and both verbal and visual identity

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Used previously

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• Great culture fit
• Previous experience and quality of work

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Remedy is a new organization and brand with a critical mission and aggressive growth strategy to support making veterinary care affordable to all. To do so, we needed a brand capable of scale and mass engagement and Matchstic was engaged to deliver a refined and comprehensive brand identity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The delivery of a complete, mutually agreed upon brand identity toolkit and associated files

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Time and process management are core competencies at Matchstic. The pace was aggressive as needed but appropriate. Additionally, while appropriately rigid, the process and the team are very responsive to the expected dynamics that occur in a project such as this. The project was completed on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Matchstic has an exceptional process that facilitates successful outcomes for their clients; however,  make no mistake, the magic sauce is their people.  They are all talented and have expert knowledge within their disciplines but it's how they connect with clients, gather all relevant information, create productive discourse, and drive to a high-value output.  The people at Matchstic are what make it so uniquely qualified and impressive. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

Matchstic is not cheap but cost is only one component of value - and they deliver value!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Open Hand

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Open Hand provides delicious, medically tailored meals and nutrition education to thousands of
people who are home-bound or unable to cook for themselves. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Refresh a stale brand that was not visually communicating how progressive Open Hand has become.
• Design new logos for both Open Hand as the parent company and it’s social enterprise Good Measure Meals TM. Our previous logos did not relate well together and contributed to confusion amongst our target markets. Our clients and customers often didn’t understand that Good Measure Meals TM was actually a program of Open Hand.
• Expand our color palette used in our branding. Our former palette only included 2 colors and limited our design options.

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• refresh Open Hand's brand and that of it's social enterprise Good Measure Meals TM
• scope of work included 
  • assessing our readiness for making significant changes to our branding
  • researching how competitors in our market are positioning themselves with their brand
  • educating our Board and marketing staff committee about the power of branding
  • designing an entirely new branding pck for OH and GMM including new logos, color palette, custom designed graphics, web site designs, signage, packaging, social media templates, marketing colateral templates

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• incredibly positve feedback from our constituents and target audiences
• positive feedback from focus groups
• increase in social media traffic
•  

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

• exceptional project management with periodic updates on status and documentation of meeting notes
• delivered on time and never missed a deadline
• very responsive, excellent listeners, we felt heard throughout the process and we didnt mind being challenged by their teams members

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

• The amount of research and focus they had in truly understanding every aspect of our business model which influenced many of their recommendations.
• Their process for helping our team not be fearful of changing up our brand. They had a unique well though out process that helped us all to embrace change rather than avoid it. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

• No. Matchstic exceeded my expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Marketing Officer of OneStream, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

OneStream is the leading AI-powered enterprise Finance platform, unifying all the information and processes the Office of the CFO requires for financial consolidation, close, reporting, planning, and forecasting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Evolve and modernize our visual brand identity.
• Ensure our visual style was representative of how we wanted to be perceived in market (modern, innovative, trusted, and humanistic).
• Build a complete brand hub and enablement strategy to empower employees and partners to embrace, comply, and amplify our evolved visual brand identity.

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me
• Key capabilities and expertise

How many teammates from Matchstic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Matchstic provided guidance, design, and asset development to help us evolve and modernize our visual identity. Key deliverables included brandmark and logo design, color palatte, graphical design, brand guidelines, brand hub, photographic style and assets, and templates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Matchstic provided a brand visual identity that reinforced our simplified positioning and has resulted in greater awareness and positive association from employees, partners, customers, and the broader market.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Matchstic delivered a rare but critical blend of creative innovation and disciplined project management. This helped us remain on track for key milestones for launch and enablement.

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Again, Matchstic marries creative innovation with disciplined project management. They deliver quality work and expert counsel on-time.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Matchstic could have done differently?

Matchstic is incredibly strong with core branding, visual design, and brand enablement. Would be great to have additional on-staff skills in video, which has become a vital part of conveying brand to market.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m an executive at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?
We needed a company that could support our rebranding efforts. Our goal was to transform the AJC from a newspaper with a website to a fully digital media company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Matchstic leads a full company rebrand for us. We started the engagement with a discovery process to learn about what our competitors were doing and what was happening in the news industry. They interviewed me, our CMO, our brand director, several different designers, and other people within our company.

As we went through the process, we circled back from a very different logo that we had back to our original blackletter logo. We decided that refining our original logo was a better way to stay relevant in Atlanta and the country and align with some of the best news organizations in the country. This path also opened up a whole new slew of rebranding elements that we could include both on our website and in our marketing materials.

They essentially rebranded every part of our organization — they refined our original blackletter logo, introduced new colors, created motion and photography templates, and introduced the hyphen element that connected two names: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, which were two newspapers that were merged together to become us.
After that, they introduced the brand with three different workshops for three different interior groups within the company. It’s still a work in progress — it will be a years-long process to get everything cohesive and everybody on the same page.

What is the team composition?
I’ve worked with Blake (Co-Founder & Creative Director), Craig (President & Co-Founder), Gray (Senior Designer), Cameron (Senior Writer), a project manager, and an account director.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?
I reached out to them through a cold call. I was looking for a branding and design company from Atlanta and found Matchstic through an online search. I came across their site and recognized some of the work they did around town that I admired, even though I didn't know it was them.

What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in April 2023, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The rebrand has been really well-received internally and in the city. We're still trying to make our way to impact the city and change people’s perception of us. Many people already know who we are, but changing their perception of us will be difficult. However, I believe this rebrand has gone a long way in helping us transition from being perceived as a newspaper to a digital media company. The hyphen element they've introduced has also become a visual symbol unique to us that we could use in marketing.

We still have a long way to go, and it will take years to change that perception. In a year or two, we definitely would have some statistics or metrics on the impact of this rebrand, but not so much right now.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?
Project management-wise, Matchstic couldn’t have been better. The whole team has been amazing to work with. They’ve consistently delivered on time, sometimes even ahead of schedule, and always within our budget. I appreciate how they’ve always kept me on track—they’ve always let me know what happens if I miss a certain deadline and have done a great job setting and managing our expectations.

We primarily communicate through email, Google Meet, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?
It has been an awesome experience so far. All the people I’ve worked with are experts at what they do. Everything they’ve brought to the table has been better than what I could come up with. They’re definitely better than me at this whole thing, which is what I needed for this project.

Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don't think they could improve upon anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I wholeheartedly believe that you should hire Matchstic if you need branding or design work done. You’re not going to get better results with anyone else.