We are a group of thinkers, planners, designers, and makers. United by the power of exploration, interrogation, collaboration, and inspiration to arrive at the insights, strategies, and actions required to allow companies and brands to become their best selves.
Our studio is led by master brand strategist Graceann Bennett, who has decades of experience running strategy for four major global ad agencies shaping brands such as Coca-Cola, Jack Daniels, Dove, McDonald's, VW, Coca-Cola, UPS, Four Seasons, WSJ, Guinness, The Mormon Church, & HAUS LABS by Lady Gaga. Graceann brings in world-class designers, writers, and content creators to design and beautifully execute her sharp strategies for a broad range of growth-oriented Playbook Studio clients across all industries.
From our experience, there’s not enough clarity and craft when it comes to creating winning strategies and executional action plans. We believe the best strategies provide the most inspiring and effective creative direction.
We turn strategies into tight executional action plans, or “playbooks” in which roles, responsibilities, and intended impact are clearly spelled out to inspire, inform, and direct.
These playbooks and digitally ready files can be executed with Playbook Partner Teams — spanning marketing programs, website development, content initiatives, etc. — or brought in-house for clients to use internally for maximum value and efficiency.
We offer both project-based and retained service models, typically doing a combination of both to help our clients execute and expand on the design systems and playbooks we've developed together.
$75,000+
$200 - $300 / hr
2 - 9
Founded 2018
Average Review Rating
4.8
Total Reviews
3
Most Common Project Size
Confidential
Average Referral Rating
5.0
/5
Focus
No data have been added yet...
Locations (2)
910 North Lake Shore DriveChicago, IL,
United States60611
9175455491
875 Washington StreetUnited States10014
9175455491
BrandingBusiness ConsultingDigital StrategyMarket Research
Confidential
Mar. - Dec. 2019
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"This was the smoothest branding project I've ever experienced."
May 1, 2023
Former Marketing VP, Lafayette 148 NY
Donna Faircloth
Retail
Brooklyn, New York
51-200 Employees
Online Review
Verified
A women's clothing retailer hired PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC to provide rebranding services. The team was also responsible for web design, advertising strategies, social media management, and packaging design.
PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC was able to define the company's brand story as a luxury apparel brand. The team was thoughtful and communicative, and internal stakeholders were particularly impressed with the vendor's receptiveness to feedback and ideas.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the VP Marketing of Lafayette 148 NY
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
Women's Clothing Design
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC to accomplish?
Create a compelling rebrand for L148, a 25 year old women's designer clothing company to establish it as a modern option for women ages 40+
SOLUTION
How did you find PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC?
Referral
Why did you select PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC over others?
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Referred to me
Company values aligned
What was the size of PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC’s team?
2-5 Employees
What was your primary form of communication with PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC?
In-Person Meeting
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
Guide the company and the creative team through a compelling brand identy discovery process that will set the 25 year old women's apparel company up for success for the next 25 years! Deliverables: Brand Definition including Mission, Values, Story, Pillars, Consumers, Wardrobe Elements Brand Identity including Look and Language Brand Execution for all pillars including, Website, Advertising, Social Media, Catalog, Packaging
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The development of a captivating brandbook that clearly states the brand story and defines where it sits in relationship to women's luxury apparel. A living document to be used internally (and occasionally externally with clients) as a tool to guide salespeople, design team members, organizational leadership and potential customers.
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
The project management was thoughtful, insightful, thorough, methodical. It had a 6 month timeline that was completed as planned. The project kicked off with in depth stakeholder interviews to ensure buy in from every level of the organization and following those initital conversations the project moved through development of Mission, Values, Brand Pillars, etc.
Playbook Studios created a cadence of longer weekly "workshop" meetings with the core team and monthly touchbases with Leadership to ensure that they were bought in to each of the key decisions being made along the way. This schedule fully allowed all levels of the company to particiapate on the journey.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
It was impressive how Playbook Studios could take in the various "opinions" from so many key players on the team and assimilate them into one look and feel that served the brand as a whole.
Are there any areas for improvement or something PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC could have done differently?
This was the smoothest branding project I've ever experienced - which says a lot because it was a very complex assignment. I honestly can't come up with anything that the Playbook team could have done better!
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Branding Services for Manufacturing Company
BrandingContent Writing ServicesCorporate PhotographyGraphic DesignLogoMarket ResearchVideo Production
Confidential
Sep. 2022 - Mar. 2023
4.5
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Their knowledge and expertise in branding were vast."
Apr 12, 2023
Director of Marketing, Manufacturing Company
Anonymous
Manufacturing
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 Employees
Online Review
Verified
A manufacturing company hired PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC for their branding services. After conducting qualitative research and workshops, the team refined the client's brand strategy and created a new brand playbook.
The company's new brand identity was well-received by their target audience. As a result, the client saw an increase in brand equity and social media engagement. The team utilized their in-depth knowledge and expertise to deliver quality results. They were also communicative, timely, and responsive.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Director of Marketing of (a/an) Manufacturing
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
We design and manufactures electronic components and solutions that connect humans and machines.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC to accomplish?
Refine brand strategy
Overhaul brand design
Hone brand language
SOLUTION
How did you find PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC?
Referral
Why did you select PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC over others?
Other
What was the size of PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC’s team?
6-10 Employees
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
Qualitative research and workshopping that led to a refined brand strategy for an 80-year-old company, culminating in a Brand Playbook for use in all aspects of company identity.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
New brand identity that has been well-accepted, even with 80-year history
Great increase in social media engagement
Expect increase in brand equity as a result of the refresh after all expressions planned
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Meetings weekly helped keep everyone on task for deliverables with a diverse team of Playbook experts and our internal team. Readily available to strategize whenever needed as our two groups shepherded this big lift to the finish line.
What was your primary form of communication with PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC?
In-Person Meeting
Virtual Meeting
Email
Messaging App
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Their knowledge and expertise in branding were vast. The quality of subject matter experts (designer, copy writer, market researcher) was also top-notch.
Are there any areas for improvement or something PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC could have done differently?
Aligning on clarity of scope with outside partners has been a lesson learned by all of us on the project.
RATINGS
4.5
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"Excellent brand strategy firm providing a boutique experience not available from a large agency
Website Design for Educational Organization
BrandingGraphic DesignLogoWeb Design
Confidential
Jan. 2021 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
''Their leadership, intelligence, and verve are unique.''
May 8, 2023
Chair, EPIC-N
Joel Rogers
Education
Madison, Wisconsin
Online Review
Verified
An educational organization has hired PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC for website design. They take care of designing templates and texts and serve as a marketing counsel.
PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC's work has helped the client grow the quality and reach of their educational program. PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC is a prompt and responsive team that uses in-person and virtual meetings for communication. The client also praises their leadership and intelligence as a partner.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Chair of EPIC-N
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
Promotes and improves application of the EPIC Model of university-community engagement.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC to accomplish?
Fix our website and other communications
SOLUTION
How did you find PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC?
Referral
Why did you select PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC over others?
High ratings
How many teammates from PLAYBOOK STUDIO LLC were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
