Business Details
26 Years
experience
Award-Winning Branding & Design for Real Estate & Luxury Brands
Founded in 2000, UpShift Creative Group is a strategic branding and design agency that helps businesses in real estate, hospitality, finance, technology, and luxury consumer markets stand out and thrive. With teams in Chicago and Los Angeles, we combine the full-service capabilities of a large agency with the approachability and resourcefulness of a boutique. Our 25-year track record includes nearly 400 international design awards and recognition as 'Agency of the Year' by AdWorld Masters twice. We specialize in creating 360-degree brand experiences across print, digital, social media, and marketing collateral, ensuring our clients achieve greater awareness, faster lease-ups, and stronger sales.Our strategic thinking and innovative design are grounded in deep industry expertise, with a focus on real estate (including multifamily, senior, and commercial properties), luxury consumer brands, B2B services, and hospitality. We prioritize client partnerships, delivering work that is on strategy, on time, and on budget, while maintaining a strong commitment to transparency and results-driven outcomes.
Services
Brand Identity
Web Design
Marketing Collateral
Social Media Strategy
Advertising
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- We combine large-agency strategy with boutique-level responsiveness.
- Our 25-year track record includes nearly 400 international design awards.
- We specialize in real estate, hospitality, and luxury brand expertise.
- We deliver work that is on strategy, on time, and on budget.
- Our hybrid agency model ensures personalized service with scalable capabilities.
Associations and certifications
- AIGA
- AdWorld Masters
What people say
Faster lease-ups
Websites get more traffic
Creative thinking
Buttoned-up process
Award-winning work
Services
Brand Identity
We create cohesive brand identities that unify visual elements, messaging, and strategy to differentiate clients in competitive markets. Our approach combines market research with creative design to ensure brands resonate with target audiences while maintaining consistency across all platforms. This service helps businesses establish a strong foundation for long-term recognition and customer loyalty.
Web Design
Our custom websites integrate brand strategy with user experience design to engage visitors and drive conversions. We build responsive, SEO-optimized sites that work seamlessly with leasing platforms and content management systems. This service ensures clients maintain a modern digital presence that aligns with their overall brand identity.
Marketing Collateral
We design high-impact print collateral including brochures, floor plans, and signage that reinforce brand messaging. These materials create tangible connections with audiences in physical spaces. Our designs ensure consistency between digital and offline brand experiences to maximize marketing effectiveness.
Social Media Strategy
Our social media services combine organic engagement with paid advertising to build brand awareness and community. We develop platform-specific content strategies that align with client goals while maintaining brand consistency. This service helps clients connect with tech-savvy audiences where they spend time online.
Advertising
We create integrated advertising campaigns across digital, print, and out-of-home channels tailored to client audiences. Our approach combines creative execution with data-driven media planning to maximize campaign ROI. This service ensures consistent brand messaging across all advertising touchpoints.
People
Richard Shanks
Founding Partner
Richard Shanks is a founding partner of UpShift Creative Group and was recently elected to the National AIGA Board of Directors. With over 25 years in branding and design, he leads strategic initiatives that combine creative excellence with business outcomes.
Questions
What industries does UpShift specialize in?
We focus on real estate (multifamily, commercial, luxury), hospitality, B2B services, and luxury consumer brands.
What is Avila Web Themes?
Avila is our customizable apartment website platform designed to deliver premium branding at lower costs and development time.
How does UpShift approach branding projects?
We start with strategy, then build unified brand identities across all touchpoints, including digital, print, and social media.
Do you work with national clients?
Yes, we serve clients nationwide from our Chicago and Los Angeles offices, with a track record of coast-to-coast projects.
