Smith + Connors

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications at a professional carpenters union. We represent 28,000 members in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

What challenge were you trying to address with Smith + Connors?

We were producing our annual magazine and needed a partner that could help us expedite the process. Our group also needed help around organizational content as we conveyed a new brand in a clean and simplified way. This was to ensure our members feel proud and informed as they received information from the union.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smith + Connors produced a 44-page magazine that had to be mailed to more than 40,000 households on a tight timeline. To do this, we initially had conversations with the team to help them understand what we were trying to convey. 

Our team then provided them with the imagery and stories that we had in mind, asking them to organize our ideas in a way that made sense. While we created the bulk of the magazine’s content, they also produced some content. The team also handled the strategy, design, and production of the magazine. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Talie (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and Selena (Producer), who were our primary points of contact. We also worked with at least two other people along the way, including Madison (Designer). 

How did you come to work with Smith + Connors?

Smith + Connors was recommended to me by another firm. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from June–August 2021. 

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

The magazine was extremely well-received, and all the feedback was positive. People were super impressed with its layout and content. 

How did Smith + Connors perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with Smith + Connors was easy. They were helpful and supportive despite our stressful and tight timeline. On top of that, they were strategic. They added much capacity to our team and allowed us to deliver this key annual communication piece on time and with great results. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were humble and human. Smith + Connors was a great firm; their team members didn’t have a big ego, and that kept things simple. Overall, they were fantastic, and I’d use them again. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and open. In our engagement, we were honest with what we needed from Smith + Connors and with our limitations and challenges. As a result, they were able to be more supportive. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at a philanthropic institution.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

We worked with Smith + Connors to create an interactive web presentation of a project for which we wanted to share findings/outcomes.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We had worked with Smith + Connors previously. We were familiar with them and confident in their work.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The project entailed Smith + Connors translating the content of a meaty and wordy report document into a simple, web-based presentation. We met with the team initially to provide background on the project for which the report was written and to help provide the narrative story behind why we did the things we did.

Next, S+C provided some "boards" that provided some visual concepts and a few possible design directions we could go around images, color, themes. We worked closely with the team to find the right visual concepts for the story we were trying to tell. Additionally, we worked on copy that would more concisely capture content in a slide format, increasing narration but minimizing words on the slides.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with five members of the team including the firm owners, designers, and account manager.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The ultimate result was a presentation that well-represents, both in look and feel, the project. The images and click-through graphics mirror the approach around storytelling that we wanted to achieve and were visually gorgeous.

Our goal was to make it as interactive with the viewer as possible, but our budget limited the ability to achieve that to the degree we were hoping for. While S+C offered us some potential options to achieve the interactivity we wanted, we ultimately chose to go the route we did.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I was very happy with the process that S+C utilized to get us through the process. There were clear deadlines, regular meetings, excellent communication between meetings. The team came prepared with their deliverables at each meeting. They were good listeners and very amenable to modifications, as well as providing critical feedback to help us make the right decisions.

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

They were such a good fit for the story we were trying to convey, in part because the approach we took in the project is, I believe, one they they support in their organization as well. It requires removing the sense of urgency, breathing through challenging moments and tasks, being inclusive of many ideas, and supporting diverse approaches. We shared values that truly added to the ease of working with Smith + Connors and the quality of the end project.

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

No, I feel that we really benefitted from working with them!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is Hearken. I was the co-founder and, up until recently, the CEO. Now, I’m the SVP of global partnership. Under the SVP position, I work on branding and how we show up in the world. 

Hearkin is a consulting and technology company that enables more participation with whoever our clients’ stakeholders are. We’re a B2B2C business that works with different industries, such as civic organizations, journalism outlets, and higher education institutions. 

We essentially help institutions that are at a further distance than they’d like to be from the people they serve. We help them create processes and operationalize better communication with the people they serve. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Smith + Connors?

We’re a startup and still fairly new — we’re about five years old. Over the years, we had many different looks as we grew as a company. We also merged with another company, and we wanted to figure out how we could realign our brand, look, feel, messaging, and mission statement. 

We’re just a small company with a small budget to have a design team on staff or have retainers on graphic design and branding. As a result, we were also conscious of getting the “ingredients” of branding and receiving guidance on its do’s and don'ts to evolve the brand without asking Smith + Connors to do everything.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their work was mainly a branding project, and they did a lot of different work for us. Smith + Connors also designed new templates for our sales, such as proposal templates, as well as deliverables for a final report that we send to our clients. 

The team also created collaterals, such as greeting cards, buttons, and business cards, as well as useful elements for iconography that we could design and work with by ourselves. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with around four people but interfaced with three people for the most part. We worked with a project manager and Talie (Creative Director & Partner), who worked as a senior strategist. We also worked with Rebecca (Technology Director), who was the designer. 

Those were the three we mostly interfaced with. They’re a collaborative company, so they’d take ideas to the rest of their group. 

How did you come to work with Smith + Connors?

I was introduced to Smith + Connors through another organization that I’m part of. The executive director had known about and worked with Smith + Connors at some point. She was also a startup founder and found that the team was great to work with. 

Their team did all the branding and collateral for this convention we had in 2017, and they knocked it out of the park from the logo and the IDs to the notebooks and bags. They were phenomenal, so I chalked it in the back of my brain. 

When we could afford to hire an organization to do a branding refresh for my company, Smith + Connors was the obvious choice. They were so fantastic. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere in the ballpark of $25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June–September 2020. 

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

It’s been really fun. People loved working with the templates they created. My colleagues said that it was so easy, and every idea they put looked much more professional because the templates were well-designed. 

Then, we’ve had clients do repeat engagements with us and ask whether we could give them reports like the one we did last time. That wasn’t only because of the information we provided; it was also because of the layout, charts, and designs — it wasn’t a boring white paper. The reports were lovely and good to interact with in terms of information intake. 

Other people with whom we’ve shared some of the deck asked us about our designers. I’ve sent a few people to Smith + Connors’ way because they were really in love with the vibe of what the team created.  

Smith + Connors really helped us from a foundational level and not just in adjusting visuals. They started with the heart of what we do, and then everything flowed up from there. They gave us a great and strong foundation for thinking about who we were today. 

There’s really nothing on the branding, vision, mission, personality, and visual design front that I can’t trust them to take on. They’re great. 

How did Smith + Connors perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was great. Smith + Connors was always on it. We had weekly meetings, and they set up a Google site for us. Every week, they’d publish their latest updates and what they were working on next.

They’d then give us a real roadmap for the kind of feedback to give them, which was really useful. They’d tell us whenever we had feedback rounds and give us specific prompts, such as what we were looking for, what we were responding to, and what wasn’t working for us. It was less of telling them what we think and more of circling the elements we were responding to. 

They were also really helpful in giving us things we can use by ourselves. We benefited from the creativity and minds of additional people there, but we didn’t get overwhelmed by too many cooks in the kitchen. 

From a design perspective, they also taught us how to not start from scratch. They guided us to link together different elements from our branding and outward-facing personality into something that felt coherent and fresh. 

Everything was also editable and on Google Docs, which was really useful because we’re a global and distributed company. We are trying to get away from using Keynote and other tools so that everyone could have visibility and change things easily. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were expert listeners, and I felt they were an extension of our team. I didn’t have to constantly bring them back and tell them their output didn’t align with our brand. We accepted everything they sent us. 

I’m someone who comes from a visual design background. I haven’t pursued it for a long time, but I have a sensibility and opinions on things. I was just so impressed that I didn’t need to give them a ton of direction because they did such a good job listening every step of the way. 

The whole path was process-oriented. Their team did a ton of listening in their intake process. I remember asking them to send me a list of the questions they asked since we’d like to do the same intake process with our clients. Their questions ranged from the reason behind what we were doing to how we preferred to be contacted, and the platform we should be communicating on. 

Smith + Connors spent so much of the intake process listening and getting a sense of who we were and what we wanted to build instead of telling us what we needed to do. They were always catering to our tendencies and needs. It was a lovely process where they listened to us most of the time. 

Customers would hope that most design firms were this way, but many of those firms are more visual than verbal. They excel at visual communication, but they’re not great at the verbal side of things and articulating ideas with words. Smith + Connors can do both beautifully.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I just wish I had a bigger budget so I could pull Smith + Connors in for everything we ever do, but I know that’s not realistic. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Plan on spending a nice amount of time upfront and share thoughts, your plans, your strategies, and anything you’ve made before, so they can get a sense of where you’re coming from and where you want to go. That’ll give Smith + Connors the best chance of deeply understanding what you’re going for. 

You can’t expect them to breeze over your site and just give you a few examples. They really want to get your depth and foundational mission so that the team can align things with it. Everything has a reasoning behind it, too, and they’re not just picking the “in” or popular colors or shape — they’re not there to make you look like any other brand. They’re there to make you feel more like yourself. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the managing members for a boutique hotel in the Pacific Northwest.

What challenge were you trying to address with Smith + Connors?

At the time, we were launching our brand and we were trying to figure out what our brand voice was going to be. We brought in Smith + Connors to help us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with naming, logo design, and branding. They led us through a variety of exercises to help understand what our brand would be saying to customers. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with the two principals. 

How did you come to work with Smith + Connors?

I’ve known them through mutual connections, and I worked with them previously. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2013 – April 2014.

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

A lot of people have said that our branding is top-notch. They perfectly captured what we were doing as a company. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback on our brand voice. 

How did Smith + Connors perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated through email and over the phone. They led a very organized and professional process. They presented us with several options for branding and were receptive when we were unsure about what direction we wanted to go. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I felt really confident in the process because they listened to us and led us through the process seamlessly. They extracted the correct information from us and came up with a creative and concise way of presenting it. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I feel like they did a really great job, and they delivered more than I expected. They were great communicators. Some of our partners were unsure during the process, but Smith + Connors was accomodating in giving them what they needed to feel confident in their decision. In the future, they could explain their process more thoroughly, especially when working with new clients. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Be communicative as a client and explain any concerns that you have. If you’re clear about your feelings, they’ll be able to respond. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

We do hands-on, purpose driven strategic investing in the healthcare market.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors, and what were your goals?

We need to re-fresh our website and collateral to be more modern, functional and representative of our brand.

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed multiple vendors and liked their customized approach, comprehensive model and attention to detail.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

To start, they worked with our team to understand our goals and our mission. They spent time understanding why we had made initial decisions about our brand and helped us to understand areas that we should keep and where we should make adjustments. The team then took us through multiple revisions and drafts across all of our collateral assets. They made it easy for us to update material and information.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with 5-6 different people on the team who ranged from CEO, head of design, head of website launch, and a project manager.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have a whole new set of assets including our website, logo for social, letterhead, business cards, and brand books. The team also created brand guides and printing guides for us. We have received lots of positive feedback on how clean and modern the brand is as it is a better reflection of who we are.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They had an assigned PM who helped us through the process, used dropbox and Google docs and helped us with ongoing timelines.

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

They were committed to quality, meeting our needs, and supporting our decisions throughout the process.

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

I like having a full view of the project at every meeting so I can understand where we are the process. I do feel like they could work on that piece but their deliverables are excellent!

Please describe your company and your position there.

Meyer Memorial Trust is an equity based foundation in Oregon. I am the senior communications specialist.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

In 2021, Smith + Connors helped to brand our Justice Oregon for Black Lives initiative, worked in partnership with us to share our DEI journey with external audiences and helped us to visualize key elements of our strategic framework.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have an ongoing relationship with Smith + Connors and consider them a trusted and valuable partner.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

What I value most about working with Smith + Connors is that they are excellent communicators. From the initial discovery phase to timeline and deliverables, they are clear, efficient, creative and responsive. They really listen and are able to incorporate feedback.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Generally, we work with the owner, a designer and a project manager. For web projects, we have additional technical support.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We are always please with the high standard of design that Smith + Connors produces.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent project management is a hallmark of this firm.

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

I am most impressed by their collaborative approach and their ability to flex and adapt to challenges. At the end of the day, Smith + Connors always comes through.

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

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the creative director of a creative fabrication agency and workshop.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

We hired Smith + Connors to help us redesign the architecture of our website for future growth and build-out. We had S+C help us refine our message, brand voice and story telling strategy.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were looking for a team who had deep knowledge and a friendly communication style. A team that is easy to work with and able to meet our needs at any level.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We started with a discovery phase and all meetings were held virtually. We analyzed the current site and client base and discussed how we want clients to interact and use the site moving forward. After discovery, the S+C team moved into a strategy phase and designed the architecture and flow of the new site.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had a project manager, a technical expert, designer, and strategy manager. Three of the four team members working with us are owners of the company which made us feel valued and as though we were working with the best possible talent.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We came away with a well designed plan and strategy for the website that will help us communicate our strengths and tell our story in a more relevant way.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was easy to work with and communicated effectively. Virtual meetings can be tricky and the S+C team was always engaged and present in all our meetings. They listened to our feedback and made changes in real-time - sometimes mid-meeting during the calls.

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

I really thought it was great that S+C has experts in all the necessary fields - technology, design and strategy. The customer service account manager was friendly, responsive, professional and energetic about our project.

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

I really enjoyed all aspects of the project - hopefully when the pandemic restrictions ease up they will be able to continue in-person meetings which always seem to be more creative and inspirational.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of communication for the Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS). The WCCLS represents 13 libraries in 16 locations in Washington County, Oregon.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

We hired S&C for a brand refresh, which included a redesign of our website (yet to be completed). We subsequently hired them to provide graphic design services for us through June 2021.

What were your goals for this project?

Our brand elements were dated, poorly conceptualized and dated. We wanted a more up-to-date brand that emphasized our progressive and innovative culture and service portfolio. Once we saw what they created for us, we wanted to continue our relationship with them so we can update and improve our digital and print assets.

How did you select Smith + Connors?

I had vetted and hired S&C to do a full website redesign where I was previously employed. I was so impressed and pleased with their work and their approach that I wanted to use them again when I was hired by WCCLS.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Brand refresh, which included logos, wordmarks, typography, color palette. Website redesign, which included new homepage and interior page designs. This has not yet been completed by our internal network team.

What was the team composition?

Talie Smith, Becca Connors, Stephen Forbush.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We are ecstatic about how they elevated our graphics and branding. The leadership team involved with providing feedback to the S&C team was effusive in their praise for how they captured our branding goals and brought them to fruition. We are looking forward to being able to benefit from their work for the next 14 months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. No issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We love their creativity, fresh, clean graphic signature, expertise and knowledge of their field. Plus, they're fun to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that we've experienced to date.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of a handful of local food carts/ brick and mortar vegetarian restaurants

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

By the time I'd engaged with Smith + Connors, I'd already been in business for 14 years with a tired logo and overall outdated business design. I was needing a rebrand so hired them to take me through the process

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to freshen up the brand, add some style to the signage and present a menu and logo design that would accurately reflect the character of the business

How did you select Smith + Connors?

I met Talie randomly and chatted for a long time about her company and vision. After listening to her thoughts and ideas I was inspired to hire them to sharpen our identity

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They were initially hired to redesign our logo, menu and signage. After those successes I additionally had them work up gift cards, tee-shirts, business cards and other random bits we needed

What was the team composition?

I worked with both principals

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Once the menu was redesigned, there was plenty of favorable feedback on the clarity and playfulness of the new look. The re-brand was more reflective of our company and general essence of our business. This has endured years later. The tee-shirts they created sold easily and were a real hit with our customers. The design was brilliant and really nailed the look and feel of our company

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I was sent regular updates of the project(s) and my feedback was readily absorbed and responded to within a day or two. The flow was easy and never felt frenzied or murky

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Initially, they took a lot of concentrated time getting to know the soul of the business. They asked meaningful questions that allowed them to focus in on the best design, font, materials etc for the company. Their ideas and concepts captured the heart of the business in a way that exceeded my expectations

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Vice President of Communications, hired by Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) to reimagine the Foundation's brand and communications strategy. OCF is Oregon's largest statewide philanthropy - deploying more than $110M annually in charitable gifts to those in Oregon who need it most. Through research, grantmaking, programs, and advocacy we're helping to improve lives for all Oregonians.

For what projects/services did your company hire Smith + Connors?

Comprehensive brand strategy and implementation - from research, design, web UX, and customer experience implementation.

What were your goals for this project?

Reposition the foundation to be more relevant and accurately reflect our work.

How did you select Smith + Connors?

Referral from a trusted colleague.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Brand strategy, competitive landscape analysis, visual redesign/logo development, web dev/design/UX.

What was the team composition?

Smith + Connors' principals were all involved and embedded in my OCF team for a deep collaborative engagement.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The rebrand came at a critical time for the foundation, as we were pivoting into a new strategic plan and re-organization - the brand update aided in one of our primary goals to increase awareness and inspire philanthropy throughout the state.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were essentially an extension of my team and we worked synergistically throughout the entire scope of work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are terrific listeners, strategists, and technicians who are passionate about their work and our mission. It was a seamless, creative, and innovative project that delivered remarkable results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had some initial production and process gaps, but they addressed them with new staff. Ad-hoc projects are a bit pricey, so we tend to use them primarily when we need 'big picture' and high design inputs.