Challenge the status quo.
BRIGADE is an independent, woman-owned branding and design firm that partners with savvy marketing teams who embrace a challenger mindset. By combining a deep understanding of business objectives with a fine-art skillset and unmatched commitment to consistency, we help brands disrupt the status quo. Since 2005, our legacy of proven impact has fostered long-term partnerships with clients and positioned BRIGADE as a “secret weapon” for brands seeking results.
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Multiple Branding Projects for University Alumni Association
the project
"BRIGADE is kind of like a secret weapon."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
During this project, I was the Chief Marketing Officer for Advancement at UMass Amherst. I was responsible for the strategic marketing communication initiative, focused on engaging stakeholders in meaningful interaction. We foster pride, advocacy, and philanthropic contributions from over 270,000 alums and donors worldwide.
What challenge were you trying to address with BRIGADE?
Advancement encompasses all alumni engagement, including constituent engagement. We work with all of our campus partners and look collectively across the university to make sure we’re building pride within the campus. An important aspect of the work is making sure we’re unified in our communication with partners, deans, students, and alums.
BRIGADE worked with us on a number of initiatives, including Homecoming 2019, the alumni magazine, and several other smaller projects.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Historically, UMass Amherst hasn’t always done a great job of building singular pride and engagement. Homecoming was an excellent opportunity to bring together all of our constituents under one event. BRIGADE helped us develop a theme for the event to reinforce the affinity of all aspects of philanthropy on and off campus.
To create the theme, the team led discovery sessions with our campus partners, listening to the insights of students, faculty, and other stakeholders. We went through a couple of iterations before landing on a final theme that really represented the university, as it was going through a rebranding project. BRIGADE helped sync the homecoming theme with the university’s new theme, designing a logo and toolkit to match the brand rolling out at around the same time.
Further, when the Advancement office assumed responsibility for the alumni magazine, BRIGADE helped make the transition more seamless. They assisted us in refreshing an existing format for the magazine as well as executing against a tight timeline, which had both print and digital formats. The team’s work helped refresh the voice to make it more in line with the new university branding.
What is the team composition?
We primarily had a main point of contact, but there were other people involved in the team.
How did you come to work with BRIGADE?
They were recommended to me by a colleague who I have high regard and respect for. She showed me the branding work they did for her area on campus, and after meeting with them, I was truly blown away.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $100,000 in total.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from June 2019–May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We were measuring several metrics, including participation of our board members, deans, faculty, staff, and alumni through event registration. There was a marked increase in donors and dollars, as well as engagement with social media and merchandise sales. In fact, in the one year of our collaboration with BRIGADE, we increased key constituency engagement by tenfold.
Further, feedback across the board was extremely positive. We got no pushback from any of the key stakeholders in the homecoming project, which was a wonderful surprise as we knew there was some skepticism about whether we needed a theme. Readers of the magazine were also pleased with the team’s contribution.
BRIGADES’s work did what we set out to accomplish: it brought everyone together with a unified voice.
How did BRIGADE perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re a very deadline-driven team, which made them invaluable partners. Also, working with one point of contact made the whole project very easy, seamless, and organized. BRIGADE was very collaborative, communicative, and responsive — on par with larger, well-known agencies across major cities. They exceeded our expectations.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Though they are results-driven, they’re not just doers. They’re great listeners, and they address the business issue well. BRIGADE is kind of like a secret weapon. For me, their unique selling proposition is that there was never any learning curve. They jumped into the project as adaptive and nimble partners, filling in wherever we had gaps. Aside from making us look great, that’s what made them so invaluable.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of anything. They were proactive, multi-disciplinary problem solvers. If anything, they could tout their own agency more — though I don’t want them to get too busy.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I’ve recommended them to several of my peers, because BRIGADE really takes the worries off your shoulders. They’re what I would look for from any team.
Focus
Portfolio
SVEDKA Vodka, Wyndham Hotel & Resorts, Travelodge, Hawthorn Suites, AmericInn, Baymont Inn & Suites, Trademark Collection, Days Inn, Super 8, World Hotels Collection, ALHI, Vapotherm, Weleda, Esselon Coffee, NextFlex, Audience Rewards, Studio School Los Angeles, Bat Conservation International, Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst, Burgerville, San Franola Granola, Little Red Dot, Greenlight Planet, Flex Pharma, Kim Crawford Wines

Esselon
Esselon, an iconic local café and coffee roastery, came to us for a brand refresh and new packaging design. We drew on the Western Massachusetts landscape to craft a clean and refined look and feel that features the beautiful Seven Sisters mountain range. As a much-loved coffee roastery, Esselon is respected for their Fair Trade practices and commitment to quality. Through this brand refresh, we celebrated Esselon’s local roots and elevated their verbal and visual identity to speak to a national audience.

SVEDKA Halloween 2019
In 2018 we gave SVEDKA some teeth with a Halloween creative platform that helped the brand differentiate itself and stand out from the crowd at retail. The program won awards and helped propel SVEDKA to one of its most successful Halloween sales windows ever. For 2019, the client wanted to build on the success of the previous year by updating the artwork and aligning the visuals to their new brand campaign — ‘Bring Your Own Spirit’. In 2018 we added teeth. And in 2019 we helped give SVEDKA even more bite — with edge, fearlessness, and of course, NEON.

Days Inn by Wyndham
Days Inn by Wyndham, an iconic brand with great recognition, came to us for a brand identity that would reflect their joyful, optimistic positioning and differentiate them from other economy brands. To help Days Inn create a master brand that was uniquely their own, connected to their existing campaign, “Seize the Days,” and clearly part of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts parent brand, we developed a bold and upbeat visual identity, updated tone of voice, and unifying brand guidelines to direct communications across channels.

Keiter
Keiter came to us looking for a holistic brand update that would give them an edge in a competitive market and highlight their incredible work ethic and portfolio. One goal of this rebrand was to bring all of the company’s divisions (each with their own, unique target market) under the Keiter umbrella. The formerly disparate divisions, each with their own websites, would come to live under one URL — keiter.com. Our approach to this multi-faceted project was to start with a refresh of foundational messaging, for both the umbrella brand and each division. Next, we began working on look and feel, starting with a refreshed logo that conveys experience and professionalism, along with cohesive marks for each division. Running alongside the logo build, we designed a new website with refreshed copy to align with the new key messages. The final step was a full launch campaign for the new brand.

Meiomi
Meiomi came to us to develop key imagery and point-of-sale assets for Flow (the creative you see all year long), PGA (Meiomi is the ‘Official wine of the PGA’), and Holiday. To ensure the Meiomi team (and other agencies they work with) had the finalized assets and everything needed to use them across teams and channels, we developed toolkits for each program. While the three programs had different goals and timeframes in store, we ensured connectivity with a few overarching creative objectives: 1) Convey Meiomi’s sophistication; 2) Clearly communicated the unrivaled taste of the wine; and 3) Connect visually to their ‘Flavor Forward’ campaign/television spot aesthetic in store. In the end, we provided strategic thinking, collaboration, and smart design for our client and their partners, and created key visuals that tied each program back to Meiomi’s core DNA, making them feel unified in store and to consumers.

Ocean Breeze Cultivators
Ocean Breeze Cultivators came to us for help launching their cannabis business. Based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the heritage of this iconic port town became the foundation of the brand. After we developed positioning, messaging, and look and feel for the brand, we moved onto packaging — where we brought the brand’s story to life through an homage to the Gloucester fisherman, whose likeness became a graphic icon for Ocean Breeze. The goal for this assignment was to set the brand up for success in a saturated market. To do this, we developed packaging with the fisherman as the focal point, using his likeness to represent the work ethic of the town’s people. Storybook-inspired copy ties the icon to the story of Ocean Breeze and provides experience cues for their products, while color changes indicate flower categories. In the end, the packaging not only stands out from others in the cannabis space, but also embodies the Ocean Breeze brand, acting as a vessel for a quality product.

Choose Friendship
Choose Friendship came to us for a strategic refresh of their brand that would help them stand out in an increasingly crowded space. As a product centered on social connection, they were looking to tell a story that offered depth and excitement, while preserving the heritage of the brand. Choose Friendship’s pioneering product, the My Friendship Bracelet Maker®, was developed by a former automation engineer who discovered the need for the product while babysitting his granddaughters. Since then, the product has grown into a household name, but due to outdated branding was getting lost on the (virtual) shelf. We refreshed the brand through the lens of key messaging, packaging, and a new logo — leaning into patterning while being mindful of reaching a more sophisticated pre-teen. Finally, we captured the updated visual elements of the brand in a comprehensive brand toolkit — setting the Choose Friendship team up for consistency across all consumer touchpoints and long-term recognition.

Bat Conservation International
Bat Conservation International (BCI) came to us for a brand refresh that would inspire and mobilize current donors, establish new donor support, and raise awareness of their mission to end bat extinctions worldwide. To help BCI, we developed a new brand positioning — Rebel On a Mission — which we followed up with a creative campaign focused on BCI’s smart, rebellious spirit. Included in this work was a key messaging platform, a new visual identity, and brand guidelines to help unify all communications. We also revitalized BCI website to match their new look and feel in order to help them educate and attract new donors.

UMASS Magazine 2020
As part of our ongoing partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, we collaborated with the UMass Advancement team on the 2020 issues (Spring and Winter) of the alumni magazine. The editions that came out in 2020 were not only created in a new way (from home, on screens, over video chat), they were also filled with stories that spoke to the ways the University was meeting the moment of COVID-19—keeping the spirit of campus alive in virtual classrooms, amplifying the voices of students, and providing some perspective and wisdom during moments full of uncertainty, fear, hope, and change. In both issues, together with the UMass team, we created custom artwork and unique layouts that brought the magazine’s stories to life. Additionally, the BRIGADE team created web assets for the online version of this magazine, including two features with custom artwork: ‘The Language of the Unheard’ and The Wrong Answer Project.”

Black Birch Vineyard Limited-Edition Fino
Black Birch Vineyard is a celebrated winery located in Hatfield, Massachusetts. As partners of Black Birch for many years, we began our work together with a brand refresh, and have continued to provide design and production support for their family of wines. In 2020, Black Birch bottled their first ever sherry, named Fino. For the limited-run, the team at Black Birch came to us for a label that would stand out from their regular line-up of varietals, while maintaining brand consistency overall. For Fino, the label design was inspired by a golden sunset at the end of the day (the perfect drinking occasion for this modern take on sherry). We used warm earthy tones and gold accents to give the label a rich and refined feel—unlike any other sherry on the shelf. To connect Fino to the other limited-edition varietal, Bloom, we utilized the same typeface and production techniques, including metallic foils and matte finishes. In the end, these labels are a beautiful reflection of the wine inside — delicious, celebratory, and classic.

Wyndham Hotels Resorts ‘Count On Us’ Campaign
Our long-term partner, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, came to us for a campaign that would help them promote their COVID-19 health and safety protocols in their U.S. and Canada hotels. Because the pandemic swept quickly throughout the world, and Wyndham competitors were also launching branded health and safety programs, the timeline for the campaign was short, and the deliverables were an integral part of reassuring guests and hotel owners that Wyndham was committed to their safety and had developed comprehensive COVID-19 protocols.
The overarching goal of the ‘Count on Us’ program was to highlight Wyndham’s enhanced health, safety, and cleanliness protocols so that guests would feel comfortable staying at a hotel by Wyndham. We moved quickly to develop a video that showed the comprehensive nature of the program, and illustrated how Wyndham was addressing health and safety concerns. Used in social channels to promote the program and also displayed by some hotel owners on lobby monitors to educate guests, the broad objectives were to build trust and confidence by showing how Wyndham was meeting the moment of COVID-19 in its hotels. Simultaneously, we created a lockup for ‘Count on Us’, along with on-premise materials for use inside the hotels — including front desk signage, social distancing floor stickers, elevator signage, and key cards. Brigade and Wyndham internal teams also adapted campaign assets for use on their website, in social channels, and on sales materials.

FlexFactor
NextFlex®, America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute, came to us to help them develop messaging and powerful collateral for FlexFactor® — their immersive high school program that utilizes partnerships with local colleges and universities to introduce students to the world of advanced manufacturing technology and aims to get young people excited about STEM-based education and career pathways. Our first step in this collaboration with NextFlex was to reorganize the content flow to enhance clarity of the material. Moving into design, to help the various users (students, teachers, industry partners) navigate the content and understand how it correlates to all other program materials, we used color, coding, icons, and other visual solutions. The finished product is a cohesive, intuitive, and user-friendly program kit that celebrates FlexFactor’s collaborative approach to education, entrepreneurship, and technology.

21 Seeds
We worked with women-owned business 21 SEEDS to help them launch their fresh fruit infused craft tequila in three delicious flavors: cucumber jalapeño, grapefruit hibiscus, and valencia orange. Our in-house artists hand illustrated patterns and flavor profiles that complement the clean lines of the glass bottle, while textured paper for the label enhances the tactile experience. We also designed a website with a lookbook feel that supports the packaging and showcases 21 SEEDS as a growing lifestyle brand. The overall creative platform helps the product stand out: on shelf, on social, and in the minds of tastemakers and influencers on the west coast and beyond.

Black Birch Vineyard: BLOOM
Black Birch Vineyard BLOOM packaging

Umass Magazine; Fall 2019
We worked with the UMass Advancement team on the Fall 2019 edition of the UMass Magazine. Together, we created custom artwork and unique layouts that allow feature stories to stand out, while aligning with the overarching UMass brand identity. The result: a masterpiece of artistic storytelling that connects readers to the flagship campus and celebrates the wide-ranging achievements of UMass Amherst and their alumni.

Dean's Beans Coffee
Dean’s Beans came to us for a refresh of their retail coffee bags. Aesthetically, we honored the brand’s reputation as a specialty coffee roaster that is a vehicle for progressive change, and we did it in a way that honored the 60’s spirit of love and unity — with colorful, hand-illustrated patterns inspired by art from around the world. Using concentric patterns, we focus the consumer’s eye on a hand offering up a coffee cup, as a nod to the partnership required to move the coffee beans from seedlings to brew.

Cooper's Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk is a modern casual restaurant and winery chain with a mission to democratize the good life through wine. Their wine club boasts over 240,000 members who provide a sizable lift in revenue from repeat visits to the company’s 35 restaurant locations. In addition to exclusive monthly wines, this Wine Club offers a wide array of benefits including dining rewards, member pricing, exclusive trips, and tasting events. The Cooper’s Hawk loyalty marketing team came to us to help them increase member participation with a more engaging welcome email series that would educate and excite new members about these differentiators. BRIGADE began with content strategy and hierarchy, integrating a scalable “discovery” framework that can be used for other channels. We leveraged existing assets to maintain brand consistency and elevated the series with a custom icon system that will help Wine Club members navigate benefits at every touchpoint. Each email walks the new member through a specific benefit category with bite-sized, conversational summaries and graphics that don’t overwhelm. The finished series is elegant, inviting, and has laid the foundation for revitalization of on-premise Wine Club acquisition communications.

The BARR Center
The BARR Center, an educational nonprofit focused on improving outcomes in schools, came to us for a new creative platform that would serve as the foundation for new sales collateral and marketing materials. The overarching goals of the BARR team were to highlight the program’s success by focusing on the overwhelmingly positive and unparalleled data, and to break through the noise and clutter of the numerous other educational programs on the market.
Our initial creative exploration uncovered the data point that we used as the focal point of the campaign — The BARR Model, implemented in schools of all types across the country, had never failed to improve outcomes for students. “We’ve Never Failed” became the rallying cry, and leading the way with this bold statement opened the door to large, colorful design elements — including the visualization of the data, headline treatments, and patterns. After establishing the campaign design through marketing materials, we utilized the refreshed aesthetic to update the BARR website, providing a consistent and impactful experience across the board.

Tandem Bagel Co.
As Tandem Bagel Company prepared to open their third shop in western Massachusetts, they came to BRIGADE for a refresh that would strengthen their brand and clarify their message — establishing them as the go-to café and bakery for a wider audience. To help Tandem stand out, we updated their logo, created a hand-drawn pattern to use on collateral, and solidified their brand story with key messages and voice and tone guidelines. To ensure everyone was fully connected to the new look and feel and consistent in their communications, we created a brand toolkit for use by the owners, staff, and company partners.

Hiball
Hiball is 100% sparkling energy water made with all natural ingredients. The brand came to BRIGADE to concept and create a nationwide campaign that would launch in Los Angeles, Austin, and Portland, Oregon. The campaign was brought to life in digital and print billboards and wild postings; and was supported with a digital media buy, a robust social feed, and a refreshed eCommerce look and feel. At every touchpoint, the creative inspires people to embrace Hiball as a natural source of energy for their always-on lives.

Travelodge
Adventure, friendliness, and reliability — three key attributes the Travelodge team wanted their brand to express. To do this, we focused the refreshed Travelodge brand on the adventurous, can-do mindset of its guests rather than its rooms and amenities, leveraging the common proximity of their hotels to destinations like National Parks. With a powerful new brand mantra and tagline “Travelodge + GO.” we developed collateral and materials that brought the brand to life.

BIC Good Vibes
BIC came to us for help refreshing their “Good Vibes” line of lighters, with the goal of increasing sales among their millennial male demographic. The desired look and feel for the lighters in this series was fun, irreverent, and edgy (without being offensive). In combination with internet research, social media support, and lots of memes, we delivered creative approaches that would engage millennials without alienating other BIC consumers in search of a lighter.

New Teacher Center
We partnered with New Teacher Center for a complete brand identity refresh, including a new logo. Looking deeply into their holistic approach to supporting individual teachers, we created a hand-painted logo that shows one teacher making a powerful impact on the community. (Aren’t teachers the best?) We concentrated on reinforcing New Teacher Center’s professionalism and authority while bringing forward the humanity behind their extraordinary success.

SVEDKA Spiked Premium Seltzer
As the #1 Imported Vodka in the US, SVEDKA Imported Vodka is a staple in the liquor aisle. Its iconic band and simplistic style is a hallmark in the world of vodka. As the brand contemplated an entry in the hot, ready-to-drink category, they wanted to understand audience, competitive landscape, and packaging background to design a spiked seltzer SVEDKA-style. The brand tapped Brigade to visually strategize and design SVEDKA’s very first aluminum cans and paper shippers.

Burgerville
Burgerville is a restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest that produces quality food from sustainable ingredients. We worked with Burgerville over a three-year period to refresh their brand at every touchpoint. The new identity clarifies the brand’s sustainable food philosophies with a new tagline: “Fresh. Local. Sustainable.” Made from completely recyclable and compostable materials, the packaging conveys sustainability though warm colors and approachable iconography of wildlife native to the region. The refresh clarifies the brand’s innovative business practices, garnering positive press and strengthening consumer trust.

INSA
We partnered with startup INSA to build their brand from the ground up as they lead the Massachusetts recreational cannabis revolution. Our work included a naming rationale, brand positioning, visual identity, and experience profiles for each of the brand’s flower offerings. We also built a complete packaging system for over 100 unique SKUs that considered consumer navigation and that created an emotional, tactile experience specific to each product. Distinctive canvases painted by our in-house artists showcase nature-inspired patterns that when applied to the packaging, pop in retail and provide a sensory shopping experience.

Isenberg School of Management
The Isenberg School of Management came to us for a strategic redesign of their icon, aiming to better align their mark with their current ranking and forward momentum, and position themselves as a leading school of management in the competitive market. As a professional school at UMass Amherst, the icon also had to live with UMass Amherst branding, meeting the stakeholder standards of multiple teams on campus. Our work spanned from audit, landscape review, stakeholder input, data analysis, and strategic positioning, to the creation of an icon that was both responsive (to audiences, communication, and devices) and that would help Isenberg gain notice organically — through a timeless mark that’s both nostalgic and powerful. To ensure the icon would be used correctly and consistently across the campus, we created a 100+ page brand book for the Isenberg team.

Eversound
Used in over 500 facilities across the country, Eversound is an assistive-listening headphone system that helps senior living communities deliver extraordinary personalized care. Eversound empowers residents to connect with their communities in deep and transformative ways by enhancing their ability to hear and participate in conversations and activities. Our work for them included a new positioning, key messaging platform, visual identity, and website redesign. Clear messaging and friendly, contemporary visuals bring an uplifting and approachable mood to the Eversound brand.

AmericInn by Wyndham
AmericInn by Wyndham came to us for a brand refresh, with a focus on developing a consistent look and feel that would support their America’s Welcoming Neighbor positioning, differentiate them from competitors, and help them transition from a regional brand to one with national presence as part of the Wyndham family. To move AmericInn toward these goals, we developed a new creative campaign — “In Pursuit of” — with an updated visual identity, tone of voice, and brand guidelines. We then executed the campaign in on-premise collateral, provided templates for out of home (OOH), print and digital ads, and shot nine video spots for social advertising.

Berkshire Flyer
We partnered with 1Berkshire (the official economic development organization of Berkshire County) to develop an identity for the Berkshire Flyer, a new weekend train service between New York City and the Berkshires. Our creative brands the Berkshire Flyer as a catalyst of influence and culture. It leverages a responsive logo mark built to adapt to seasonal promotions and other occasions, speaking to the momentum of the region and the train itself. The broader campaign rallies behind the Berkshires as more than a destination — a focal point for an audience that values new, impactful experiences.

Trademark Collection by Wyndham
As part of our multi-year partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, we developed a distinctive identity for Trademark Collection, a soft-branded portfolio of independent upper-midscale hotels. Our goal was to create a system that unified all locations under the Trademark Collection brand, while allowing franchisees to express the unique personality of their properties. In addition to a logo and property lockups, we created on-premise collateral, advertisements, and digital and social materials. Elegant lifestyle photography, map textures, and instant photo-frame elements emphasize special moments: in time, place, and memory. A brand “seal” evokes the stamp on a passport, and connects to the spirit and individuality of travel in general, and the Trademark Collection in particular.

SVEDKA Rosé
We worked closely with SVEDKA to design and launch their first vodka brand extension: SVEDKA Rosé. In addition to concepting, designing, and producing the packaging for the product, we worked with the marketing team to alleviate potential communication challenges inherent to launching an innovative product that consumers are not familiar with. From headlines to visual hierarchy, we created a strategic and disruptive creative platform that harnessed the momentum of rosé and engaged an LDA millennial+ audience off-premise.

Black Birch Vineyard
Black Birch Vineyard is a celebrated winery located in Hatfield, Massachusetts. With 19,000 vines across 12 acres of rich Connecticut River Valley soil, the Black Birch team produces exemplary, award-winning wine. To emphasize their commitment to artistry, we designed a die-cut label for their bottles that reveals the silhouette of a black birch tree with negative space to reflect the wine’s hand-craftsmanship. We also brought the local winemakers’ stories to life through a website redesign, photography, and a dynamic social media presence.

SVEDKA Blue Raspberry
We worked closely with SVEDKA on Blue Raspberry — from inception to execution and launch. We helped create an electric and disruptive color profile, produced the bottle design, designed shippers, created key advertising visuals, built out point-of-sale, and supported the launch with PR materials, collateral, launch party artwork, and magazine ads. The goal for Blue Raspberry was to shake up the crowded flavored vodka category that SVEDKA helped create in the first place. And shake things up it did — of the 14 flavors in SVEDKA’s portfolio, Blue Raspberry is their most successful to-date. Cheers!

Baymont Inn & Suites
Baymont Inn & Suites came to us for a brand refresh that would highlight their “hometown hospitality” story. We started by developing a unified brand voice, tone, and visual identity that would speak directly to guests and provide franchisees with a clear point of differentiation for their properties. “Come on in—so glad you’re here,” became the tagline and cornerstone of the creative development for this hotel next door.
Warm, inviting textures; bright, primary colors; and reference to the welcome flag from the Baymont logo evoke the brand promise of genuine, down-to-earth-service. We brought this story to life through on-premise collateral that aims to foresee the needs of guests, and hotel brand ads that reinforce the sentiment of welcoming people in. We also wrote, shot, and oversaw production for a series of digital and radio ads that helped to solidify the new brand direction.

Studio School
Studio School, formerly known as Relativity School, came to BRIGADE for a complete brand refresh to launch their new name. Studio School’s location at Los Angeles Center Studios gives emerging entertainment artists and entrepreneurs the opportunity to pursue fully-accredited degrees with working professionals on an active studio lot. To reflect Studio School’s commitment to the craft of storytelling and spirit of entrepreneurship, we used lingo from the entertainment industry to bring their identity to life in a bold and playful way. The resulting text-based design sparks interest in the potential student’s mind, inviting them to look closer.

Wyndham Hotel Group
Our partnership with Wyndham began with a project to create 15 brand books to reinvigorate the hotel’s distinct visual and verbal identity while keeping consistent across channels. We continue to work frequently with the Wyndham family of brands on a variety of strategy and collateral —including advertising campaigns, radio ads, and digital banners.

Audience Rewards
As the official rewards program of Broadway and the arts, Audience Rewards gives members presale and VIP access to shows and events, and the opportunity to earn ShowPoints that can be redeemed for free tickets and more. As part of a complete brand refresh and website update, we created targeted email and digital campaigns, including promotional presale and advanced access; the VIP membership program; the 10-year anniversary gala; the Official Tony Awards Challenge; and short-run seasonal programs, member onboarding, and targeted industry-insider emails. Through every touchpoint, the Audience Rewards story unfolds, positioning the brand as the premier portal for exciting performing arts experiences.

Black Box Wines
We created two limited-edition retail sleeves for Black Box Wine’s varietal lineup. Using white ink and spot UV wraps, we made the sleeve a canvas for these fun seasonal stories, weaving in CTAs that fulfilled the strategic goal of putting the boxes on party tables. For the Game Day edition, we cheered for football with custom photography, enticing fans to pair a glass with the featured halftime snack recipe. Then things got spooky in the Halloween edition with a hand-illustrated haunted house scene—hitting the balance between sophistication and fun that’s right on-brand for Black Box Wines.

Amherst Tritons
We have an ongoing relationship with the Amherst Tritons, a local swim team. To reflect their recent upgrade to USA Swimming Level Two status, we developed a new logo and overall brand identity. We created a new mascot that features a determined fish wielding a triton, and a bold serif logo mark completes the overall team logo. Carried out in apparel and print and digital materials, this contemporary brand identity acknowledges the team’s past while leading the way to a bright future.

Frontier Bites
The culmination of a dream shared by two brothers, Frontier Snacks upped the ante in the energy/granola bar market by not using a single artificial ingredient in their products. We repositioned the brand to speak to people who want to know exactly what they are putting into their bodies. We designed new packaging and crafted language and strategic CTAs for the single-serves, bags, and display boxes.

NextFlex
NextFlex is a growing consortium of innovators, manufacturers, and educators who are turning the exciting field of flexible hybrid electronics into a reality. We partnered with the NextFlex team on a brand refresh to establish them as a desirable partner to potential collaborators. To share the human side of this bold, forward-thinking organization, we brought NextFlex’s pioneering team members’ stories to life through a complete brand refresh and website redesign. We continue to partner with NextFlex regularly on a variety of collateral.

SVEDKA Packaging
Our decade-long partnership with SVEDKA includes brainstorming new categories and packaging technology. We concept, design, and produce all SVEDKA shippers and limited edition gift boxes. While we did not design the bottle, we are responsible for producing all bottle artwork including limited edition bottle wraps and managing the portfolio for 15 flavors spread over 65 SKUs.

Little Red Dot
Little Red Dot joined forces with us to design a line of packaging that made their BakKwa product feel approachable and fun. The packaging needed to live in the beef jerky aisle but also needed to stand out as a different type of snack, since its target market includes health-conscious mothers and families. We added a playful animal-shaped product window to give the consumer a peek at the food and a nod to the fact that it’s a meat product. A friendly and familiar color palette with a matte finish entices consumers to take the product off the shelf.

Serpent's Bite
Serpent’s Bite Whisky brought their name and initial bottle concept—from there we invented their brand identity and launched it at every touch point, from bottle artwork to POS materials. We ignited the brand visually rather than highlighting the whisky-making craft. The result was striking—and yes, it does bite.

Kim Crawford Wine
We partnered with the #1 New Zealand wine in the U.S. to help define their social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. We used playful compositions, bright pops of color, and aspirational photography for this charismatic and on-trend brand. Cheers—clink!

Hawthorn Suites
Hawthorn Suites came to us for a brand repositioning to highlight innovations that distinguish them from competitors. We reimagined the brand by bringing guests’ needs to the forefront: “I want to stay true to myself when I’m staying away from home.” Eye-catching patterns, bright stripes, and bold colors visually express the flexible amenities of this friendly, down-to-earth brand in a fun and playful way.

HOTSHOT
Flex Pharma came to us with their groundbreaking product HOTSHOT, designed by Michael Bierut at Pentagram. We brought HOTSHOT to market at every touch point including a website, web banners, print ads, merchandise and sales materials. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with this extraordinary brand that helps athletes take their performance to the next level.

Weleda Packaging
We were excited to collaborate with Weleda on several major packaging campaigns. For the holiday season, we created a line of limited-edition hand cream packaging. We developed a whimsical, romantic look and feel to reflect the organic nature of the product and add some ornament to Weleda’s classically spare aesthetic. The brand also engaged us to celebrate the 90th anniversary of their best selling product, Skin Food, with limited edition packaging. In addition, we refreshed Weleda’s Baby Starter Kit with a clean look-and-feel that uses more white space and lighter colors than past iterations. The designs connect to a modern audience while celebrating the brand’s history and expertise in the personal care sector.

Vertical Water
Feronia Forests’ Vertical Water is delicious, sustainably tapped maple water that helps preserve U.S. forests. We partnered with this visionary company for a full rebrand. From logo to packaging, we dug deep into their passion for forests and helped them find a way to the front of the emerging tree water category.
Reviews
the project
Branding & Design for Organic Coffee Company
“BRIGADE was the whole package, and they brought it all to the table.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the COO of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee. We’re a 30-year-old organic fair-trade coffee company based in Massachusetts. We do direct trade with coffee farmers worldwide and cooperative community development projects with the coffee farming communities.
What challenge were you trying to address with BRIGADE?
We wanted to get a new logo and elevate our one-pound coffee bags and brand design.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BRIGADE provided branding, marketing, and design services. Initially, we gave them extensive information about our coffee, the countries we source from, and our work in the coffee lands. We worked together on the background information so they’d have a solid foundation.
They helped us define our user persona and did a lot of values-based work. Then, they gave us several possible approaches based on our values to represent our company’s identity. We started with multiple choices and honed on the design representation. Once we landed on an approach, BRIGADE developed it more.
The team used Adobe Creative Cloud and worked on the color scheme and visual identity. Additionally, they created visual representations for the packaging and updated our logo.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Kirsten (Executive Creative Director), Liz (Development Manager), and the design team.
How did you come to work with BRIGADE?
We found them through word of mouth in our region and looked at their website and client list. We also researched the websites and brand presence of some of their clients. After interviewing a couple of design and marketing companies, we decided to work with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent $60,000 on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with them on that project from July 2019–April 2020; it was an extensive nine-month process. Additionally, we started working with them again this summer for another series of projects.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our customers love the bags; we get a lot of positive feedback from our wholesale and retail customers on the packaging. BRIGADE also won a couple of industry awards for package design.
Moreover, their work was beneficial because it coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. The wholesale part of our business reduced dramatically because many restaurants and cafés shut down for a while. However, many more people were looking to buy coffee online. Since we were well-positioned thanks to our strong packaging and brand, our traffic and web sales catapulted through the roof.
How did BRIGADE perform from a project management standpoint?
Project management was excellent. They had a great level of communication about the project; they kept us posted on the progress and timeline. If they made changes or the project's complexity changed, they were clear about the financial impact. We communicated through email, phone calls, and Zoom meetings. Overall, they were strong in their management.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They had a tremendous amount of integrity as a company and team. We consistently felt that we could trust them to deliver extraordinary work. They listened well and were responsive to what they heard. Many designers don’t listen well to clients and just do what they do. However, BRIGADE always came back with a direct response to our wants and needs.
Overall, their design skills and professionalism were outstanding. BRIGADE was the whole package, and they brought it all to the table.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of any area they could’ve improved.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear about the outcome that you want and communicate it to them. Also, it’s better to have someone as the point person to coordinate the collaboration. For example, their project manager worked directly with me, and then I shared the information with my team so it’d be streamlined and focused.
the project
Branding, Package Design & Web Dev for Beverage Company
“Their team is very involved and on top of our project, and they deliver quality work as a result.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the COO of a beverage company. We develop sodas, teas, lemonades, and non-alcoholic beers.
What challenge were you trying to address with BRIGADE?
We were developing a new line of beverages, and although we’ve been in business for decades, this line was a new venture for us. Therefore, we wanted to create a product image that looked different, so we needed help from an external partner who could take our vision and make it into something real that our customers would love.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BRIGADE has helped us come up with the name, look and feel, colors, and messaging for our new venture. Basically, they’ve taken the DNA and basis of our new brand and translated it into something real.
BRIGADE has also designed the cans for our beverages and the imagery around our mood boards. These mood boards will influence the colors and lifestyle images we will use to promote our new products. Additionally, they’ve developed two consumer-facing websites for us.
Throughout the process, they provided us with different design options — three for soda cans and two for tea cans — and 12 different names for the teas, all of which were better names than the ones we reviewed in the past.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with Kirsten (Founder & Executive Creative Director), Joe and Robert (Creative Directors), and Liz (Development Manager).
How did you come to work with BRIGADE?
Another company in the industry recommended them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $47,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in July 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Each design option that BRIGADE has delivered has been optimal; their designs are very thoughtful and have great colors. Additionally, they excel at not only designing attractive cans but also understanding the science behind how the consumer’s brain works and the sequencing of how their eye will look at the package.
Since this is a new brand, we will measure the impact it has in the market, but we haven’t launched it yet, so we don’t have any metrics.
How did BRIGADE perform from a project management standpoint?
BRIGADE has performed excellently, and they’ve been on top of deadlines. We had a pretty aggressive deadline initially, but their team was already delivering a product that met our expectations within a couple of days after starting our engagement. We generally communicate via email and phone calls.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Working with other companies has usually been challenging for me because some of them are very good at pitching their services, but the end products turn out to be different from what was originally promised. However, we can tell that BRIGADE acts as an arm of our team, almost as an equity partner, and they care about what we’re trying to accomplish. Their team is very involved and on top of our project, and they deliver quality work as a result, which gives us a lot of comfort and confidence in the whole process.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No. I don’t have any constructive feedback.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have your feedback and your internal mechanisms for providing feedback ready because BRIGADE takes feedback very seriously. The more nuance you can provide them with regarding what you like and dislike about their deliverables, the better they’ll translate that feedback into something that meets your expectations.
the project
Branding, Design & Mktg Services for Construction Company
“BRIGADE’s main strengths are their communication, accountability, and quality of work.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of project development, sales, and marketing for a construction company.
What challenge were you trying to address with BRIGADE?
We needed new branding and a new website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BRIGADE has designed a new logo, a new website, and new marketing materials for us. The site was built from scratch on WordPress by a developer they subcontracted, but they were in charge of its entire design. As for the marketing materials, these have included business cards, marketing ads, lettering for our vehicles, proposal documents and templates for our presentations, and more.
What is the team composition?
We work with three dedicated resources from BRIGADE, including a senior account manager, the associate creative director, and a senior creative.
How did you come to work with BRIGADE?
We found them through a Google search. I just Googled design companies, interviewed a few of them, and chose BRIGADE.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent around $150,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in January 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Thanks to BRIGADE’s efforts, our website traffic has increased by 200%. Our leads and conversations have also increased, although those have been harder to track.
How did BRIGADE perform from a project management standpoint?
BRIGADE’s performance has been outstanding. They use Google Docs to manage the project, and we communicate via phone calls, emails, and Google Meet meetings.
What did you find most impressive about them?
BRIGADE’s main strengths are their communication, accountability, and quality of work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t know how they could improve; they’re amazing!
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
The more responsive you are, the quicker they can turn around assets.
the project
Digital Design for STEM Outreach Program
"We worked through many different iterations of the same type of project and each of them was successful."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are an advanced manufacturing institute based in San Jose, California. We create STEM outreach programs for K12 across the US to inspire them to pursue STEM & manufacturing careers.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE?
We replicated our K-12 STEM outreach program in different manufacturing institutes across the US, each focusing on a different advanced technology. Brigade designed the suites of materials for these different programs.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Brigade had made the suite of materials for our flagship program, and we wanted to use them again because of the quality of work.
Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.
Our partnership with Brigadedates back to the design and creation of our flagship K-12 STEM outreach program in 2015/2016. Brigade created a suite of beautiful print/digital resources for this program with custom branding. We were awarded a grant in 2020 to adapt this program to the focus areas of affiliated organizations. Brigade was contracted to design these adapted programs. Through this work, Brigade created custom branding and feel for eight new STEM outreach and engagement programs.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
In total, we worked with 4 people, including an Account Manager, Project Manager, Director of Creative Strategy, and Creative Lead. The Account Manager and Project Manager did an incredible job of communicating timelines and deliverables in a professional and kind way. The Director of Creative Strategy and Creative Lead designed eight beautifully unique programs.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Their project management of the project and deliverables was top notch. They kept the project on track and helped us reach our goals.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
As stated before, the project management from the Brigade team was excellent. Both teams had clear deadlines for deliverables and the Brigade team kept everyone on track.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The designs themselves were beautiful, and the management of the project was fabulous. We worked through many different iterations of the same type of project and each of them was successful.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No
the project
Layout Design for Annual Magazine
"They get excited when we deliver photos—they're really invested in making this magazine the best it can be."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am Managing Editor of UMass Magazine, the semiannual alumni magazine for the flagship UMass Amherst campus, with a circulation of about 240,000 print copies per issue.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE?
We rely on BRIGADE to create exciting, engaging layouts for each of our feature stories (up to 15 spreads per issue), produce illustrations for many of them, and pull everything together for each issue—flowing in copy and art, handling multiple rounds of review, and preparing final files for the printer. BRIGADE also creates custom sized versions of the art to fit the needs of our web edition.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Initially, BRIGADE was selected by our CMO, but our experience with them has been so positive, and our collaboration with them has become so integral to the magazine, that we were very happy to award them a larger contract through the UMass RFB process.
Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.
The magazine is a complex project with so many details - 52 pages plus covers, twice a year.
- Kickoff - ideas, themes, and concepts for the issue, word counts and page maps, how many illustrations we'll need. Layout Concepts - Lorem Ipsum spreads using creative briefs to provide inspiration for each article, then iterations in response to feedback (For this process BRIGADE brought us into Adobe creative cloud for ease of working together, and that's been great!)
- Art and Copy: Flowing in final art (usually helping select or create this art) and copy once these elements are ready, making adjustments as needed to the layouts and illustrations, adding photo treatments. And this happens after they've carefully tracked each deliverable needed from us!
- Review: Once the pages are in good shape, we work through 3 rounds of the complete book, and BRIGADE makes edits for us as the book gets finalized. Production: BRIGADE mechanizes the final files and delivers them to the printer. They also create and supply a cadre of images and PDFs we can use to promote the magazine online and to create the web edition.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We generally work directly with Alexia Geary, account manager, and Tim MacKay, art director. Designer David Foote, illustrator Thom Dudley, and other staff are also brought in to work on the layouts, but having Tim and Alexia as our points of contact is really helpful.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The magazine consistently garners rave reviews from our alumni, including mentions of the design's freshness and relevance. In the past year, the magazine has also won design awards including: A Hermes platinum award, an award of excellence from Communication Arts, and three gold awards from the Ad Club of Western Massachusetts. https://www.umass.edu/magazine/awards
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
I've worked with designers and firms for over 20 years and BRIGADE is just the best, in terms of what they produce of course, but definitely in terms of the workflow. They're extremely clear and great with details, expert collaborators in any electronic systems, as flexible as possible about deadline shifts, super professional in taking feedback, and willing to continuously improve and adapt the workflow. What more can one ask?!
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
We're consistently impressed by the high level of creativity they bring to their work and their ability to take a germ of an idea and run with it. They're communicative, sharp, fun, and a joy to collaborate with. They get excited when we deliver photos—they're really invested in making this magazine the best it can be.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No project of this size and scope happens without hiccups! What's perhaps most amazing is when we hit wrinkles in our process, or something goes awry, the BRIGADE team is always receptive, direct, and quick to make needed corrections to designs, processes, templates, etc. That's what makes a collaboration survive and persist—they've become invaluable partners for us.
the project
Packaging Graphics for Cannabis Supplier
"The most impressive thing about Brigade are the people."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the VP of Marketing for Canndescent, a top supplier of cannabis in California.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE, and what were your goals?
We lacked resources to develop custom strain specific packaging for a new brand VOLCANNX. We asked them to create bold and dynamic graphics for key strains in both 1/8 jars and mylars.
How did you select this vendor?
I had a long history of working with Brigade in the spirits category while working on SVEDKA with Constellation Brands.
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
We provided them with the brief on each strain as well as packaging mandatories. They created each custom package from scratch and presented it back to the Marketing team with one round of changes before the went to mechanicals. They have created six custom strain packages for us.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
There were three people from Brigade on each call Kirsten the founder, Elena the account executive and Joe the head of creative.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Brigade is so easy to work with. They are fast and nimble. They understood the brief and delivered amazing packaging on time.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Elena manages the timelines and communication. She is a pleasure to work as the team is collaborative and responsive.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The most impressive thing about Brigade are the people. Not only are they talented and deliver but it is fun and a pleasure to work with them.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No improvements needed!
the project
Brand Refresh for Aesthetics Device DIstributor
"Overall they're very flexible, roll with the ball type of people, and have been very adaptable as the project morphed."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a marketing director at an aesthetics device company. We distribute cutting edge aesthetics technology to plastic surgeons, dermatologists, medical spas, and other providers.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE, and what were your goals?
Our brand has reached a 5-year milestone, and it was the perfect time to refresh our branding and positioning (we changed a lot in 5 years!). We hired Brigade to help evolve our point of view, our language, and our look and feel across several verticals.
How did you select this vendor?
Brigade was one of the agencies recommended by our digital agency partner. We considered 3-4 agencies for the job and in the end chose Brigade because of the team energy and dynamics, their impressive portfolio, and their passion for the project.
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
The first step was a discovery process: they conducted a deep dive of all of our existing materials and interviewed key stakeholders (internal and external) about how they view the brand. This resulted in a brand audit and some initial thoughts for how we might evolve. We then started exploring (A/B pathing) the brand visual identity and language.
Once we landed on the direction, we continued refining and began working on actual assets (sales materials, digital materials, website, key copy outputs, photoshoot). They also produced an awesome sizzle video for us to announce the new branding in the company. We're still working together (at the time of this review) to continue working on these assets and update our brand guidelines.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We primarily worked with the project manager, two Creative Directors (one focused on visuals, one focused on strategy & copy), and had constant input and contact with the Executive Creative Director as well.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
While we haven't launched the official brand yet, the feedback along the way has been overwhelmingly positive. We've shared sneak peaks with various key leaders in the company and everyone has loved the evolution and elevation of the brand.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Since the start of the project, we've had weekly status meetings with the project manager and creative director(s). Outside of the weekly meeting, we also frequently communicate over email, and the response from Brigade is always timely. The project manager also does a great job reporting on progress and hours tracking - she creates a burn report each month (and upon request for additional reports) to help us understand how we're pacing on our hours. Overall they're very flexible, roll with the ball type of people, and have been very adaptable as the project morphed.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
As far as creative agencies go, there's absolutely no ego. They're total team players and just really fun, easygoing people.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Nothing comes to mind.
the project
Label Design & Brand Identity for Boutique Vineyard & Winery
"They really understand what drives the market and what works."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am one of the owners of a boutique vineyard and winery in Western Massachusetts that creates notable, award-winning wines from estate-grown grapes and grapes sourced from the Northeast.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE, and what were your goals?
We came to Brigade looking for brand identity and label design for our product. Black Birch wanted to set itself apart from other wine brands by creating a unique look that stood out and coincided with our own personalities and product.
How did you select this vendor?
Everything about Black Birch is about supporting our local community and economy. We were thrilled to be able to team up with a top-notch brand and advertising company that was right here in Western MA. It was a no-brainer and a perfect match.
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
Key team players and the founder of Brigade met with us and learned who we were as people and what our goals were as a business. Every step and process, whether it was the initial development of our brand and label design to subsequent designs for new product lines or merchandise, they guided and collaborated with us with each step so that we were excited and comfortable with the final outcome.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We had worked with project managers, creative directors and the owner at all levels of projects.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Brigade has created beautiful and amazing bottle labels for us and when customers comment on them or they pick these bottles out at a store over another bottle of wine, that's success!
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Timely, organized, communicative and effective. Email is my preferred way of communication but they are always open to other forms of communication as well.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They really understand what drives the market and what works whether it is on a local, regional or national level. Brigade does this with a team that is creative and innovative, always thinking outside the box.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
If there were any areas of improvement, I wouldn't be using them anymore. They have always strived to do things better and that's all you can ask.
the project
Report Design for Printing & Mailing Company
"We had a great workflow with their team from the project concept through printing and finishing."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the production manger and account representative at Hadley Printing working with BRIGADE. We are a Printing, Mailing and Fulfillment company in Holyoke, MA. We specialize in High-end Offset Printing and Digital Printing with many finishing capabilities. With In-House Mailing and Fulfillment.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE?
BRIDAGE and Hadley Printing partner on a few different accounts. We work together with UMASS Isenberg School of Management account. We produce the the schools Dean's Report from the Design created by BRIGADE.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
The Isenberg School of Management at UMASS works with BRIGADE and is also a customer of Hadley Printing's.
Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.
In September of 2021 we worked to together to produce the Dean's Report for the Isenberg School. We had a Zoom call to review some of the ideas for the Report and later met in-person to review paper, finishing and a mock of the design.
When the design is finalized we reviewed all proofs together and then proceeded to the manufacturing process. When complete we reviewed the sames before delivering the final product to Isenberg School.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
In total, I worked with 4 team members, 1 Senior Creative and 2 Associate Creative Directors and 1 account manager.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
At the start of the project the creative team at BRIGADE and Hadley worked together to review all the possible printing and finishing technics to produce the Isenberg Schools annual Dean Report. We discuss everything from paper to printing, diecutting, foil stamping and fulfillment. BRIGADE's design is challenging and well designed.
Our team uses their files to produce the final proofs, printing plates and dies for foil stamping and diecutting. The files provided by BRIGADE are always set up correctly and ready for our in-house prepress department to work with.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We had a great workflow with their team from the project concept through printing and finishing, just like we are all one team.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The Team at BRIGADE has a common goal, working together through to the end product. The Creative is Top-Notch and Fresh, which can be hard to achive on some projects.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
They know what they are doing and I wouldn't change any part of the process.
the project
Brand Revamp for Payroll & HR Services Company
"They are extremely organized and thorough, adhering to each stage of their process as initially outlined."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Chief Marketing Officer at Checkwriters - a Payroll and HR services company with thousands of clients across the county. Our software helps business owners and HR professionals manage the Payroll and HR aspects of their respective organizations.
For what projects/services did your company hire BRIGADE?
We were looking to refresh our logo and branding to match our upward trajectory and growing national footprint. In addition, we wanted a set of custom illustrations to match this new branding which could be used both on our site and in our software to communicate various themes and topics and prospective clients and current users of our system.
What were your goals for this project?
We wanted to modernize our look and feel and leverage a 'stand-alone' logo that would communicate growth and positivity. This would enable us to communicate to prospective clients the range of services we offer and the versatility of our software.
How did you select BRIGADE?
We had heard positive things about BRIGADE. We reviewed their site for past work and were impressed with the 'wow factor' they seemed to embody in their projects. After speaking with references BRIGADE provided, we decided to move forward.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
For the logo design and brand refresh, BRIGADE was very thorough. They developed and conducted both internal and external questionnaires to gauge our current messaging. They researched our industry and competition. They also held a number of calls with me to provide recommendations and ensure we were on the right path. Then, they presented options for the refresh, messaging, and logo. Their flexibility throughout this process was exceptional.
What was the team composition?
They were 4-5 members of BRIGADE's team involved at all times - the founder was also very hands-on during the creative development and feedback stages which was impressive.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The team I worked with was notable for their nimbleness and flexibility. Their communication was excellent - there was never I time where I couldn't get in touch with them.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
It's evident that BRIGADE follows a proven process with their clients that's designed to maximize the impact of the project. They are extremely organized and thorough, adhering to each stage of their process as initially outlined. Importantly, this does not prevent them from maintaining flexibility - which was vital as we had a number of internal stakeholders who were not involved in every stage but still needed to be on board with the significant changes of a new logo and branding.
Are there any areas for improvement?
No - we are very pleased!
Exceeding expectations across the board, BRIGADE’s work helped increase key stakeholder engagement tenfold. A collaborative, nimble team, their results are similar to that of a large agency, but they maintain the intimacy and passion of a boutique firm. Customers can expect success.