Substance Agency Logo

Substance

About the company

Chicago, IL
Founded: 2005
1+ Empl.

A brand strategy firm first. NOT just design. We help brands tell their stories with depth and authenticity. What’s your story? That’s the question at the heart of great branding. What is it about you that is uniquely yours and sets you apart from everyone else? We ask the hard questions. Once we’re done, your brand and the work are better for it. Let’s build a brand together.

A brand strategy firm first. NOT just design. We help brands tell their stories with depth and authenticity. What’s your story? That’s the question at the heart of great branding. What is it about you that is uniquely yours and sets you apart from everyone else? We ask the hard questions. Once we’re done, your brand and the work are better for it. Let’s build a brand together.

A brand strategy firm first. NOT just design. We help brands tell their stories with depth and authenticity. What’s your story? That’s the question at the heart of great branding. What is it about you that is uniquely yours and sets you apart from everyone else? We ask the hard questions. Once we’re done, your brand and the work are better for it. Let’s build a brand together.

Contact Substance

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Services

BrandingMarketing StrategyWeb DesignMarket Research

Industries

RetailE-commerceInformation technologyAdvertising & marketingBusiness servicesHospitality & leisureMedicalNon-profit

Portfolio

AFC Change the Story Campaign

AIDS Foundation of Chicago has been a leader in the fight against AIDS in Illinois for over 25 years. To create awareness and promote fundraising, AFC hired Substance to develop an online and print campaign targeting current and lapsed donors. We came up with the theme “Change the Story” to show how joining AFC in their fight against AIDS can affect measurable and powerful outcomes. The art direction leads readers to expect a sports or news story, but a statistic about HIV/AIDS provides a powerful and memorable twist to get them engaged.To view the full case study visit: https://isubstance.com/portfolio-items/aids-foundation-of-chicago/

Branding & Graphic Identity for School District

Substance provided branding and graphic design for a school district. They created a graphic identity, including unique school logos tied to the district’s branding, and provided design updates and additions.

Branding Services for Nonprofit Organization

Substance was hired to guide the rebranding process of a nonprofit organization. They created a new name for the organization, the client’s visual identity, and the brand’s guidelines.

C2C: The Google Cloud Community

C2C brings together Google Cloud customers from around the globe to share ideas, insights, and strategies in a space that’s built for authentic, peer-to-peer cloud conversation. We developed the name, logo, website, and visual identity for this brand.

Reviews ( 14 )

Overall rating

5

14 Reviews

Expertise

5

Accuracy of Cost Estimates

4.79

Value for Money

4.79

Communication

5

Accuracy of Timeline

5

Revolutionary Website Development Experience with Substance

Published: January 8, 2024

The Project

Web Design

Completed

Oct 2023 - Jan 2024

25000-50000 USD

anonymous

Anonymous

Founder

Confidential

2 - 9 employees

Overall rating

5

Expertise

5

Accuracy of Cost Estimates

4

Communication & Responsiveness

5

Accuracy of Timeline

5

Value for Money

4

Willingness to Refer

10/10

Summary

Working with Substance on our website design and development project was a fantastic experience. They not only delivered a high-quality website that impressed our clients, but also showed a dedication to excellence and a willingness to go the extra mile.

Project Description

Our partnership with Substance was a game-changer in our online presence. They brought fresh ideas and a professional approach to our website project, making it a seamless and successful experience.

Pros

Their innovative design concepts and exceptional professionalism truly set them apart. They were flexible in working with us and always went above and beyond to meet our needs.

Cons

One area for improvement could be to challenge us even more creatively. At times, they were almost too eager to please us, which may have limited their potential.

Switched from another provider?

yes

Considered other providers?

yes

Revamping the Branding Experience

Published: October 11, 2023

The Project

Branding

Completed

Nov 2022 - Oct 2023

anonymous

Anonymous

VP of Corporate Communications

Financial services

50 - 249 employees

Overall rating

5

Expertise

5

Accuracy of Cost Estimates

5

Communication & Responsiveness

5

Accuracy of Timeline

5

Value for Money

5

Willingness to Refer

10/10

Summary

In summary, working with Substance has been a fantastic experience. Their ability to adapt to changing priorities, their dedication to meeting deadlines, and their creative approach to branding have made them an invaluable partner in our success.

Project Description

I discovered Substance through a trusted recommendation, and their close proximity to my location made them the perfect fit for our corporate rebrand project. Their team of 2-5 employees guided us through the process of renaming our company, creating a new logo and brand guide, developing messaging, producing promotional materials, and providing valuable insights on website design.

Pros

Substance impressed me with their flexibility, responsiveness, and ability to deliver on time. Their creative approach blended seamlessly with their strong project management skills, resulting in a successful long-term partnership. They have consistently gone above and beyond to customize materials to meet our specific needs.

Cons

I have zero complaints about Substance’s work over the past 10 years. They have consistently exceeded our expectations and have been a valuable partner in our branding efforts.

Switched from another provider?

yes

Considered other providers?

yes

Revamp of Nonprofit's Online Presence

Published: November 30, 2022

The Project

Web Design

Completed

Jun 2022 - Nov 2022

25000-50000 USD

anonymous

Anonymous

Co-Founder

Confidential

2 - 9 employees

Overall rating

5

Expertise

5

Accuracy of Cost Estimates

5

Communication & Responsiveness

5

Accuracy of Timeline

5

Value for Money

5

Willingness to Refer

10/10

Summary

Substance’s work on our nonprofit’s website was highly praised by our donors and applicants. The workflow was effective, simple, and enjoyable. We appreciated Substance’s personalized approach and commitment to our project.

Project Description

I was referred to Substance during my previous job in Chicago, and we decided to work with them again from our new location in Montana. They understood our needs and focused on recreating our site pages to meet our requirements.

Pros

Various stakeholders praised the new site for its warm and user-friendly design. Substance was quick to respond to emails and maintained a personable attitude throughout the project. They truly felt like a partner in the process.

Cons

None

Switched from another provider?

yes

Considered other providers?

yes

Revamping School District's Visual Identity

Published: June 1, 2021

The Project

Completed

Jun 2020 - May 2021

25000-50000 USD

anonymous

Anonymous

Director of Communications

Education

50 - 249 employees

Overall rating

5

Expertise

5

Accuracy of Cost Estimates

5

Communication & Responsiveness

5

Accuracy of Timeline

5

Value for Money

5

Willingness to Refer

10/10

Summary

Working with Substance on our school district’s branding and graphic design project was a seamless and rewarding experience. Their dedication to understanding our goals and delivering exceptional results set them apart as a valuable partner in our visual identity journey.

Project Description

I collaborated with Substance through a rigorous Request for Proposals process to revamp our school district’s visual identity. They closely worked with us to understand our branding goals and provided a range of design options for our top leadership and Board of Education to consider. Substance crafted unique school logos that tied into our overall district-wide branding, and delivered various logo formats and a style guide. Over the years, we have continued to collaborate with Substance for updates and additions to the original work.

Pros

Substance’s creativity, accessibility, and flexibility were truly impressive. Matt, the owner, was always attentive and solution-oriented, providing thoughtful responses to any challenges we brought to him. Their work was consistently well-executed and completed in a timely manner, showcasing their commitment to our project.

Cons

I did not encounter any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently. Substance’s approach to our project was thorough and met all our expectations, leaving no room for any negative feedback.

Switched from another provider?

yes

Considered other providers?

yes

Offices

Headquarter

Chicago, 4705 North Spaulding Avenue

Area served

WorldWide

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