Business Details
21 Years
experience
Your Strategic Branding Partner in Chicago, IL
Cultivate Brands is a branding and experience design agency dedicated to building meaningful brand experiences. Founded in 2005, we guide organizations through a thoughtful process that uncovers their identity, defines their purpose, and brings it to life through strategic branding, digital experiences, and campaigns. Our approach is rooted in four pillars: strategic decision-making aligned with long-term goals, curiosity-driven exploration, boundary-pushing creativity, and collaborative partnerships that bring out the best in clients and teams. With over two decades of experience, we've helped industry-leading clients like Ozinga, ProWood, and MTM Trailer MFG achieve measurable results through rebranding initiatives, digital transformations, and targeted campaigns.Our team of strategic creatives combines big-picture thinking with technical expertise in brand strategy, visual identity design, web development, and campaign production. We maintain offices in Chicago, Illinois and Bozeman, Montana, serving clients nationwide through a client-centric methodology that emphasizes clarity, connection, and lasting impact.
Services
Brand Strategy
Digital Experiences
Campaign Production
Visual Identity
Website Development
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in brand strategy and design
- Our team combines strategic thinking with creative execution
- We implement a collaborative, client-centric approach to branding
- We deliver measurable results through data-driven brand solutions
- We maintain a proven track record with industry-leading clients
What people say
Significant improvement in brand awareness
Passionate about their work
86% increase in organic traffic
130% increase in conversions
Highly available and responsive
Services
Brand Strategy
Our brand strategy services help organizations uncover their authentic identity and create meaningful market presence. Through collaborative workshops and market research, we define brand core elements including vision, mission, values, and positioning. We develop comprehensive brand platforms that guide consistent messaging across all touchpoints, ensuring alignment with business objectives and audience expectations.
Digital Experiences
We create custom digital experiences that engage users and drive business results. Our services include website architecture planning, user experience design, and full-stack development. We build responsive websites and mobile applications that reflect brand identity while optimizing for performance, accessibility, and conversion.
Campaign Production
Our campaign production services cover strategic planning, content creation, and media management. We develop integrated marketing campaigns that combine creative storytelling with data-driven tactics. From concept development to execution, we ensure consistent brand messaging across digital, print, and social media channels.
Visual Identity
We craft cohesive visual identity systems that communicate brand essence through design elements. Our services include logo development, color palette creation, typography selection, and brand style guide production. We ensure visual consistency across all brand applications, from print materials to digital platforms.
Website Development
Our website development services combine strategic planning with technical expertise. We create custom websites that align with brand identity while optimizing user experience. Our process includes content strategy, responsive design implementation, and CMS integration for seamless content management.
People
Mark Wierda
Cofounder & President
Mark co-founded Cultivate Brands in 2005 and serves as the agency's president. With a background in photography, marketing, and technology, he leads strategic direction while maintaining hands-on involvement in client projects.
Chris Pierik
Cofounder & Executive Creative Director
Chris has led creative strategy at Cultivate Brands since 2005. He focuses on building brand narratives and inspiring creativity that helps clients earn credibility and market position.
Wally Ottenhoff
Design Director
With nearly 20 years of design experience, Wally oversees branding, product, UI/UX, and print design for clients, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and exceptional user experiences.
Kendal Miller
Brand Strategist & Creative Lead
Kendal has worked with Cultivate Brands since 2008, combining over two decades of film and creative production experience to develop brand strategies and lead creative initiatives.
Jenny Schuler
Product Manager & Art Director
Jenny leads app project development at Cultivate Brands with her expertise in UX design and front-end development, creating functional digital solutions that solve real-world business challenges.
Questions
What services does Cultivate Brands Brands offer?
We provide brand strategy, visual identity design, digital experience development, campaign production, and marketing services tailored to each client's unique needs.
How does Cultivate Brands approach brand strategy?
Our approach combines collaborative workshops, market research, and strategic planning to uncover brand essence and develop comprehensive brand platforms that guide consistent messaging.
What industries do you work with?
We work with diverse industries including construction, manufacturing, non-profits, technology, and consumer products, adapting our expertise to each sector's unique challenges.
How long does a typical branding project take?
Project timelines vary based on scope but typically range from 3-6 months for comprehensive brand strategy and implementation, with ongoing support options available.
Do you work with remote clients?
Yes, while maintaining offices in Chicago and Bozeman, we collaborate with clients nationwide through virtual meetings and digital project management tools.
What makes Cultivate Brands different from other agencies?
Our unique combination of strategic thinking, creative execution, and collaborative approach delivers measurable results while maintaining brand authenticity and market relevance.
Reviews (1)
N. Sans
Feb 02, 2022
Report
"Cultivate made a great impact helping us get our business launched and our brand established here in Bozeman. When we first opened the doors to our escape room business in 2018 we were starting from scratch and Cultivate helped us reach an audience that really connected with the unique experiences we had to offer. That gave us the foothold we needed build our brand and we havent looked back since!"
