Illustrating the value of research
As a research partner to major government entities and non-profits, NORC produces volumes of data with a far-reaching impact on public policy and society. NORC asked Smith Design to help bring this data to life in its 2011 Annual Report... more >>
Connecting employees worldwide
Ask an ITW employee where he or she works, and you’ll hear "Miller," "Avery," "Hobart"—or any of the 800 brands that comprise ITW across 57 countries. Employees strongly identify with their brand and geographic location, and not necessarily with ITW... more >>
Alternatives for small, specialized reports
A smaller entity within a larger organization often has its own reporting needs. The Nursing Department of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital had stories, data and goals to report—apart from the hospital—that support the prestigious Magnet designation it earned...more >>
What does it mean to reach 100 years?
ITW has relied on Smith for many years to create annual reports that capture the interest of investors and financial analysts and answer critical questions about the company's performance. When it reached its 100-year anniversary... more >>
Polishing your corporate image
Many people have never heard of ITW, a 100-year-old, leading business-to-business industrial manufacturer with over 800 brands under its belt. Even less well known is that ITW is making a concerted effort to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint... more >>
Repositioning through redesign
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's health and fitness centers are luxurious, state-of-the-art facilities with a vast range of classes and amenities. But you wouldn't have known that by looking at the website... more >>
History as a marketing tool
Telling the story of an organization’s past can provide a competitive advantage, especially after a major organizational change. When Lake Forest Hospital—a 110-year-old, independent community hospital... more >>
Giving thanks in a bold way
Instead of plugging your products on a billboard, sometimes it's good business to promote your gratitude. As ITW celebrated its 100-year history, it took a meaningful step to thank those that made it all possible—its employees. For this Fortune 200 company... more >>
An exhibit company gets its own look
Smith has relied on the ingenuity and fine craftsmanship of EDE, a trade show, museum and architectural company, to help bring many concepts to life for our clients. So we were delighted and flattered when they asked us to redesign their own collateral and online presence... more >>
Fabricating stories through build outs
When one of our favorite vendors came to us for marketing help, we jumped at the chance to help showcase their incredible craftsmanship and creativity. EDE Corporation offers comprehensive fabrication services for exhibit projects... more >>
Fresh purpose for a favorite project
A point of pride at NORC, one of the top academic research firms, is the large wall exhibits, designed by Smith, that adorn their Chicago headquarters. The exhibits' vivid photography and intriguing stories... more >>
Tapping into testimonials
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital has one of the region's largest networks of diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CAT scans) testing. And unlike many in-hospital labs, the centers offer fast appointments and results, digital technology, easy parking, and staff with... more >>
Targeting the health care decision-makers
With information overload arriving in consumer's mailboxes every day, it was essential that Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's quarterly Health Report magazine be useful and informative. Background research suggested that educated... more >>
Combined Strengths Ad Campaign
When Lake Forest Hospital merged with Northwestern Memorial Hospital, some Lake County residents expressed concern that their local community hospital would lose its homegrown culture of care. To communicate the benefits of the merger—same hospital... more >>
Insight Illuminated
The goal of this project was to utilize site-specific environmental branding exhibits to create a strong, unified brand identity throughout the interior of the NORC office... more >>
Real stories +
compelling stats =
greater support
A long-time client, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, asked Smith to take over their 2010 Dean’s Vision—a publication indispensable to their recruitment and fundraising efforts... more >>
Finding
Your Way
How many of us have been frustrated, confused and lost when wayfinding signage has led us astray? This phenomenon occurs regularly in buildings, on highways, across cities, in train and bus stations, throughout airports—anywhere where people need to find their way... more >>
More than you would expect
For this annual report, the objective was to showcase the exceptional physicians, top-ranked care and clinical expertise found at Lake Forest Hospital. With Lake County residents often still choosing... more >>
Balancing naming and design
Rafael Vinoly's award-winning design for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business included a stunning winter garden and state-of-the-art facilities. It also paid tribute to the university's gothic tradition... more >>
Patient-Focused
The hospital's original site was bogged down with dated "one size fits all" medical information and detail, making it hard for visitors to locate basic information such as staff physicians... more >>
Do your walls work as hard as you do?
Look around at the open spaces in your organization. Are you missing opportunities to extend or reinforce your brand? Smith transformed several blank walls within the University of Chicago’s Harper Center with vivid, life-size portraits of donors, alumni and faculty... more >>
A promise to LiveWell
Lake Forest Hospital holds a special niche, increasingly rare in healthcare: the personalized feel that you might expect at a community hospital in Illinois' most exclusive residential area, with the cutting-edge services and staff of a larger, urban academic research hospital... more >>
An Exclusive Position in the Marketplace
190 South LaSalle's anchor tenant—Mayer, Brown & Platt—decided to move to a brand-new office building in the spring of 2005. This decision created an enormous vacancy for 190 South LaSalle, and posed a serious leasing challenge to the ownership... more >>
A Virtual Front Office
Smith transformed this school's three-page static site into a virtual front office for busy, web-savvy parents—or those new to the area—to explore the school and do everything they needed online... more >>
How do you pay tribute to innovation?
ITW is one of the world's largest manufacturing corporations, with a history of innovation spanning nearly 100 years. Much of the company's growth and leadership has been due to discoveries by employees on-the-job that led to patent-protected products... more >>
WCNS Brand Development
The board of this well-respected preschool came to Smith with a request we hear often: “We need a web site.” But we realized that the school had some challenges that were more complex than an outdated site... more >>
A showcase for innovation
The phrase “we’re there” is one that you'll often hear at ITW, a leading, global industrial manufacturer. That's because ITW's products can be found in everything from cars and mobile phones, to wind farms and suspension bridges... more >>