We exist to champion small organizations and encourage them in building bold businesses. Small organizations hold a special place in our heart, and we love nothing more than seeing them succeed. As a small business, you posses a level of autonomy and agility that is ripe for bold, brave moves, and we want to help you define your vision then make it a reality by leveraging the power of design thinking.
What we believe
These are our core values that guide how we do business. You'll be a great fit if you feel the same way.
Design Matters
We believe design is a business asset. It is about strategic planning and execution, not decoration or personal preference. Design thinking is vital to building an extraordinary organization, and is an investment in the long-term good of a company. Each touchpoint your customer's experience is a chance to reinforce your organization's reputation, and our work is highly customized based on your unique goals and customer needs.
Communication Matters
We believe in listening intently to your input, setting correct expectations and being rock-solid reliable. We take the time to communicate with you clearly and frequently throughout your project so you always understand the plan. When in doubt, we simply speak up and love it when our clients do too. Spelling everything out and asking for clarification when needed helps us create the best final product and relationship with your team.
Trust Matters
We believe mutual trust is critical to our relationship and the project’s success, so we go into every project assuming the best and we ask that our clients do too. Good work can’t come from doubt and distrust, so our team goes into each new project assuming the best about our clients and expects the same from them in return.
Process matters
We believe there is purpose in process. Without process, there is chaos, and no one enjoys chaos. Our process has been created and refined over many years to help us strategically discover, define and develop the most effective solutions for your project. Shortcuts because often result in long-term losses, so if you want the best results, skipping steps isn't an option.
Clarity Matters
We believe that we owe it to people to create work that is clear and simple. The world is complex enough, and we believe that designing a straightforward experience for people is much more helpful than employing fancy tricks or trendy graphics. We don’t believe in reinventing the wheel just because we can, so we’ll most often choose the path that is most clear for your customer.
Boldness Matters
We believe that it’s impossible to grow into a strong organization in today's over-saturated market without owning your uniqueness. You simply can’t be everything to everyone, and we'll challenge you to take a stand in order to find your true fans.
How We Operate
Here at Strong Design, we don't operate like a traditional agency. We don't keep a full-time staff. Instead, we use what is called "The Hollywood Model." In Hollywood, movie producers cast specific actors, actresses and staff that are the right fit for each movie. In the same way, we hand-pick a team of talented creatives for each project who bring the right skills to make the project a success. Each project is led by the founder of Strong Design Studios, Melissa Balkon.
Meet Melissa
Hi there, I’m Melissa Balkon, founder and lead designer at Strong Design Studios. In my 15+ years of experience, I’ve been blessed to be able to work with clients and projects of all shapes and sizes, but my passion is in working with smaller organizations and individuals. I have an unnatural addiction to organization, love books and flowers, and I’m known for my simple, timeless style. Learn more on LinkedIn, or follow my adventures on Instagram.
