# J2 J2 Reviews (17), Pricing, Services & Verified Ratings - 4.9 out of 5 average review rating - 1 connections joined J2's Network [Visit Website](https://j2made.com/?utm_source=clutch.co&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=directory) [Get a Custom Proposal](https://clutch.co/profile/j2) **Building Brands with Purpose** The word purpose captures a deeply rooted truth about what we do each day. It defines our rigor and intention in building the most thoughtful, impactful, and beautiful work we possibly can. It’s at the core of the organizations we work with and their commitment to positively impact people and places. Our role is to help you grow, attract the right people and support your vision. That’s meaningful work and it happens here, by design. ## Company Information - Minimum project size: $25,000+ - Hourly rate: $150 - $199 - Number of employees: 10 - 49 - 1 Locations: - Philadelphia, PA (Headquarters) - Founded in 2007 - 1 languages: English - 1 timezones: Eastern Standard Time (EST) ## Services, Focus Areas, Industries, and Clients ### Service Lines - 45% Branding - 25% Advertising - 20% Web Design - 10% Video Production ### Focus Areas - Branding Focus: - 40% Corporate identity - 30% Brand strategy - 20% Brand messaging - 10% Naming - Advertising Focus: - 25% Other advertising - 25% Radio advertising - 20% Print advertising - 15% Out of home advertising - 10% Programmatic advertising - 5% Broadcast video advertising ### Industries - 20% Consumer products & services - 20% Education - 20% Non-profit - 20% Real estate - 20% Arts, entertainment & music ### Clients - 50% Small Business (<$10M) - 40% Midmarket ($10M - $1B) - 10% Enterprise (>$1B) ## Pricing Snapshot Average rating for cost based on this provider's reviews: 4.8 out of 5 **What Clients Have Said** *(This summary is based on verified Clutch reviews.)*: J2 offers competitive pricing, with project costs ranging from $10,000 to over $1 million, depending on project scope and client size. Clients consistently report strong value for cost, citing excellent communication and project management as key strengths. **Most Common Project Size**: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 16 reviews *(Pricing information for this provider is based on reviews where the project size was available.)* ### Pricing by Service - Branding: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 16 reviews - Web Design: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 5 reviews - Web Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 5 reviews - Other Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 4 reviews - Graphic Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 3 reviews - Logo: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 3 reviews - Advertising: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 2 reviews - Market Research: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 2 reviews - Print Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 1 review ## Reviews Clutch investigates each reviewer's identity and work history. Every review goes through a rigorous, human-led verification process to confirm the reviewer's identity, and reviews that we verify are visibly marked as 'Verified' so you can trust that they come from a real client. [Learn More](https://help.clutch.co/en/knowledge/how-clutch-verifies-reviews) ### J2 Review Insights Overall Review Rating: 4.9 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.9 - Cost: 4.8 - Willing to Refer: 4.9 ### Top Mentions - Communicative (5 mentions) - Creative (4 mentions) - Great project management (4 mentions) - High-quality work (4 mentions) - Professional (4 mentions) - Timely (4 mentions) - Understands their clients' needs (4 mentions) - Well-organized projects (4 mentions) - Easy to work with (3 mentions) - Exceptional results (3 mentions) - Flexible (3 mentions) - Great team (3 mentions) - Patient (3 mentions) - Receptive (3 mentions) - Unique expertise (3 mentions) - Collaborative (2 mentions) - Transparent (2 mentions) - Detail-oriented (1 mentions) - Meets deadlines (1 mentions) - Trustworthy (1 mentions) ### Review Highlights **Timeliness Challenges** While generally positive, some reviews mentioned minor delays in project timelines. However, clients acknowledged that J2 communicated these delays effectively and worked to minimize their impact. **Successful Long-Term Partnerships** Several clients mentioned long-term partnerships with J2, highlighting the company’s ability to maintain strong, ongoing relationships and deliver consistent value over time. **Client-Centric Focus** J2 was praised for their client-centric focus, tailoring their approach to meet specific client needs and ensuring a high level of customization in their services. **Exceptional Project Management** Multiple clients praised J2's project management skills, noting their ability to meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and manage complex timelines. Their proactive approach in adjusting timelines and providing regular updates was highly appreciated. **High Client Satisfaction** Overall, clients expressed high satisfaction with J2's services, noting that they would recommend the company to others and continue to engage them for future projects. **Impressive Presentation Skills** Clients were impressed by J2’s ability to present complex ideas clearly and engagingly, capturing the attention of diverse stakeholders and ensuring alignment across teams. **Positive Feedback on Branding Impact** Clients consistently reported positive feedback on the impact of J2's branding efforts, noting enhanced brand perception, increased engagement, and successful brand launches. **In-Depth Research and Discovery** J2's thorough research and discovery phases were highly valued. Clients appreciated their detailed approach to understanding the client's market, audience, and unique needs, which informed the project outcomes. **Effective Use of Tools and Platforms** J2’s use of project management tools like Basecamp, Google Workspace, and others facilitated efficient collaboration and project tracking, contributing to successful project outcomes. **Areas for Improvement: Strategic Services** A few clients noted that J2's strength lies in creative services rather than strategic assignments. Clients seeking comprehensive advertising solutions may need to supplement J2's offerings with additional strategic expertise. ### J2 Reviews #### Web Dev & Rebranding for Nonprofit Media Organization (Featured Review) **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July 2022 - Apr. 2023 **Project Summary**: J2 assisted a nonprofit media organization with its rebranding efforts. The team developed a WordPress website that showcases the client's podcasts, articles, and employment opportunities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Chief of Staff, The Branch - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jul 19, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: The J2 team completed the project on time and within the budget. Their work has received positive feedback, and the client is happy with the deliverables. The team was committed to fulfilling the project's requirements and introducing creative solutions to the discussion. ""I would recommend J2 to any organization — they're excellent!"" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I'm the chief of staff for The Branch, a nonprofit media organization. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2?We hired J2 to support us with a rebranding process, including a new website and logo.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 conducted a discovery process, reviewing our website and materials given to them. The team listened to our podcasts and had individual discussions with our team members. They shared various takeaways and sought our feedback through multiple iterations until we reached a final product that met our satisfaction.Our website features a comprehensive list of all our podcast episodes and articles. It also provides information about our team members, available job openings, and other relevant details. The team utilized WordPress for the site and Figma for the website and logo design process. What is the team composition?I was in contact with four individuals from the J2 team.How did you come to work with J2?We came across J2 through a Google search.How much have you invested in them?The investment was $50,000.What is the status of this engagement?We engaged with J2  from July 2022–April 2023. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?We were extremely pleased with the work completed by J2. The quality of their design has received positive feedback.How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint?The J2 team consistently met all the deadlines and communicated clearly. They informed us of any timeline changes. We appreciated the regular email and meeting schedule, which was very helpful. For communication, we used email and Zoom for meetings. What did you find most impressive about them?Overall, working with J2 was a very positive experience. I would recommend J2 to any organization — they're excellent!Are there any areas they could improve?I cannot think of any areas that need improvement.Do you have any advice for potential customers?It's essential to communicate your needs clearly and remain receptive to their suggestions, as the team has a keen eye for detail. --- #### Branding & Graphic Design for School **The Project** - Services: Branding, Graphic Design - Project size: Confidential - Project length: July - Oct. 2023 **Project Summary**: J2 was hired by a school to create a full-scale redesign for their admissions campaigns and materials. The team also created a new brand style guide, redesigned a viewbook, and developed a messaging platform. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive, Breck School - Industry: Education - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jul 22, 2024 **Feedback Summary**: Thanks to J2, the client established an excellent brand foundation and notably improved their application and student admissions. J2 demonstrated friendly project management and maintained exceptional communication throughout. Their insightfulness, creativity, and collaborative approach were superb. ""We found J2 to be both highly creative and intensely collaborative."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am an executive at Breck SchoolDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Independent, college-preparatory, Episcopal day school **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire J2 to accomplish?Branding refreshAdmissions campaign materials **SOLUTION** How did you find J2?ReferralWhy did you select J2 over others?Pricing fits our budgetGreat culture fitCompany values alignedOtherHow many teammates from J2 were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.J2 partnered with Breck School to design and develop a full scale redesign of our admissions campaign and materials for use as part of admissions department. They created a new brand style guide and messaging platform as well as the layout and design of our viewbook and three divisional highlights. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Strong admissions applicants and student yield as part of our annual cycle of enrollment as well as a brand foundation that is easily replicable for our in-house designerDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?J2 made it incredibly easy to manage our project with their excellent communication and strong oversight. What was your primary form of communication with J2?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?We found J2 to be both highly creative and intensely collaborative. They pushed us outside our comfort zone in ways that felt both aligned with our company culture but also healthy to be keeping up with external trends. We walked away with impressive campaign materials and a solid brand foundation that will hold true over time.Are there any areas for improvement or something J2 could have done differently?No --- #### Rebranding Campaign for Signage Project Management Tool Co **The Project** - Services: Branding, Graphic Design, Logo - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Sep. 2022 - May 2023 **Project Summary**: J2 rebranded a signage project management tool company's visual identity. The team was responsible for the initial discovery, tagline and copywriting, design templates, and style guide. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP, Marketing Communications, SignAgent - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Oct 24, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: J2 delivered nuanced messaging and met the client's expectations. The team was well-organized and responsive to the client's feedback. J2 went above and beyond the project's requirements, meeting the project's timelines and communicating clearly and professionally through email and virtual meetings. ""J2 went above and beyond the call in this project, and we were thrilled with the result."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the VP, Marketing Communications of SignAgentDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.SignAgent makes wayfinding and signage project management easier, so users can focus on the strategic and creative activities that ensure a better wayfinding experience for everyone. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire J2 to accomplish?Brand Identity Refresh **SOLUTION** How did you find J2?ReferralOtherWhy did you select J2 over others?Great culture fitReferred to meCompany values alignedStrong portfolioHow many teammates from J2 were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.This project was divided into 5 phases: Initial Prep and Discovery Tagline & Copywriting Logo & Visual Identity Design Templates Style Guide **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?J2 met all project deadlines, unless there were extensions due to changes in scope.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The J2 team was well organized. They met their timelines and communicated clearly and appropriately. Creative projects like this can be difficult: our team excelled at identifying things we we didn't like. J2 took our feedback in stride and always responded professionally, with guidance and options to keep the project moving in the right direction.What was your primary form of communication with J2?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Our company offers a niche service with multiple audiences. Our positioning and messaging are nuanced and complex. J2 did an exceptional job of learning what makes us and our different types of prospects and customers tick and came up with strong concepts to suit.Are there any areas for improvement or something J2 could have done differently?No, J2 went above and beyond the call in this project, and we were thrilled with the result. --- #### Web Dev & Rebranding for Nonprofit Media Organization **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July 2022 - Apr. 2023 **Project Summary**: J2 assisted a nonprofit media organization with its rebranding efforts. The team developed a WordPress website that showcases the client's podcasts, articles, and employment opportunities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Chief of Staff, The Branch - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jul 19, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: The J2 team completed the project on time and within the budget. Their work has received positive feedback, and the client is happy with the deliverables. The team was committed to fulfilling the project's requirements and introducing creative solutions to the discussion. ""I would recommend J2 to any organization — they're excellent!"" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I'm the chief of staff for The Branch, a nonprofit media organization. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2?We hired J2 to support us with a rebranding process, including a new website and logo.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 conducted a discovery process, reviewing our website and materials given to them. The team listened to our podcasts and had individual discussions with our team members. They shared various takeaways and sought our feedback through multiple iterations until we reached a final product that met our satisfaction.Our website features a comprehensive list of all our podcast episodes and articles. It also provides information about our team members, available job openings, and other relevant details. The team utilized WordPress for the site and Figma for the website and logo design process. What is the team composition?I was in contact with four individuals from the J2 team.How did you come to work with J2?We came across J2 through a Google search.How much have you invested in them?The investment was $50,000.What is the status of this engagement?We engaged with J2  from July 2022–April 2023. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?We were extremely pleased with the work completed by J2. The quality of their design has received positive feedback.How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint?The J2 team consistently met all the deadlines and communicated clearly. They informed us of any timeline changes. We appreciated the regular email and meeting schedule, which was very helpful. For communication, we used email and Zoom for meetings. What did you find most impressive about them?Overall, working with J2 was a very positive experience. I would recommend J2 to any organization — they're excellent!Are there any areas they could improve?I cannot think of any areas that need improvement.Do you have any advice for potential customers?It's essential to communicate your needs clearly and remain receptive to their suggestions, as the team has a keen eye for detail. --- #### Brand Audit & Refresh for University **The Project** - Services: Branding, Market Research, Other Design - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2022 - Jan. 2023 **Project Summary**: A university hired J2 to refresh their brand. The team audited the client's brand and top competitors. They performed internal interviews and then delivered branding guidelines for voice, content, and more. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP Marketing & Communications, Susquehanna University - Industry: Education - Client size: 501-1,000 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 28, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: The client earned an award for the brand refresh project; the final brand was received positively by stakeholders, thanks to J2. The team delivered everything on time and worked hard to meet the client's expectations. Their out-of-the-box strategies were truly instrumental in the project's success.  ""They excelled in all aspects and brought in expert partners when needed."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position. I am the Vice President for Marketing and Communications of Susquehanna University Describe what your company does in a single sentence. Susquehanna University is national liberal arts university, invested in cultivating intellectual grounding, active learning and global citizenship for all students. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire J2 to accomplish? Refresh our university brand **SOLUTION** How did you find J2? Direct Mail from Firm Why did you select J2 over others? Pricing fit our budget Great culture fit Good value for cost Company values aligned Understood our market and industry What was the size of J2’s team? 6-10 Employees Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables. Research and Brand Audit with Review of External Research, Audit of Top Competitors, Internal Interviews and a Final Research Report. Brand Development with an Approved Platform and Staff Training. Voice and Messaging Development with Headlines, School Descriptors, Voice, Tone and Copywriting Guidelines and Staff Training. Visual Concepts for Marketing, Campus Signage and Website Homepage. Brand Manual, Staff Training and Go-to Market Strategy. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? The College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals organization awarded Susquehanna a gold Cuppie award for the brand refresh. The final brand was well received by the Board of Trustees, members of the campus community and external audiences. Since launching the one-minute brand manifesto video written by J2, it has been our most watched video on YouTube with 6.5K views in one month and an average watch time at 92%. Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? Overall, J2 delivered items in a timely manner. We initially proposed an aggressive timeline and collaborated to adjust the timeline to deliver a quality brand, still within a year's time. They put in extra time when we needed to hit target dates to present to the board. What was your primary form of communication with J2? In-Person Meeting Virtual Meeting Email Messaging App What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? J2 was very willing to do out-of-the-box strategy and go the extra mile. They excelled in all aspects and brought in expert partners when needed. The J2 staff itself is genius and took the time the really get to know our institution, almost as if they were an in-house agency. They were great at listening and responding to feedback. They were always responsive and overall a delight to work with. Are there any areas for improvement or something J2 could have done differently? Considering the vast amount of work and creativity delivered throughout the year, I have no recommendations for improvement. --- #### Branding & Graphic Design for Veterinary Staffing Company **The Project** - Services: Branding, Graphic Design, Logo - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Apr. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 has created the branding strategy for a veterinary staffing company. J2 has developed their brand guidelines, logo, and color palettes. J2 also designs the client’s advertisements for various media channels. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CMO, IndeVets - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 17, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: J2 has helped the client achieve their monthly lead goals and consistently double-digit their revenue growth. J2 is respectful and collaborative when receiving feedback. They’re highly creative, and their project management is excellent.  "“J2 is a highly creative and an excellent partner."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I’m the CMO at a veterinary staffing solutions company.  **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2?We needed help with our brand awareness and lead generation strategy. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement?J2 has designed our advertisements for four years. They helped lead our initial consumer insights, and built out the creative expression of our brand promise across multiple channels. They lead the creative development of all of our brand messaging including creative concepting, graphic design, and copy. J2 also recommended an artist to create custom illustrations that have now become signature assets of our brand. They oversee the development of all illustrations.Moreover, J2 has created our brand guidelines, including our logo, color palettes, and font treatments.What is the team composition?We work with around seven teammates from J2, including the executive creative director, the account director, an account executive, the art director, and a designer.How did you come to work with J2?J2 had a personal relationship with our CEO.How much have you invested with them?We've spent around $1 million with J2 so far.What is the status of this engagement?We started working with J2 in 2020, and our partnership is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? J2 has kept on top of competitive trends and helped us achieve our lead goals each month. J2’s work has significantly contributed to consistent double-digit revenue growth for the company. J2 is collaborative and respectful when receiving feedback, and they know when to keep pushing for their ideas and suggestions. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint?J2 has excelled at project management. We communicate through email and in-person and Zoom meetings.What did you find most impressive about them?I’m most impressed with J2’s creativity. They’re highly collaborative and don’t let their egos get in the way of finding the best solution for the client.Are there any areas they could improve?We’ve addressed all issues, and I can’t think of anything for J2 to improve. Do you have any advice for potential customers?J2 is a highly creative and an excellent partner. However, they don’t have the in-house talent to handle strategy assignments and don’t offer full-service advertising solutions. Just keep in mind that J2 is a boutique creative agency and that you’ll need to bring significant strategic knowledge and other solutions for media planning and social media marketing. --- #### Branding & Web Redesign for Plant Conservation Garden **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Design - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Mar. 2021 - June 2022 **Project Summary**: A native plants conservation garden wanted to do a rebrand. J2 provided branding and website development services. They did a short video and then redesigned and rebuilt the website from Drupal to WordPress. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 4.5 **The Reviewer** Director, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 8, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: J2 improved the customer experience and made the site’s backend easier to manage. Also, the client saw a positve increase in engagement after the launch. Overall, J2 provided a hands-on service and managed the project well using Google Workspace. Customers can expect a great relationship with them. "“They were personable, easy to work with, and passionate about their work.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m a director for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a native plant garden and living museum. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We needed to rebrand the garden. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Initially, J2 researched our current audience and did intercept and staff surveys for the rebranding. They also did a brand video that laste almost two minutes to showcase the new brand for us. The filmed video mainly showed landscapes, and we did the voiceover. Then, the branding project rolled into a second project. J2 did a website redesign; we went from Drupal to a WordPress website. They also used Figma for the design. What is the team composition? Brian (Founding Partner & Managing Director) and Alan (Founding Partner & CEO) initially came on and worked on the pitch. From there, many team members were involved. Cara (Creative Director) was our main point of contact, and Jason (Executive Creative Director) jumped in to work on the brand and the video. How did you come to work with J2? I joined the project in July 2021, so it had already begun. I don’t know how they found J2. How much have you invested with them? We spent close to $250,000. What is the status of this engagement? We hired them in March 2021, and they completed the branding portion of the project in December 2021. The video project wrapped up shortly after, and we launched the branding and the website in June 2022. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? The website tracking wasn’t set up correctly, so we don’t have good data until after the launch. However, we’ve seen more engagement, and the site has a better customer experience. Also, the backend is super easy to manage now. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? They met deadlines and stayed on budget. We had a weekly check-in meeting and were in touch to answer any questions in the interim. We used Google Workplace for project management. What did you find most impressive about them? J2 was small enough to provide hands-on service. We didn’t get lost in their client mix, which was really refreshing. Moreover, they were personable, easy to work with, and passionate about their work. Also, J2 slowed down and explained the importance of the work, and when it was time to present to larger groups, they could capture everybody’s attention so that anyone could digest what was happening. Overall, we had an excellent relationship with them. Are there any areas they could improve? We did the website redesign in six months, so we missed the opportunity to have a follow-up period to work out any of the kinks as part of our scope. We didn’t ensure that everything was tracking properly, so it was a miss on our part. Do you have any advice for potential customers? J2 is a wonderful agency to work with; just make sure everybody is on the same page and understands the expectations. Also, make sure that the total branding package can be opened correctly. As a small nonprofit, we didn’t have fancy design tools, so that was a bit of a learning curve on our end. --- #### Branding & WordPress Dev for Property Assessment District **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Aug. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 has helped a property-based assessment district with their rebranding efforts, developing new branding guidelines and assets for them. The team is also working on redeveloping the client’s WordPress site.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Deputy Director, Union Square Alliance - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Aug 26, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Internal and external stakeholders love the company’s new branding. J2 has also been patient throughout the engagement, listening attentively to the client’s needs and doing their best to meet expectations. They manage the project well and communicate with the firm to ensure smooth collaboration.  "“Listen to J2’s advice and work with them — they’re excellent.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the deputy director for Union Square Alliance, a property-based assessment district in San Francisco, California. We provide services to a 27-block area in San Francisco, offering cleanliness, security, and safety. We also do marketing events, public realm campaigns, and advocacies.  **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2?  We were looking to rebrand our organization.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We initially did a rebranding campaign with J2. They facilitated research and discovery sessions, and then we did an interim campaign for our brand messaging. The team ultimately created a brand strategy for us, which included our brand concept, design, and identity development. As part of the brand identity development process, they created icon library templates, PowerPoint templates, welcome kits, uniforms, and other branded items. At present, we’re working with J2 on a website redevelopment project on WordPress. We hope to launch the project's first phase right before the holidays this year. They’ll also provide hosting and maintenance services, but we haven’t gotten there yet.  What is the team composition? We work with 4–6 people from J2, including principals, project managers, and designers.  How did you come to work with J2?  We did an RFP, and five firms submitted their proposals. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down for a few months. When we went back to the vendors and talked to them about our situation, J2 responded most favorably to us in terms of how they would adapt to our challenges. As a result, we ended up hiring them for this project.  How much have you invested with them? We’ve invested around $150,000 in the branding project. We’re spending around $120,000 on the web development project, but we haven’t finished it yet.  What is the status of this engagement? We signed the contract with J2 in August 2020, and the engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  People absolutely love the new branding. J2 has provided us with a couple of options, and stakeholders have unanimously gravitated towards one of them. It’s been truly well-received by our board of directors and by the community as a whole. People have commented on the branding recently, including our partners, who are designers themselves — they’re fans of the work that J2 has done.  Meanwhile, the website development project has taken slightly longer than expected, but that’s on our side. J2 has been truly patient. They’re truly client-focused and eager to hear our needs. They advise us along the way, too. Overall, we’ve had a good experience with them.   How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? Their project management is excellent. We communicate mainly through emails, and J2 shares documentation and timelines. The team facilitates regular check-in meetings with our director of marketing.  What did you find most impressive about them? They’re great listeners and respond to our needs. They have a great understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish.  Are there any areas they could improve? No, there aren’t any.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be upfront about your needs, deadlines, and goals. Listen to J2’s advice and work with them — they’re excellent.  --- #### Branding, Design & Web Dev for Nonprofit **The Project** - Services: Branding, Other Design, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Oct. 2014 - Oct. 2016 **Project Summary**: J2 helped a nonprofit reach out to Philadelphia's key leaders to raise awareness and discuss the next steps regarding their World Heritage City status. They also created the firm's messaging, designs, and site. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director, Global Philadelphia Association - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 5, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: J2's exemplary work dramatically increased the firm's budget from $150,000 to $500,000. Their solid project management process and communication skills allowed them to establish a strong partnership. Above all, the client appreciated that the team steered them in the right direction. ""They were good at reading the room, the clients, and the opportunity and putting everything together."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the executive director of the Global Philadelphia Association. We’re an organization that positions Philadelphia internationally. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We were an 11-year-old organization and halfway through our existence when we were able to activate the World Heritage City status for the city of Philadelphia. We knew it was coming because we had to go through many applications and meetings. We then involved J2 in our project as we wanted to activate in Philadelphia the knowledge and importance of becoming the first World Heritage City in the US. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? The team began by activating the civic and corporate key leaders in Philadelphia to make sure that they understood what World Heritage meant. International people were very familiar with the idea of World Heritage, but folks in the US weren’t. As a result, we wanted to ensure that those leaders would align themselves with different thought groups around the next steps in activating the World Heritage designation and what Philadelphia could do with it. The data helped us with that discussion and building events around that process. J2 was also responsible for making a small website, but it wasn’t the main thrust of their work. They also did a lot of graphic design work and helped us develop a very strong messaging. What is the team composition? At any given time, we were working with 2–8 people, including Jason (Executive Creative Director). We also worked with their project manager, designer, web developer, and client coordinator. How did you come to work with J2? Our board had all sorts of people, including a well-known architect in Philadelphia. Through him, Jason came highly recommended. We also knew of J2’s reputation for graphically designing and positioning visually on planes, cities, and universities. How much have you invested with them? We spent $80,000. What is the status of this engagement? We worked with them from October 2014–October 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Before doing the World Heritage Work, we were a $150,000 operation nonprofit. However, once we activated the community at a higher level when we became a World Heritage City, we successfully increased the budget to $500,000. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? They had an excellent project management process. We communicated in person. What did you find most impressive about them? They were good at reading the room, the clients, and the opportunity and putting everything together. Are there any areas they could improve? No. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Come to the table and be clear with your messaging and what you’re looking for. Give them good directives to move and do what they have to do. I also advise you to listen to them because they lead their clients in the right direction. --- #### WordPress Dev & Branding for Cemetery & Funeral Home Company **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 has developed a cemetery and funeral home company’s WordPress website and branding assets. The team has also created a new umbrella logo that represents the organization’s various entities.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** President & CEO, Laurel Hill Cemetery & Funeral Home - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 9, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: The company has praised J2’s communication style, describing their resources as excellent communicators. The team has also stuck with the organization’s budget. They’re patient and professional, and they’ve been responsive. They also show genuine interest in the project and its success.  "“J2’s passion for the project is reflected in their outputs.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the president and CEO of Laurel Hill Cemetery and West Laurel Hill Cemetery & Funeral Home. We have two cemeteries right across the river from each other. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We’re a multifaceted organization — we have multiple locations and at least four different entities — so we want to unify it. Our group has multiple logos, IDs, and URLs, and the whole idea is to communicate with our customers in a much more logical and understandable way. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 has worked on our branding and web development needs, including our logo and brand name. Our cemeteries are named differently, and J2 has brought them all under the rubric of Laurel Hill. We’ve kept the different entities but put them all under one logo.  Currently, we’re in the throes of finishing the website. We expect everything to be completed by the end of March 2022. They use WordPress to develop the website.  What is the team composition? We mainly work with Alan (Co-Founder & Principal), Brian (Founding Partner & Managing Director), and Cara (Creative Director).   How did you come to work with J2? I knew Alan from my previous work, and J2's reputation in the community was highly positive. I did a number of calls and interviewed some of their clients — they provided rave reviews. That was when we started our engagement.  How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent between $100,000–$250,000.  What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in July 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  We measure success using the timeliness of J2’s delivery and their attention to our needs. Our team also checks their patience as we work through the decisions of our company’s leadership. We also evaluate their aesthetics and design talent, along with their ability to grasp the needs of our organization. So far, J2 has helped us achieve more brand awareness. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? In terms of deadlines, J2 is running late; they’ve surpassed the schedule by a couple of months, which isn’t too far off our timeline. That said, they’ve informed us about this delay. In fact, we may have caused some of the delays. Overall, while they’re running late, they’re still excellent communicators. The team has also stuck with our budget.  To manage the project, we’ve used Basecamp. We typically communicate using Zoom. I don’t get into the nitty-gritty details of their communications, but the team talks to my staff via phone calls, emails, and Zoom or Google Meet. What did you find most impressive about them? J2’s passion for the project is reflected in their outputs. They’re excited about their work, and that shows in the final product. Are there any areas they could improve? No, there aren’t any. The team has been truly responsive and patient, and they’ve performed professionally — I can’t say enough good things about them.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Hire J2, and be transparent with them. They’re eager to learn about their clients because the more they know about their customers, the better product they deliver.  --- #### Branding and Website Design for Tin Capsule Company **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. - Dec. 2021 **Project Summary**: J2 designed and developed branding materials and a website for a tin wine capsule manufacturer. J2 identified the client’s desired brand positioning, brand voice, and branding materials, including the logo.   **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner & VP, Keystone Capsules - Industry: Manufacturing - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jan 18, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: The client has received tremendous feedback from customers in the marketplace on J2’s final deliverables. They’re thrilled by J2’s creative and professional team and the high-quality work they produce. J2 has hosted regular meetings with the client to discuss project progress and strategy.  "“At any given time, we knew exactly where we were at in a project.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the owner and VP of Keystone Capsules, which manufactures, recycles, and produces tin wine capsules. Keystone Capsules is owned and operated by Nathan Trotter, where I am a partner.  **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? J2 helped develop and create a brand for Keystone Capsules.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 developed branding materials and a website for Keystone Capsules. Their team outlined each step of the process, starting with identifying our business needs and desired branding positioning. Then, J2 developed the brand voice and materials, including a logo, letterhead template, and a PowerPoint template. J2 also designed our website.  What is the team composition? We worked with 5–7 teammates from J2, but another five teammates were working on the backend.  How did you come to work with J2? We’d worked with J2 before on other projects for our flagship company, Nathan Trotter. They helped reinvigorate and refurbish our branding and website. Initially, we found them through some research we completed on companies in the Philadelphia area, where we’re based. All of that was about 10 years ago, but we had a good experience working with them on the Nathan Trotter projects, so it was a no-brainer to use them again with Keystone Capsules.  How much have you invested with them? We invested around $75,000 with J2.  What is the status of this engagement? This project with J2 was from March–December 2021.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  We aren’t tracking any formal metrics for this project. However, we’ve received tremendous feedback from customers in the marketplace, who we are focused on appealing to. My team is thrilled with the product J2 delivered.  How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? We had regular status, tactical, and milestone meetings with the J2 team; at any given time, we knew exactly where we were at in a project.  What did you find most impressive about them? J2’s team was very talented and professional, which contributed to an easy project and a high-quality final product.  Are there any areas they could improve? We set a website implementation in October when we first discussed the proposal, but rollout didn’t happen until November. However, the J2 informed us that the timeframe was tight and shared regular updates throughout the processes, so we didn’t push back on that at all.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? I’d advise customers to be open and communicate as much information as possible to the J2 team. The more project information J2 consumes, like market data or project direction, the better the final product.  --- #### Rebranding, Web Dev & Design for Domestic Staffing Business **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Design, Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Apr. - Dec. 2016 **Project Summary**: To help the client with their expansion, J2 conducted a total rebrand. They first analyzed the brand and then created a new logo and style guide. They also built a new website with features like contact forms. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Philadelphia Nanny Network - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Sep 27, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Demonstrating well-honed creativity and keen listening skills, J2 produced an enduring design that stood the test of time. Furthermore, the site's ease of use boosted the client's engagement significantly. Organized and flexible, the team went above and beyond, fostering a long-term partnership. ""J2 was super easy to work with and performed beyond our expectations."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder and CEO of Philadelphia Nanny Network, a domestic staffing business. We service families hiring nannies and babysitters, and we’re one of the largest providers of employer-sponsored backup care. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We had already expanded into other markets outside of Philadelphia, and we were planning on continuing our expansion. We needed someone to guide us through the process of conducting a total rebrand. In line with that, we needed a website overhaul. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 helped us with our rebranding efforts. The first order of business was to explore whether or not we should change our name. The team conducted a study around our current brand and how entrenched it was in our local market. They considered how we had already been in business for around 30 years. With the help of their analysis, we eventually decided to keep our original name and just do a total rebranding. Then, the J2 team tweaked some elements of our brand, including how we presented ourselves. They created a new logo along with a style guide revolving around that logo. Afterward, they designed and developed our website, handling everything except the copy, which another vendor did. J2 created the website from scratch on a newer platform that had more functionalities than our old site. For example, they built contact forms into the website. What is the team composition? I mainly worked with Brian (Founding Partner & Executive Creative Director) and another teammate with whom I worked closest. We had in-person meetings where they would bring in one of their experts depending on what part of the project we were in, so I worked with several people on the team. This included developers, designers, and so on. How did you come to work with J2? Our first meeting was serendipitous. A friend and I were on a ski trip and decided to go to a restaurant on our last day. We sat at the bar and started talking to the two people next to us, who happened to be Brian and his father, who founded J2 originally. They happened to be from Philadelphia and mentioned that they did branding and web development, which was a project that I needed to do. When I got back from the trip, I immediately contacted them, and they submitted a proposal. I had contacted two other vendors, but J2 seemed like the best fit. They were capable and incredibly creative, and at the same time, they considered our needs. I felt confident and comfortable with them, as well. Their price point was slightly higher than we wanted, but it was reasonable enough for us to move forward with J2. Everything just fell into place after that. How much have you invested with them? We spent somewhere between $10,000–$50,000.  What is the status of this engagement? The project lasted from April–December 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Thanks to J2’s work, we had a massive increase in engagement. The site was easily navigable, allowing our potential clients to complete our forms easily. Overall, we got a lot of value out of their work. In fact, we continue to use the website. The design, color scheme, graphics, and images were all expertly chosen. The brilliance of the website is how timeless it is — even though it’s been a few years since then, I still get compliments about how creative our site’s design is. Usually, websites have a specific shelf life, and then it starts to look outdated, but our site has stood the test of time.  How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? J2 was super easy to work with and performed beyond our expectations. They didn’t drag out the project — they presented a reasonable timeline and worked within that timeline, meeting all their goals and deliverables. We used Basecamp to manage the project, and they were very organized in how they approached things. I initially found it hard to use, and the team was very flexible and offered to use email. However, with their encouragement, I learned to use Basecamp and found it to be really helpful. I even started using it on other projects. What did you find most impressive about them? I was impressed with their ability to listen and understand our vision in a short time. J2 synthesized our goal and created a design that was just phenomenal. It was also remarkable how easily the team could work with different companies in various industries. We kept in touch with them in the years after the engagement and maintained a strong relationship. Actually, we have a potential project for another business of mine, so we’ve recently been in contact with Brian. Are there any areas they could improve? It would’ve been easier if I didn’t have to find another vendor to write the copy. Luckily, I found a great writer, and it all worked out. --- #### Branding for Nonprofit Social Service Organization **The Project** - Services: Branding - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Jan. 2016 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 helped a nonprofit organization with its branding process. They created a new logo and collateral designs, and they helped the client define the overall communication and messaging. **Review Rating**: 4.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 4.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director & Head Coach, Nonprofit Organization - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 14, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: J2’s efforts helped grow the donor base, and the client has reached the 8,000 total donors mark. The program budget grew by $3.5 million as well. The team was highly participative and interactive. They understood the client’s mission clearly and got inspired by it. "“J2 got our mission, bought into it, and got inspired by it.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the executive director and head coach of a 150-years-old social service agency headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We serve and focus on the issues of intergenerational poverty. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We needed to rebrand our agency while we were doing a strategic plan at the same time. We wanted to align the language, the brand, and the relaunch. We were probably the oldest and least-known agency in the city at the time, and that had to get corrected. We hired J2 to do the rebranding work with the idea that our engagement would then morph into design work and collateral building. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We went together through a mission statement, language definition, and value alignment, and the heavy lifting of the work was around the parallel effort of doing a strategic plan and the rebranding. We had to basically reset the agency, and we went through some organizational changes to tie in with all of those efforts. J2 also created a new logo and look and feel for all the collateral materials on the web, as well as printed materials down to the business cards. Along with the new strategic plan, the brand roll-out, and the collateral, they helped us define how that was announced, designed, and disseminated. J2's work focused on both recruiting efforts with the participants of the fundraising and the overall communication with the stakeholders. What is the team composition? Alan (Co-Founder & Principal) has been involved in the overall project, Lucy (Art Director) was involved from the design point of view, and there were 5–6 other people in and out of the project as well. We also worked with a lead individual on the J2’s design team and a couple of other people.  How did you come to work with J2? We had an RFP process, and J2 responded. Prior to when I joined this company, I knew some of the agencies. I also had good recommendations of them from people that I knew in the industry. We looked at around 5–6 firms and, using a lot of different criteria, we settled in on them. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent around $100,000–$250,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together around January 2016, and the engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  We have about 8,000 donors historically, and that donor base has grown and been more active since the branding work made by J2. Our agency has also grown in terms of foundation and institutional support. I can’t tell if it all has to do with the branding, but it was clearly involved. Our new website clearly drove pro-growth. In terms of size programs, we’ve grown about $3.5 million since then, but there have been ups and downs with government contracts. Before our engagement, we had about $8 million on the programs’ budget, and now we have over $11 million. Although the volatility is there and funding is a third of that number, the branding effort has supported that. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? We held a lot of in-person meetings when we were on a pre-COVID-19 time. We picked a local agency so we could meet with them, and J2 had a lot of interaction with the board and with us in the strategic plan group. We had a lot of work sessions both at J2’s place and ours with a lot of whiteboarding, design thoughts, and refinement. It was the classic development process. When we were doing this, we worked pretty closely with our board. We had a subcommittee that was involved there, with some people with domain and experience in this space. It all was pretty close and interactive, and we got pretty close to J2’s team. What did you find most impressive about them? J2 got our mission, bought into it, and got inspired by it. Are there any areas they could improve? We go through major partner reviews as a matter of governance on three-, four-, and five-year cycles depending on the area. That includes accounting firms, law firms, and any major provider. I do that with my other businesses — it’s a matter of good governance to go through a formal review so we don’t get too comfortable with our providers. We also need to test the market and move forward through that process. The J2 that we worked with back then has had a lot of personnel changes. I’m somewhat close to the founder, but we’re reviewing them right now, and we don’t know where that’s going to take us. The J2 that we worked with in 2016 had a fair amount of turnover, but now, it’s not clear if we’re going to continue working together. We have some real concerns about the agency that we’re now experiencing, and we've got to dig into it to move forward. They’ve changed staff and their subcontractor’s strategy. Candidly, we need to go back and do a reevaluation. We still respect the firm, but some really key people from the design perspective are no longer with them. Do you have any advice for potential customers? These types of projects can get very squishy, and the creative process is, by definition, squishy. You have to be very, very clear on the impact that you’re looking to get so that you don’t have a mission creep. --- #### Brand Identity & Marketing Collateral for Arts Center **The Project** - Services: Advertising, Branding - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: June 2019 - Feb. 2020 **Project Summary**: J2 helped an arts center create their brand identity and strategy. They did a marketing discovery to understand their mission. Then, they designed the logo, taglines, stationery, and brand bible. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director, Asian Arts Initiative - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 12, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: J2 helped the client debut a fresh, cohesive brand identity that has received highly positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders. The responsive and thorough team excelled at meeting deadlines. They were also receptive to feedback and took the time to understand the client’s needs. "“It was clear that they had a complete understanding of our needs.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the executive director at Asian Arts Initiative. We’re a community-based arts center in Philadelphia. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We hired J2 to help us with our brand strategy and identity design — our whole identity package. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 was responsible for creating a whole identity system for us, including our logo, taglines, stationery, and other collateral. They also did our brand bible, which included all of the rules around how to use our identity assets. They did a marketing discovery to do brand strategy. They looked into our organizational mission and strategy. The team did a lot of research on our organization, constituents, and staff. What is the team composition? We worked with 4–5 people regularly, including the creative director, the CEO, and the art director. We also worked with graphic designers and discovery lead coordinators. How did you come to work with J2? J2 was introduced to us by a peer organization in our city. We liked the work that J2 did for them, and we decided to contact them to see what they thought about us. We shopped around with a few different agencies. However, what really appealed to us was their thoroughness in describing the engagement process. Their proposal itself was very thorough, too. Additionally, the lead design team was very available to us. It was clear that they had a complete understanding of our needs. How much have you invested with them? We spent $30,000. What is the status of this engagement? We first engaged with J2 in 2018. However, we started working together in June 2019, and that particular project culminated in February 2020. Throughout 2020, we continuously worked together when needed. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? I measured the success of this project with the buy-in from our staff and board and the general enthusiasm for the outcome, which was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. The usability of the brand guidelines with our new, young design and branding team has been excellent. It’s all been positive feedback. From a quantitative perspective, the brand deck has translated very nicely into our presence on a lot of other platforms. We’d never had a designed identity before, so it was a very new and fresh debut. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? J2 was excellent at meeting deadlines and being responsive. What did you find most impressive about them? J2 is very receptive to feedback — they can handle it. They take feedback very well and understand if you have any concerns. Are there any areas they could improve? I can’t think of anything that J2 could improve. Any advice for potential customers? Be as candid, open, and honest as possible. We were able to be super honest with them, and it turned out well. --- #### Rebranding & Logo for Community Shopping Center **The Project** - Services: Branding, Other Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Jan. 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: To help with a shopping center's redevelopment efforts, J2 provides rebranding services. They've delivered a new logo and altered the messaging on the client's website and social media. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** General Manager, Kimco Realty Corporation - Industry: Real estate - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 10, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: J2 has delivered a high-quality logo featuring an attractive color scheme and an overall modern look, satisfying the client. Thanks to their deep knowledge of the community, their work has been well-received by the center's customers. Overall, the team is communicative, personable, and professional. ""I love working with them. They’re a team of very diligent perfectionists."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I work for Kimco Realty, a real estate investment trust (REIT) national platform. I am a general manager of one of their assets, which is called Suburban Square in Pennsylvania. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We were redeveloping the shopping center, so it was natural to rebrand as well. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? J2 has been helping us with our rebranding efforts. They’ve delivered a logo and a messaging for our website and social media, taking note of our company’s existing branding. We're still working together very closely, day in and day out. What is the team composition? I’ve worked with around 8–10 teammates since the project started.  How did you come to work with J2? I came in when the company was deciding which firm to go with, so I’m not sure how we found them. Ultimately, J2 stood out because they were available and shared excellent ideas with us. They also seemed to understand the product well, so we decided to work with them. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent $32,500. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in January 2017, and it’s ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  We’re pleased with what J2 developed. People have responded well to the logo and the color scheme, and they appreciate the more modern look compared to our original logo. The messaging they’ve created is clear and concise. Overall, their work is sensitive to our core demographic. We’ve been in the community for over 90 years — our customers have been coming here for generations, and they’re very attached to us. J2’s work is cognizant of those loyal customers while also being attractive to new customers. It's been a successful process. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? They are, without a doubt, the best in project management. We have weekly calls to go over their progress and make final decisions on the next steps. Before COVID-19, we also had some face-to-face meetings. Communication was very tight, concise, and frequent. Our personalities meshed well. What did you find most impressive about them? They're just highly professional, and they care about providing a good product. It’s a unique project, but J2 has done very well. They have a deep understanding of the center because most people on their team personally knew and shop at the center. If they didn’t understand the property already, it would’ve been quite the learning curve because it’s a very complex shopping center. They are very sensitive to everyone in the community and how the rebranding would impact them.  It’s clear that J2 took a very personal interest in it, and it’s not just another project to them because they’re part of the community themselves. It’s that personal dedication that has allowed them to be successful. Every single teammate we’ve handled is fantastic — I love working with them. They’re a team of very diligent perfectionists, and they have my respect and trust. Are there any areas they could improve? I haven’t experienced anything remotely negative while working with the team.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? It's okay just to leave them to do their job; they're very good at what they do. --- #### Rebranding & Comms Audit for Cultural Arts Institution **The Project** - Services: Branding, Market Research - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Feb. 2019 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 provides branding services for a cultural arts institution. They’ve done in-depth research, communications audit, and site audit. Their goal is to resolve branding misconceptions about the organization. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** SVP Strategic Marketing & Communications, Kimmel Center - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Apr 16, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: The institution is deeply pleased with J2’s services. The team has served as a thought partner for the client, helping them tackle the branding challenges they’ve faced. They’ve also led a smooth and efficient project management process while communicating closely with the organization. "“J2 has been a wonderful partner.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the SVP of strategic marketing and communications at the Kimmel Cultural Campus, which is a multi-venue performing arts complex in Philadelphia. We present a diverse array of performing arts presentations attended by people in the 11-county region. We present around 1,500 events a year and about 1.2 million people come through our doors annually. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? The Kimmel Center was built as a one-building complex that housed a couple of theaters and the Verizon Hall. Over the last 20 years, the arts organization has grown, and it now manages two additional venues along Broad Street. Our biggest problem was a brand perception that we still were the only Kimmel Center building here and that we weren’t related to the Academy of Music and the Merriam Theater, both of which we manage. As a result, most people thought we were essentially an orchestra, which was our main performance group that worked in one building.  Branding challenges came out because of that perception. For instance, we weren't getting credit for all of the other work that we presented, which was 80% of our work's volume. On top of that, people associated us with classical-based institutions. However, what we mainly presented were Broadway tours, stand-up comedy, rock concerts, and jazz concerts. In other words, genre perspectives were quite different. We began our work with J2 to address these branding challenges in a variety of ways  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We already had a lot of data about the branding problem since we’d undergone a bit of research around the development of a new website. We handed that research over to J2, and they conducted additional in-depth research. They created focus groups and interviewed civic leaders, board members, ticket buyers, and people around the region. They worked to get a better sense of people’s real perceptions about us and what they could advise us.  Apart from that, J2 also performed a communications audit. We gave them a couple of years’ worth of materials to tell us how to better design our communications to convey the continuity of our brand. Through that, we figured out how we could reverse the brand challenges that we have. Then, J2 did a site audit and gave recommendations around tying our buildings together and stitching them visually and physically so they’d appear like one multi-building complex. For context, the architecture of the buildings spanned 165 years, so the three buildings looked absolutely different from each other.  Meanwhile, the project has changed in scope around the time that the COVID-19 pandemic was occurring. We held out on the project for a while because it wasn’t possible to push through. Then, we came back to J2 saying we were going to take the project down a notch; we weren’t going to do what was recommended, though we’d still use all the research we had. We wanted to use their conceptual ideas and move forward.  What is the team composition? We’ve worked with 6–7 members of their team, and we mainly interact with Alan (Co-Founder & Principal) and Claire (Account Manager). We also work with their design team and exit team, which has done the physical audit of the buildings. That team has also made recommendations on things that we can do to tie the buildings together.  How did you come to work with J2? I ran into Alan at a couple of events, including a gala for the Marian Anderson Awards held at the Kimmel Center. He then came in and spoke to the design and leadership cohort that I happened to be in, and he stood out to me as someone to think about if we ever did rebrand.  Interestingly enough, J2 didn’t put in a proposal when we sent out our RFP. Several members of our marketing advisory board had recommended them, and they asked why J2 didn’t send a proposal. As a result, I called Alan and asked them about it, and he told me that we already knew our problem. There was a lot to unpack when it came to a nonprofit, so we talked through some of his questions and misconceptions about us. Eventually, even though J2 didn’t submit any proposals, I threw all the other proposals away and went with Alan.  How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent around $100,000.  What is the status of this engagement? The project began in February 2019, and the project is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  J2 has been a wonderful partner and leader for our organization to lean on. Everything has been relatively smooth. I have an employee who’s in charge of ensuring that all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed in terms of communications. So far, she’s enjoyed working with J2, and everything has been smooth-sailing.  How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? J2 is using project management software with my more hands-on team. However, I largely just do email, conference calls, and physical meetings with them. In 2019, we had regular meetings. Then, the rubber hit the road, and we were only meeting when there was something to review.  During that time, we felt we weren’t meeting at all. We’ve only just recently started meeting again, but it’s not regular. When we need to have a conference call with our CEO, Alan makes himself available to present the project’s status. What did you find most impressive about them? J2 has the ability to be flexible and roll with the punches.  Are there any areas they could improve? No, there aren’t any. They’ve already addressed everything that I thought they could improve.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Trust their point of view and do your best to listen. Their perspective is good, and Alan’s really a thinker. If you sit back and listen to them, things coalesce. In a lot of ways, I’ve used Alan as a thought partner in all kinds of things because of the way he thinks.  --- #### Branding Refresh for Real Estate Consulting Firm **The Project** - Services: Branding, Web Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: June 2019 - Jan. 2020 **Project Summary**: J2 provided brand refresh efforts to a consulting firm. The client wanted to have a brand platform that depicts their company's identity and how it should be marketed to their target audience.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP, U3 Advisors - Industry: Real estate - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Apr 13, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: With J2's support, the client achieved a 40% increase in their site traffic and an average of 110% traffic for their email blasts and social media posts. Transparent and patient, the team helped the client stay on track, and they swiftly pivoted when the engagement had to change directions.  ""I was fascinated by how J2 assembled their team; they were a multidisciplinary group." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. U3 Advisors is a consulting firm that specializes in providing real estate strategy and economic development strategy services primarily to universities, colleges, nonprofits, and extra-governmental entities. We work primarily in the US, but we also work in select engagements in Canada.  As the VP, I work directly with the CEO and CFO of the company in managing our internal business operations. In our conversations with J2, I manage all of our marketing and business development efforts.  **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with J2? We thought our brand needed a refresh and reorientation to reflect what the company was and where it was going. Organically, the way we were messaging the company had evolved over the years, and we wanted to know what the evolution looked and sounded like.  Then, when we did some internal workshop, and we found out that there had been significant changes in how we talk about ourselves — in a more thematic mission-driven way. Those changes made sense considering the mission-driven nature of our third-party clients and the sectors in which they operate.  However, we realized that none of the changes that occurred were captured in our marketing collaterals or digital presence. That was the genesis of the problem we were trying to solve, and that led us to engage with J2. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We started to dig deep with J2 through our discovery period where they got to know our company and where we gave them additional information beyond what we shared during the process. That process took 3–4 months to unfold, and Alan (Co-Founder & Principal) and Brian (Founding Partner & Executive Director) heavily engaged with us during this time. Frankly speaking, that happened because of the nature of our work; we were always busy most of the time.  They interviewed a select pool of customers and they pulled quotes from them. Based on the processes that they did, they created our brand platform. Beyond stating our palette and how our U3 mark should be used in content and other collaterals, J2 also stated who we were and how we wanted to talk about ourselves from a marketing standpoint. They helped us present ourselves as a company in a thematic language so that our target audience would want to engage with us.  What is the team composition? Brian acted as the project executive and senior project, and he pushed the discovery process. They also had a design lead and a process manager.  How did you come to work with J2? J2 was selected as the team to help us with our rebrand and marketing refresh as part of a competitive process. We issued an RFP to a shortlist of approximately 10 firms, most of whom were based in the metro Philadelphia area where our headquarters was located. The shortlist contained the companies who were referred within our professional networks, and they approximately collaborated with 1–2 companies we had worked with in the past. In fact, J2 competed head to head with the design firm that developed our website and digital presence. We chose J2 because they not only understood what we were trying to do in a practical sense but also proposed services that were the right size for our budget. Moreover, they were the most responsive team we communicated with. J2 saw the value in learning for us and they wanted to expand their knowledge base by knowing our work.  How much have you invested with them? We had originally budgeted around $20,000 for the project, and we ended up spending around $30,000. That happened because we weren’t disciplined around time, and the project dragged out.  What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from June 2019–January 2020. We don’t have an official project at this time, but we still collaborate together. The team gives us technical support and other assistance in areas such as creating presentation templates. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  J2 was able to channel our core values and ethos into the brand platform they built for us. After our partnership, we developed a deep relationship with them, and we considered them to be a great team.  On our digital presence, we had very clear metrics and analytics on a daily basis, and on average, we had roughly a 40% uptick in our site traffic. On average, our traffic was 110% whenever we sent out email blasts and social media posts that connect to our website. We never had that traffic driven to our old website. Since our new website was cleaner and simpler — it looked good aesthetically, and it was user-friendly. How did J2 perform from a project management standpoint? Their patience and flexibility manifested when we dragged out the timeline of their originally outline aggressive discovery period. They were also very fair and transparent in modifying the scope and what the implications were in terms of pricing.  Their flexibility also clearly appeared in their project management process. At first, they suggested using Basecamp to manage our workflow. However, they quickly realized that we were not very prescriptive around platforms. As a result, they quickly pivoted from adapting whatever we used for our project workflows such as Dropbox and Google Docs. Those platforms became our avenue to share our products, comments, and deliverables — it was very effective and secure. What did you find most impressive about them? I was fascinated by how J2 assembled their team; they were a multidisciplinary group. Everybody from their team came from a similar background, and they had a very specific role during our collaboration. I was also impressed with the level of discipline they had with bringing a big team for us. Are there any areas they could improve? From a design standpoint, they presented a lot of conservative choices that didn’t wow us. I felt that some of the ideas they had presented were boxed and that may be caused by the way they were trying to read us and didn’t want to misread us. Perhaps, they didn’t just want to go off the reservation and present us with something that feels completely dissonant from what we discussed and honoring what our scope was. J2 was just earnest about being respectful of our relationship.  However, we quickly worked through that, and we challenged them to challenge us. After having conversations with J2, they delivered, and they hit the ball out of the park. They were a fantastic team, and we got a great amount of value that was outsized to what we paid.  --- #### Branding, Web Design & Marketing for School **The Project** - Services: Advertising, Branding, Graphic Design, Logo, Other Design, Print Design, Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Dec. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: J2 has developed a visual identity and provided marketing support for a school. They've helped develop the client's brand, design their website, and produce a magazine and viewbook.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director, The Philadelphia School - Industry: Education - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 6, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Thanks to J2's support, the client's enrollment has increased. The client is pleased with the consistent brand and used J2's designs to help celebrate their 50th anniversary. The team's honest communication and organized project management enabled them to meet tight deadlines. ""They've developed plans, communicated when they needed more time, and really helped us push to meet tight deadlines."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position. I am a Director at The Philadelphia School Describe what your company does in a single sentence. We are a preschool 8th grade elementary school. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire J2 to accomplish? Brand Strategy Visual Identify Creative Execution **SOLUTION** How did you find J2? Other Why did you select J2 over others? High ratings Close to my geographic location Great culture fit Referred to me What was the size of J2’s team? 2-5 Employees Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables. Brand strategy, Brand development, visual identity, signage, product design, viewbook, support for website design, magazine development **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? consistent brand increase enrollment/retention celebrate 50th anniversary Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? Their project management has been one of the most solid parts; they've developed plans, communicated when they needed more time, and really helped us push to meet tight deadlines. What was your primary form of communication with J2? In-Person Meeting Virtual Meeting Email or Messaging App What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? They like to do work with companies that "do good". i.e. they help transform companies who have a cause (arts, education, non-profit). Are there any areas for improvement or something J2 could have done differently? At the beginning of the project, we needed to do more socializing of the "why" and "what" with our internal team. Eventually this was a hurdle we were able to overcome. --- ## Portfolio & Awards ### Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Whether you’re a nature lover or home gardener, an urban planner or land manager, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden wants everyone to grow native plants as a solution to our climate crisis. So our mission was clear; position the Garden as a model for environmental conservation and create a brand that helps them stand out and stand up for our planet. Leading with a contagious optimism that green thumbs can save us all, supported by provocative imagery connecting people to plants, the new brand harnesses the Garden’s vibrant energy and inspires each one of us to plant with purpose and protect our habitats, one native plant at a time. ### Kimmel Cultural Campus Branding When the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts opened in 2001, the city of Philadelphia had a brand new venue to celebrate, adding to the legacy of performing arts in our city. But awareness that the Academy of Music and Merriam Theater were also part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus was low. We were commissioned to help rebrand the Campus, unifying the venues and bringing the diversity of experiences to life. We did it through simple geometries reflecting the unique characteristics of each building. The result is a bold, elegant identity that celebrates the Kimmel Cultural Campus as a premier destination for the diverse communities of Philadelphia to experience transformative arts and culture. ### Union Square San Fransisco Union Square is at the heart of San Francisco, quite literally. It’s been around since 1850 and was ready to reinvent itself inside a city that was changing rapidly around it. In research and positioning, we looked to that storied past and embraced what the square represents to both global tourists and locals alike today. It all came down to a whole lot of everything in just a few square blocks. A vibrant neighborhood that earned its spot at the heart of one of the greatest cities we’ve got. We brought it all to life with a refined and equally boisterous brand identity and voice that spoke to the beautiful union of all the things in and around the square. ### Keystone Capsules Branding We’ll admit it, we didn’t even know wine capsules were a thing until we were introduced to our friends at Nathan Trotter, America’s largest manufacturer of tin. We did know that there was an opportunity to build a brand that felt like it spoke the same language as the great wine brands it capped. We took inspiration from the craft of both winemaking and tin capsules and all the dirty fingernails and molten tin that comes along with it. Together, we created a brand that has the refinement of a California Pinot and the tried and true accessibility of a Pennsylvania tin manufacturer. Keystone Capsules is now in a unique position to deliver the highest quality tin capsules to the US market. They bring state-of-the-art equipment, a dedication to service and speed, and two partner organizations that have been in the tin business for over 200 years. Together, they are rethinking sustainable tin capsules for the wine industry and J2 has been by their side to support their brand development help introduce them to the world.   ### Nationalities Service Center Rebrand As the leading immigrant and refugee service organization in Philadelphia, Nationalities Service Center empowers immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future. For their 100th anniversary, we embarked on a branding process to reinvigorate awareness, respect, and support for their organization. Rooted in deep discovery and inspired by textiles from around the world, the new identity celebrates our individual journeys and the strength we gain by standing together. ### Friends' Central School We leaned into the Quaker values on which Friends’ Central School was founded to build a brand that honors their history and emboldens their forward-thinking approach to education. Starting with positioning the school around the idea of being stronger together, we developed the mantra “We Go Further” to give the school community— faculty, staff and families— a shared rallying cry. United by the new shared mission and refreshed brand identity, Friend’s Central is now moving further as one of Philadelphia’s most sought-after Quaker educational institutions. ### Mural Arts Branding After 30 years leading the charge for public art in Philadelphia, it was time for the Mural Arts brand to catch up to its prolific output. Inspired by the people and the paint, we developed an identity that brings chaos to order and order to chaos. It’s all rooted in a mark inspired by graffiti, but refined and incredibly flexible. Around it is a vast exercise in how form and function can come together to create a brand experience that is both inspired by and supportive of the amazing artists it is here to serve. Because Mural Arts is about all of us, what we bring to it, and the simple fact that art can inspire change. ### The Philadelphia School With its 50th anniversary approaching, we helped The Philadelphia School find a renewed brand positioning along with a verbal and visual identity system representing the school today and where it hopes to go over the next 50 years. In the spirit of progressive education, we asked plenty of questions, and the entire community helped us find the answers to bring it all to life. Class is now in session. ### Love Park The LOVE statue (and the park it sits in) is one of the most iconic spaces in Philadelphia—which itself is a city of iconic places. We set out to make our city proud and deliver a flexible brand identity that spoke to locals and visitors alike. In doing so, we created a visual identity and personality that was as comfortable welcoming a food truck festival as a black-tie affair. The identity plays in the park across signage, advertising and even ping pong tables (bucket list checked). ### Asian Arts Initiative Rebrand In the heart of Philadelphia’s Chinatown lies a multidisciplinary arts center that has become a catalyst for community creation. The Asian Arts Initiative was looking for a brand reflecting their 25-year legacy of connecting cultural expression with social change. The result was a brand that encapsulated their role in the diverse experiences of the community and positioned them to continue making a difference in their own corner of the world. ### Arts + Business Council Branding Creativity and commerce. Not always the easiest pairing. But when the Arts + Business Council came knocking for a brand overhaul to align with their purpose to foster collaboration between Philadelphia’s creative and business communities, we knew they were up to something good. We built them a vibrant and inclusive identity capturing the intersection of art and commerce, inviting audiences to imagine what can happen when business and culture play nice. ### Clutch Awards - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_branding_company_philadelphia_2026.svg) - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_creative_agency_philadelphia_2026.svg) ### Industry Recognitions - Brand New: Best Noted Project / Mural Arts Rebrand - Silver Vetty - Suveto Let’s Vet Together Booth - Gold Judges Vetty - IndeVets Integrated Campaign - AIGA Philadelphia Design Award - Silver Cuprap Cuppie - AIGA Philadelphia Fresh Award - SEGD Honor Award - Professional Services Excellence Award ## Key Clients - Kimmel Cultural Campus ## Packages ## Locations (1) ### Philadelphia, PA (Headquarters) - 725 N. 4th street - Philadelphia, PA 19123 - United States - 10 - 15 employees - Phone: 2674792230 ## Contact J2 [Send a message](https://clutch.co/profile/j2) ### Connect on Social - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/j2-made/) - [X](https://twitter.com/J2made) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/j2made/)