Meet.
We love what we do.
Pivot thinkers are committed to helping make your brand and marketing all it can be. We achieve success by continuing to over-deliver and exceed expectations — just ask our clients. We’re passionate about what we do and it shows in our work, our awards and our relationships. Let’s work together to do amazing things with your brand.
We don’t like to brag, but our clients do.
Pivot Design has been our go-to agency partner for several years now. They’re responsible for our overall Sterling Bay brand look and presence as well as the brands for several of our high-profile developments. Our business is both fast moving and demanding and we can’t say enough about the value that this agency constantly delivers for us. See more
Andy Gloor
Managing Partner, Sterling Bay
We have worked with the Pivot team for a number of years, across a variety of projects. They consistently deliver creative solutions to our business needs — on time and on budget! They are a true partner when it comes to developing our brand guidelines and assisting us with execution. See more
Jen Lehman
Senior Worldwide Marketing Manager, Microsoft
Pivot Design — your work and your friendship surpasses even the highest expectations. Thank you so much for your creative minds, your patience, and for being total ROCKSTARS! See more
D’Andre J. Weaver
Principal, Chicago Public Schools
Pivot is the best agency I have ever partnered with — BAR NONE! Not only do they produce high end marketing and brand messaging, they go above and beyond to ensure that results are delivered. Although, one person is assigned to my work, Pivot’s approach is always a team effort... See more
Sonja Gaston
Marketing Manager, BioLife Plasma Services
Maggie and Sarah adopt our company culture while working on our projects and consistently over-deliver and exceed expectations. We’re fanatical about meeting deadlines and providing ‘wow experiences’ to customers and clients — Pivot helps us make this second nature. See more
San Francisco Giants Baseball Camps
Management Team, San Francisco Giants Baseball Camps
Pivot is more than our agency, they are our partner. A terrific partnership that will last for many years. The Pivot team provides us integrated marketing and communications programs for all parts of our business. When we went through our rebranding process they were patient and insightful, with the desire to create the very best... See more
Jeanine Gaffke
Director, Global Marketing, Diversey
Working with a design team is just like any great relationship — it requires trust, confidence, and hopefully the end result exceeds your expectations. The Pivot Design team produced stunning visuals which are clever, unexpected, fresh and contemporary. Working with Pivot is pure joy. See more
Carmen Creel
Director, Principal Gift Recognition, University of Chicago
One of my greatest accomplishments was finding you guys! See more
Edward I. Farley
President, Specialty Business Group, Unisource
Pivot crushed our expectations transforming our unique culture into a national brand that remains fresh, powerful, and inspiring. See more
Jonathan Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Xamin
If you’re considering hiring an agency, do yourself a favor and at least reach out to Pivot Design. You’ll be glad you did. Every once in a while you find a special group of people that just come together and do amazing things. This is that group. I know it sounds cliché, but they just get it... See more
Molly Painter
Director U.S. Marketing, Baxter Healthcare
Leadership. Ready when you are.
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As the agency’s President & Executive Creative Director, Liz is responsible for driving all aspects of the agency’s operation including account and project management, strategy, art direction, design and execution. A highly accomplished creative, Liz earned her BFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Liz Kanter
President & Executive Creative Director -
As the agency’s Founder & Executive Creative Director, Brock’s thoughtful leadership, strategic creative acumen and passion for all things design are unmistakable. His ideas and work have appeared in many of the world’s most celebrated competitions, publications and periodicals for nearly three decades.
Brock Haldeman
Founder & Executive Creative Director -
Becky is entrusted with agency client relationships across a wide spectrum of verticals, playing an instrumental role in brand launches and tactical planning. A dedicated runner, Becky has completed two Chicago Marathons and qualified for Boston. She received her degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Becky Gilligan
Vice President & Account Director -
Kate is a highly accomplished creative and the agency’s client engagement phenom. Her leadership helps drive the direction of many of our larger accounts. Setting the pace in both work and play, Kate’s a veteran of the Chicago Marathon. Kate graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Graphic Design.
Kate Karas
Vice President & Account Director -
As a key agency Creative Lead, Brett brings an emphasis on typography and a refined problem-solving aesthetic to his work. Highly accomplished, Brett was recently honored as a Print Magazine New Visual Artist 20 Under 30. Brett has a BFA in graphic design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Brett Tabolt
Creative Director -
Sylvie is a sharp strategist with an extensive background in both web and video production. Her digital experience includes a wide range of applications—from social to content marketing to UX. A lifelong music lover, Sylvie has attended more than 500 concerts. She holds both an MA and a BA from DePaul University.
Sylvie Burstein
Digital Account Director -
Jay is an artist and designer with over 15 years of industry experience—ranging from food to fashion to education. His work includes brand campaigns and illustrations, website and user experience development, as well as murals and private art. Jay’s designs have been featured in books and publications internationally.
Jay Byrnes
Design Director -
Jean’s experience covers a wide range of consumer and healthcare brands, with a focus on strategy and brand planning. She enjoys forging personal connections with clients, built on a deep understanding of their business goals. Born and raised in Chicago, Jean holds a BS in advertising from U of I Urbana-Champaign.
Jean Gibbons
Account Director -
A key leader in our team for over 15 years, Steve translates strategic insights into highly creative solutions for a wide range of clients and projects. An avid cyclist, Steve’s an annual participant in RAGBRAI, a weeklong bike tour across Iowa. Steve earned his BA in Graphic Design from Drake University.
Steve Graziano
Design Director -
Krista is a seasoned and accomplished senior account executive bringing knowledge, organizational process skills and expertise to many of our largest accounts. She rocks! Krista graduated from Roger Williams University with a BS in Marketing Communications and a concentration in Political Science.
Krista Grein
Account Director -
As one of the agency’s core creative team leaders, Heather bridges the gap between design and strategic planning. An avid traveller, she enjoys applying her creative talents across design and fine art, as well as in the kitchen. Heather graduated from the College for Creative Studies with a BFA in Communication Design.
Heather Kintner
Design Director -
Kristen is a hybrid strategist whose award-winning work has touched Fortune 500s and startups—moving clients to tears, more than once. She thrives on the city’s energy, volunteering with animal rescues, community groups, and political campaigns. An avid traveler, Kristen rang in her 40th with a solo European trip.
Kristen Lacy
Strategy Director -
Kevin brings an interdisciplinary passion for strategy and writing to the Pivot team. His brand work spans print, digital, video and experiential engagements across a broad range of industries. A lifelong Chicagoan, Kevin also serves on the board of the city’s AIGA chapter.
Kevin Leahy
Strategy Director -
Kat lends over a decade of industry experience to Pivot’s account team. Her skills cover Account Management, Creative Direction, and Marketing, and span from healthcare to hospitality. Kat originally got her start as a professional ballroom dancer after earning her BFA from the Slane College at Bradley University.
Kat Liepins
Account Director -
Andrew has been passionate about digital design since receiving his first copy of Photoshop at age 11. A proud nerd, he is equally comfortable in front of a code editor and laying out a user interface design. Andrew is always trying out new city restaurants and prides himself on a top-notch old fashioned recipe.
Andrew Martin
Digital Design Director -
Tony is a multidisciplinary designer with a passion for helping brands create more authentic, engaging experiences. For over a decade, he's crafted artful visual communications at a global and local level. Originally from Cleveland, Tony holds a BS in visual communication technology from Bowling Green State University.
Tony Zinni
Design Director -
Kelli has been making her mark in digital marketing and media production since earning her BBA from the University of Wisconsin—including extensive work within pharmaceutical account support. A lifelong music aficionado, she also currently serves as an ambassador for a global organizer in the underground concert scene.
Kelli Michaelis
Account Supervisor -
Erin joins Pivot from Boston, bringing a range of experience in healthcare and pharma—and a drive to deliver the best work for clients. She has a BA in communications from Loyola University Maryland. When she's not in the office, Erin's running marathons, chasing puppies, and attending as many concerts as possible.
Erin Mulhern
Account Supervisor -
Julie brings a passion for brand strategy and a history of successful global product launches to Pivot. Her experience ranges from finance to technology, with a primary focus in healthcare. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Julie relocated to the Midwest to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at DePaul University.
Julie Schenck
Account Supervisor -
Specializing in digital advertising, Alexa has worked with a range of global clients in industries such as hospitality, tech, and consumer packaged goods. She’s a native New Yorker whose love for travel once led her to an international study program in Florence. Alexa has a BA from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Alexa Triantafilis
Associate Account Supervisor -
Chris’s work in motion has taken him around the world, with roles ranging from cinematographer and editor to director. A New Hampshire native, he once competed in both soccer and snowboarding at the Olympic development level. Chris has a BA in film and video with a minor in motion graphics editing from Columbia College.
Chris Beauchesne
Associate Motion Design Director -
Tess is a multidisciplinary designer with a broad range of creative talent and skills bridging traditional print design, photography, web design and social media. She’s a magna cum laude graduate of Carthage College with majors in Graphic Design and Communication and a minor in Public Relations.
Tess Beltran
Associate Design Director -
Jimmy is a talented young creative with significant depth to both his creative talent and his technical skillset. He’s a real team player and is always counted on for his passion, positive attitude and overall determination. Jimmy has a BFA in Visual Communication from Northern Illinois University.
Jimmy Hansen
Associate Design Director -
Erin takes audiences to the intersection of art and storytelling. Across digital, print, and experiential mediums, her work blends creativity and analytics to activate brands and meet client goals. A retired competitive pole vaulter, Erin spends her free time teaching fitness classes and raising brain tumor awareness.
Erin Murray
Associate Design Director -
Zoe joins the agency as an engagement lead and account liaison. She puts her radiant personality and exceptional organizational talents to work helping assist with client onboarding and the flow of many of our larger accounts. Zoe received her BA from Michigan State University with a minor in Spanish.
Zoe Irons
Account Manager -
Beth serves as the agency’s administrative go-to. With a broad range of skills and experience across verticals, Beth brings a calming efficiency to agency-wide planning, processes, and systems. An admirer of the arts, Beth earned her BA in Art History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Beth Damon
Business & HR Manager -
Danielle’s background spans a range of disciplines, with a focus on typography and the moving image. Her ambition began at 13 with her international eBay business, and she continues to feed her interest in diverse cultures through extensive world travel. Danielle holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute.
Danielle Andrews
Senior Designer -
Doug is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a BFA in Visual Communication. With an extensive background in branding, web and print design, and typography, he’s developed an ideal skillset for design in a digital environment. Doug is also a prolific musician and a member of the Chicago Bears Drumline.
Doug Brand
Senior Digital Designer -
Katharine is a dynamic writer with a wide spectrum of experience—from quirky startups to classical artistic institutions. An esoteric language buff, she possesses an uncommon flair for bringing clarity to complex subjects. Katharine’s a native Chicagoan and overjoyed superfan of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.
Katharine Cikanek
Senior Writer -
Jeanne is a versatile writer with more than 20 years of experience in marketing and medical communications. A compulsive list-maker and precise editor, she’s gifted at turning complex information into easily understandable content. Jeanne has an MA in journalism from the University of Missouri—Columbia.
Jeanne Corrigan
Senior Writer -
After spending more than 14 years in the marketing world, Kevin has extensive experience writing across all forms of media. Quick on his feet. Mind like a sponge. Powerful with a pencil. Kevin creates memorable work that builds brands, fosters lasting relationships with clients, and meets business needs.
Kevin Flowers
Senior Writer -
Veronica is a passionate creative who enjoys melding traditional design with innovative techniques and tools. She lives for the details, ensuring that her work always makes an impact. A veteran of 3 marathons and 7 half-marathons, Veronica earned her BA in graphic design with a minor in writing from Xavier University.
Veronica Graeber
Senior Designer -
Matt is that rare combination of creative problem-solving talent and programming expertise. With an impressive design track record spanning two decades, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our new media team. Matt is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Art.
Matt Janz
Senior Front End Developer -
With a background in both fine art and graphic design, Kevin is a versatile member of the team. His efforts support the creative teams across clients and projects. Kevin enjoys reading comic books and writing bios. Kevin graduated with a BFA in Illustration and Advertising from Grand Valley State University.
Kevin Knipstein
Senior Production Designer -
Chris has a multidisciplinary approach to design coupled with a passion for technology—the perfect digital designer combination. He enjoys trying new coffee blends, spending time with his dogs, and wheel throwing. Originally from Detroit, Chris studied Communication Design at the College for Creative Studies.
Chris Raimond
Senior Digital Designer -
Halle's focused energy and team-oriented mindset help Pivot deliver high-quality creative work to clients—on time and on budget. While a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Halle was a D1 athlete and a double major, receiving her BS in both media and journalism, and global studies.
Halle Frain
Project Manager -
Cassie is known for her robust creative process and passion for collaboration. She has worked on several year-long curriculum print pieces, in addition to many digital projects and exhibition spaces. From a town of 500, Cassie now lives in the Chicagoland area, and can often be found touring museums or antiquing.
Cassie Criminger
Designer -
Devin brings an interdisciplinary passion for design, art direction, and brand strategy to the Pivot team. Whether he’s covering food, culture, and fashion for blogs or planning TEDx events in Chicago, Devin is always on the hunt for opportunities to create experiences that connect deeply.
Devin Gatling
Designer
A few things we bring to the table.
branding
Comprehensive brand programs for organizations across verticals from boutique startups to large global players.
How we do what we do.
1.Define
We establish the anticipated project scope through initial meetings and conversations.
2.Describe
We provide you with a comprehensive proposal outlining deliverables and associated costs. This is reviewed by you and approved, or modified until it meets your approval.
3.Discover
Once approved, we begin with a thorough discovery process that informs and guides our creative development.
4.Design
Concepts are developed around the established project criteria, honed by our creative teams and presented for review.
5.Develop
Working closely with you, we refine the work until we have the right solution. The final deliverables are then produced.
6.Deliver
We deliver.
Everyone smiles.
Just a few of our fabulous clients.
And the winner is...
- 2019 Graphis Branding 7 – Silver
- 2019 Graphis Design Annual – Silver
- 2019 Graphis Poster Annual – Silver
- 2018 Hermes Creative Award – Platinum
- 2017 WebAwards
- 2016 Graphis Design Annual
- 2016 Communication Arts Typography Annual 7
- 2016 Graphis Design Annual – Advertising
- 2016 Society of Typographic Arts Awards 6
- 2015 Communication Arts Typography Annual 6
- 2014 AAMC GIA Award for Excellence
- 2013 Healthcare Advertising Awards – Gold
- 2013 Healthcare Advertising Awards – Merit
- 2012 Global Award
- 2012 PRSA Bronze Anvil Awards
- 2011 Business Marketing Association Awards
- 2011 Pinnacle Print Awards
- 2011 Go Green Advertising Awards – Gold
- 2010 Art Director’s Club 89th Annual Awards
- 2010 Annual Healthcare Marketing Awards
- 2010 Graphis Design Annual – Platinum
- 2009 International Arc Awards – Gold
- 2009 Print Magazine Regional Design Annual
- 2009 Aster Awards – Gold
- 2009 Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards
- 2008 STA – Permanent Collection
- 2008 The One Show – Merit Award
- 2008 Global Awards
- 2008 International ARC Awards – Gold
- 2008 Black Book AR100 Show
- 2008 Print Magazine Business Graphics
- 2007 The Davey Awards – Silver
- 2007 Globals Finalist
- 2007 How Magazine’s Design Annual – Merit
- 2007 Healthcare Marketing Awards – Gold
- 2007 Black Book AR100 Show
- 2007 Aster Awards – Gold & Bronze