Small, but mighty.
As a creative studio driven by editorial-style storytelling, the process of getting to know our clients is where we find our strongest sense of inspiration. While some founders want to start by showing us brands they admire—and those references can be helpful—we ultimately return to the personal stories of the individuals or teams behind a business and the why that motivates them to show up to work.
Typically, we find that business owners underestimate the qualities that make them distinct in their industry. By taking a closer look at their values and best practices, we often reveal layers of context and intention we never knew were there. And when we can successfully encourage our clients to lean into the humanity of their brands—that’s where the magic happens.
So for this Cognoscenti Quarterly, we’re rounding up a few local, independent businesses that have truly surprised us in the creative process. We’ve spent many hours teasing out what makes each of these brands special, and so much of it comes down to the personal values and perspectives of each of their founders. For us, the greatest satisfaction is knowing that these individuals have a beautiful, engaging new way to present their work—something that lives up to the standards they’ve set for themselves all along.
POSITIVE SUM
Denver, Colorado
After spending more than two decades in the world of hospitality, client Austin Carson found himself drawn to a different kind of food media. Rather than letting the same limited roster of press-savvy chefs, restaurateurs and farmers dominate the publishing and TV industries, he sought to create a grassroots platform for celebrating the lesser-known (if arguably more impactful) professionals he most admires. In turn, he founded Positive Sum to help create mutually beneficial partnerships that elevate the stories of visionary leaders across the food, hospitality and agriculture sectors. We were thrilled to support the launch of this new concept with a modern logo design, vision-setting language and a Squarespace website that would set the foundation for Positive Sum’s evolution.
KERRY PATTERSON
Boulder, Colorado
With more than two decades of experience in the field of mental health, Nurse Practitioner Kerry Patterson had already established a following as a trusted psychopharmacology resource. Yet when her own life experiences led her to explore a certification in Love Coaching, she found herself struggling to clearly express both sides of her evolving business. We helped this multi-dimensional practitioner develop a unified brand identity for her first public-facing website, while still successfully differentiating her Psychopharmacology and Truth + Desire Coaching services within that cohesive framework.
Photography credit: Mimi McCormick
B&B
Denver, Colorado
After 25+ years of business, design-build firm Basements & Beyond had outgrown its original business model. Given their specialization in historic homes and complex structural remodels, the company’s current online presence wasn’t attracting their ideal clients, and they were debating whether (or how) to change their name. In collaboration with owner Wes Cooper, we spearheaded a comprehensive rebrand as “B&B,” including a refined visual identity and compelling copywriting that differentiates the company’s approach in a crowded market. Soon to come—a brand new website, including a more curated portfolio of featured projects!
Photography credit: Amanda Proudfit
TELLER STREET CONSTRUCTION
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
An experienced contractor and project manager, Andrew Seck saw an opportunity to improve the transparency, expectation-setting and work environment in residential construction. After operating as Teller Street Construction for the past year, he asked us to help bring these values to light through a visual brand refresh and core brand messaging. We loved the neighborhood feeling of his existing street lamp logo, which we refined with more elevated fonts and balanced proportions. On the messaging side, we were excited to underscore the inherent humanity of Andrew's refreshing approach, which we'll be continuing to showcase with the buildout of a new website for his company.
EDITORIAL: HEAD FOR THE HILLS
Edible Denver
“When the thermometer creeps past 90 and the city air is heavy with smog, you know it’s time for a trip to the Foothills. Yet while many of us have spent countless hours hiking, running, paddling or shade-seeking in the mountains that define our western skyline, we more rarely head ‘up the hill’ in search of a memorable meal. So this summer, we’ve rounded up a few higher-elevation edible adventures—just a stone’s throw from some of the state’s most scenic parks, lakes and trails.”
