DESIGN.
Storytelling's BFF.
Design has a big job to do; it wants attention but for the right reasons. Ultimately, its goal is to help enrich people's lives, not just create more noise to filter through. We design for that 'ah-ha' solution that seems simple and obvious but likely took great effort to achieve. If done well, you'll never encounter that process, nor do you care. You just know the moment when you encounter something that resonates.
Consumer Insight
Embracing Consumer Complexity
Consumers, like all humans, are complex, and their words don't always match their actions. At Strive, we utilize behavioral science to decode this gap, gaining insights into their true preferences. This understanding allows us to anticipate and shape consumer decisions more effectively, navigating the fascinating landscape of human behavior.
Our Approach
The D.I.V.E. Methodology
Every design project moves through four connected phases. We discover the brand's essence, explore creative directions, test our decisions, and refine until the work truly resonates.
Discover
Immerse in the brand's story, audience, and competitive landscape to uncover the visual and emotional cues that should guide every design decision.
Ideate
Explore a range of creative directions—from typography and color to layout and motion—pushing beyond the expected to find concepts that feel authentic.
Validate
Put design work in front of real eyes. We test concepts through feedback loops and data to ensure our creative choices connect, not just impress.
Evolve
Refine and iterate based on what we learn, carrying insights back into the next round of discovery so the design keeps getting stronger.
Design Purpose
Design Isn't Art For Art's Sake
If it were, it wouldn't depend on what people did or thought. It would just be its happy, beautiful self, and that's it. Our design transcends mere aesthetics; it's a purposeful expression of larger concepts. We look closely at processes and barriers and create designs that clarify and enhance the message, avoiding confusion and inefficiency.
Design Thinking
Principles That Guide Great Work
01
Be Flexible and Nimble, But Precise
While it is important to head confidently in a chosen direction, it's equally important to maintain a certain level of fluidity. We make precise adjustments that significantly enhance our design outcomes, responsive to feedback and market shifts.
02
Language and Visuals Like Fraternal Twins
While these two facets of creative work are very different disciplines, they are inherently connected and supportive. Done right, they work together like a well-oiled machine. Done poorly, they can oppose each other and create discord.
03
Speak Volumes By Listening First
We discuss the origin stories of our clients' businesses as an integral part of building our relationship, which inevitably reveals cues to help design the brand. The defining details can be subtle, hence the importance of asking and listening from the get-go.
04
Research the Industry and Then Ignore It
Yes, it's important to know what competitors are doing, but that's about it. Awareness versus copying. The best creative comes from combining unrelated things to make something new. Never copy. Don't imitate. Be authentic.
“Design is where science and art break even.” – Robin Mathew
Accountability & Results
Design That Performs
Your Brand Is What People Say It Is
Any given brand is sending a message whether they intend to or not. How the brand is perceived in the real world defines what it is... how people interacting with it feel about it, how they talk about it, and respond to it. The key is to constantly be aware of this and, at every touchpoint, define it as best we can.
If You Want To Be Taken Seriously, Be Consistent
Most likely you've experienced the difference between brands that delight in the details versus those that don't. Consistency is key to a strong brand presence. We focus on creating cohesive branding across all platforms, recognizing that consistency in details fosters recognition and trust.
Now You See Me, Now… What?
With design being a subjective experience, it can be one of the harder things to track in numbers and stats. To answer this, it is imperative to keep an eye on the work as it lives out in the world. We typically can't pick our neighbors, and neither can an ad, commercial, or billboard. What we can do is pay close attention to how people react.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat
Things like A/B testing give a good insight into how people respond to design decisions we make. Our design process is iterative, involving continuous testing and observation. This method allows us to refine our designs based on real interactions, ensuring they resonate with the target audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
We follow the D.I.V.E. methodology—Discover, Ideate, Validate, Evolve. Design has a big job to do, and our structured yet flexible process ensures every decision enriches people's lives rather than adding noise.
Consumers, like all humans, are complex, and their words don't always match their actions. At Strive, we utilize behavioral science to decode this gap, gaining insights into their true preferences.
Our design transcends mere aesthetics; it's a purposeful expression of larger concepts. We look closely at processes and barriers and create designs that clarify and enhance the message, avoiding confusion and inefficiency.
While these two facets of creative work are very different disciplines, they are inherently connected and supportive. Done right, they work together like a well-oiled machine.
It starts with Discover—we immerse ourselves in the client's story, audience, and competitive landscape. The details uncovered during discovery become the foundation for every creative direction we explore.
Competitor awareness is part of the Discover phase, but our goal is authenticity, not imitation. We study the landscape so we can confidently push in a direction that's uniquely true to the brand.
Any given brand is sending a message whether they intend to or not. How the brand is perceived in the real world defines what it is... how people interacting with it feel about it, how they talk about it, and respond to it.
That's where Validate comes in. We put design work in front of real audiences, gather feedback, and use data to ensure our creative choices resonate, not just look good on a screen.
Through the Evolve phase. We refine based on real-world performance—A/B testing, user feedback, and analytics—then carry those insights back into the next cycle of discovery and ideation.
Consistency is something we validate and evolve over time. A cohesive brand presence across all touchpoints builds recognition and trust, so we treat it as a living standard that strengthens with each iteration.