Skyscrapers are not the only thing that’s reaching envious heights in Chicago. The city’s strong, diversified economy makes it a key player in a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing and IT to health services and risk management innovation. On the flip side, the multiple businesses thriving in the Windy City have created a crowded marketplace filled with challenges.
That’s why companies are continually looking for ways to differentiate themselves. As a result, choosing the right Chicago branding agency to promote your business is an absolute must. To help you with that, we compared many firms against our comprehensive evaluation criteria and created a list of the absolute best brand builders. Scroll down to find your perfect match.
The Leading Branding Companies in Chicago
Company | Services Offered | Average Hourly Rate | Learn More |
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| $100-149 | |
Fueled by optimism and driven by skilled individuals, Olive Street Design is an award-winning and nationally recognized web design agency. The diverse team works collaboratively to set your business for success through a full range of services. The firm has all the right tools and strategies to help you tackle your most ambitious goals. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Being around for over two decades, Rule29 has established a proven approach that yields the best results no matter the project nature. The team has all the tools and skills to help you extend your brand’s reach through smart strategy and sophisticated design. From ideation to execution, these Chicago branding experts will bring your vision to life seamlessly. | |||
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| $200-300 | |
Digital-AMMO takes pride in being one of the most prominent Chicago brand builders, cultivating a personalized approach, and digital excellence with every client interaction. The family-owned studio works with local, national, and international clients, delivering agency-grade experience without the agency price tag. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Artversion Chicago is a full-circle creative agency, designing outstanding experiences in print and digital form. The team marries experimental design with compelling storytelling to bring out brands’ most unique advantages. Equipped with diverse talent, proven tactics, and in-depth industry knowledge, this Chicago branding firm can help you launch your brand for success. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Mabbly Chicago is a collective of data-driven creatives who excel in crafting human-centric digital experiences. The agency can unlock your full business potential through insightful strategies, clean design, and impactful branding and marketing. Clients get personalized treatment and first-class service no matter the size of the project. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Pivot Design helps brands take off and soar in the ever-evolving market. This Chicago branding agency houses a multidisciplinary team that won’t let you look elsewhere for your branding, digital, and creative needs. Clients rave about its high professionalism and effective approach. Each project gets personalized attention for maximum business advantage. | |||
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| Undisclosed | |
Paragraphs crafts successful brands by marrying strategic insight with creative ingenuity. Established back in 1984, the agency has a stellar track record of growing brand awareness, revenues, and market shares for local and global clients. Honored with multiple awards and impressive reviews, rest assured that your project is in safe hands with Paragraphs. | |||
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| $100-149 | |
Although a relatively young company, VisualFrizz has managed to beat some longer-existing Chicago branding agencies thanks to its experienced team and unappalled commitment to help clients win. This full-service digital agency creates exceptional marketing and branding experiences that yield connections and profits. | |||
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| Undisclosed | |
Magnani innovates brand experiences, products, and services by leveraging imagination, human-centric design, and business strategy. The firm’s services cover three main disciplines: insight, innovation, and experience design. Consistently ranked among the top digital and UX agencies, Magnani boasts a decades-long track record of helping brands succeed in a crowded market. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
MonogramGroup has been building and redefining brands for maximum business performance since 1990. Over the past 30 years, this Chicago branding agency has driven stellar achievements for brands locally, nationally, and globally. The diverse and experienced team excels in helping clients discover their WOW factor and utilize it for the highest business advantage. | |||
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| Undisclosed | |
Avail Consultants is a full-circle digital consulting agency that utilizes the power of strategy and technology to generate business success. It’s also one of Chicago’s top branding firms. The team helps businesses discover unmet opportunities for capitalization on the present market through branding, marketing, design, and other creative services. | |||
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| $100-149 | |
Motion is an integrated marketing agency backed by 60 talented experts. Helping brands move forward since 2007, this Chicago branding firm has grown into one of the most prominent brand builders and marketers on the city’s scene. It offers an array of strategic, digital, creative, and PR services, making a reliable partner for growth through every stage of your business journey. | |||
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| $100-149 | |
Since its inception in 2005, Cultivate has developed a pragmatic approach to brand building. Backed by first-class practitioners, the firm has helped numerous brands amplify their revenues. From strategy, design, and development to all things creative, you can get your brand revamped, established, and promoted — all under one roof. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Yakkety Yak is a full-service digital marketing and branding company from Chicago that believes in the power of words. Creating engaging content is at the core of its work and a backbone to the array of services it offers. The team can navigate every stage of branding and marketing your business, generating the most effective results. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
The C.A. branding agency marries big ideas with smart tactics to generate more customers for its clients. By leveraging key insights, the agency can help you build a reputable image. In 2019, C.A.joined forces with the integrated agency JB Chicago, expanding its services. You won’t need to look elsewhere for your design, marketing, and advertising needs. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
JJR Marketing Inc. is one of the most reputable PR and branding companies from Chicago, helping B2B brands stand out in the competitive market. The team excels in creating greater buzz, brand awareness, leads sales — whatever it takes to help you reach higher peaks. Its solutions are designed to stir emotion, action, and results. | |||
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| $100-149 | |
Born in 2008 to “move brands with beauty, purpose, and impact,” Verve Marketing Group has grown into a one-stop-shop for all things creative, digital, and marketing. This award-winning agency blends strategy and innovation to help brands move forward and outshine the competition. | |||
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| Undisclosed | |
“Nobody cares about your brand” is the starting point of ColorJar Chicago as the agency looks to build champion brands. The team relies on meaningful insight, carefully crafted strategies, and breakthrough design to drive obsession around real estate brands and cultural destinations. It has been one of the leading Chicago branding agencies for over a decade with a proven recipe for success. | |||
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| $200-300 | |
As the name implies, this Chicago-based agency helps brands build an image that represents their true soul. Utilizing the power of strategic, human-oriented design, Soulsight enables brands to connect with target audiences on an emotional level. The team has been growing brands since 1997, helping multiple businesses reach significant market shares and profits. | |||
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| $150-199 | |
Symmetri specializes in creating memorable brand interactions for B2B outfits. Over the 15+ years, this branding agency from Chicago has been developing and upgrading its BrandRevealSM Process — a brand-building approach that marries data and strategy with creativity and emotion. The firm also provides services to promote and grow your business. | |||
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| $100-149 | |
Since 1992, Torque Digital has been helping brands and businesses stand out in the crowded real estate landscape. Strategically grounded and creatively driven, this experienced branding company from Chicago delivers first-class marketing services that drive growth and competitive advantage. | |||
Chicago: The City That Works
The third-largest city in the US supports the nation’s economy with an annual gross regional product (GRP) of over $609 billion. It’s a thriving economic powerhouse hosting over 400 major corporate headquarters, out of which 36 are Fortune 500 Companies. Boasting a rich industry mix, no single sector in Chicago employs more than 14% of the labor force.
The vast diversity in the business landscape has created fierce competition across all industry domains, resulting in high demand for distinctive branding in Chicago. Backed by prominent brand development companies, it’s among the best cities to start a small business in America, according to CNBC. Conveniently located between the European and Asian markets and the North American Free Trade zone, Chicago boasts unmet opportunities for both business giants and newcomers. It also offers one of the most balanced quality-of-life to cost-of-living ratios in the US.
The Demand for Quality Branding in Chicago
Chicago has seen incredible startup growth over the past decade or so. Tech is the city’s fastest-growing sector, with an average of 370 digital startups launched per year. With so many new players on the city’s diverse business scene, it’s hardly surprising that hiring an experienced Chicago branding agency is crucial for success.
While the San Francisco Bay Area holds the first place for startup success, PitchBook dug a bit deeper, comparing the returns on investment. Their research uncovered that The Windy City has provided the most significant ROI. More precisely, 45% of the city’s investments have poured 10 x ROI. For Bay Area businesses, the number stands at 25%.
In the greater Chicago Area, while the business climate remains bright and sunny for established national and international companies, and aspiring newcomers, the competition keeps rising. To stay relevant, you need to partner with some of the best branding agencies in Chicago that will keep you up-to-date and appealing to your target audience.
To thrive in Chicago’s competitive market, you also need to build a powerful online presence and promote your products and services through multiple channels. That’s why we bring you the best digital agencies in graphic design, web design, and digital marketing that can set your business up for success.
Top Graphic Design Firms in Chicago
🏆 Concentric Design
Concentric excels in all things design, from visual identity and web design, to graphic and print design. The company takes pride in being intentionally small and developing deep relationships with every client along the way. Aside from design, its capabilities span various disciplines, including Chicago branding, development, and social media.
🏆 Sharp Mill
Sharp Mill offers turn-key creative design with target audiences in mind. The company produces high-quality custom signage and vehicle graphics for any business. These graphic experts will come up with the right designs for your business needs and keep the process cost-efficient.
🏆 Artisan Launchpad
Artisan Launchpad is one of the top graphic design firms Chicago hosts. It’s also among the best branding firms in Chicago, being able to help small businesses thrive with an array of creative, branding, and marketing services. The agency utilizes a customized approach to match each client’s business goals with cutting-edge digital and print solutions.
Top Web Design Firms in Chicago
🏆 Educo
Educo has been delivering web design excellence since 2007. With 510+ web design and digital marketing projects under its belt, it’s among the best Chicago web design agencies with a proven track record of creating higher awareness and profits for clients. Whether you’re in Chicago, somewhere in the US or around the globe, Educo can set you up with a winning website.
🏆 Comrade Digital Marketing
Comrade is among the top digital marketing agencies and branding companies in Chicago. It boasts a multidisciplinary collective of designers, techies, and marketers who join forces to overcome the biggest challenges for their clients. The firm builds sites with performance and profits in mind. Its typical results include a 50% traffic and a 30% conversion increase.
🏆 Wojo Design
If you need a reliable designer to pair with your Chicago branding agency of choice, it’s worth considering Wojo Design. The team helps clients tackle their most ambitious marketing goals through modern design, quality programming, and effective online marketing. Boasting diverse talent and resources, the agency provides turn-key solutions for businesses big and small.
Top Digital Marketing Firms in Chicago
🏆 Ethervision
Ethervision offers the perfect blend of marketing services and technology. Fusing analytics, and custom software development with digital marketing, the company creates sustainable growth for brands and businesses of all domains and sizes. It’s also among the best branding companies in Chicago, praised for its hands-on personal approach and high responsiveness.
🏆 Youtech
What started as a small web design studio in 2012, has grown into a 48-expert strong digital powerhouse and top Chicago branding agency. Youtech gained recognition in the crowded digital landscape thanks to its commitment to treating each project like it’s the last. The firm can maximize your reach with sites that double as sales tools and effective marketing solutions.
🏆 Seed Factory
Seed Factory is an integrated marketing firm that utilizes the power of digital and traditional advertising, PR, design, and branding for clients’ highest advantage. It’s also among the leading branding companies in Atlanta. Thanks to many collaborations with local and national B2C and B2B brands, the team has developed unparalleled experiences across a range of industries.