Landor Cincinnati is more than a branding firm that produces client-driven work. It’s a creative community of individuals with a propensity to make our city better.
“It’s really just part of our culture to engage in our community in a really significant way,” says Steve McGowan, executive creative director at Landor. “Anyone in our building, any of our associates—if they have a concept, they’re free to bring it to us, and we almost 99.9 percent participate and help them make a difference in the community.”
The company’s partnership with
Dress for Success Cincinnati, a non-profit aimed at increasing women’s confidence by providing professional attire and job-readiness coaching, will celebrate four years together at the organization’s annual
fashion show Thursday, September 19 at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom downtown.
“There’s something great about the Dress For Success partnership in that the power in branding is to make that human connection—that really authentic connection,” says McGowan, adding that everything DFS believes in was reflected in the design decisions and ultimate feel of the event—from centerpieces to invitations to the show. “There’s a synergistic relationship that happens when something like this comes together, so when we do find those relationships, we hold on to them yearly because we know we’re helping to empower women, and in the process, empowering our designers to make a change and make a difference.
For Jessie Zettler, Landor’s associate design director, the fashion show is a particularly gratifying event, because DFS clients are able to walk the catwalk and share their personal success stories.
“We really believe in the power of design and creativity—change the world for the better,” Zettler says. “And a lot of the efforts Landor is investing in are great examples of that. When you see all that hard work, the blood sweat and tears come to life, it’s so fulfilling for all of us.”
From
Visionaries + Voices to the
Cincinnati Museum Center and most recently with the production of
Lumenocity for the
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Landor takes creative license to deliver quality work for a rich variety of community entities.
“With Lumenocity, I just came back from a luncheon where we were presenting to the board, and they were just so grateful. The results are coming in, and the social media, what it’s done for OTR, what it’s done for
Washington Park, what it did to shine a light on
Music Hall and then the fact that the symphony itself—we were welcoming
Louis Langrée in as our new conductor—all the stars aligned in three magical nights,” McGowan says.
“It exceeded so many expectations. It’s total experimentation," he continues. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity because it had never been done with a live orchestra, but it added a cool factor and introduced a whole new demographic to the symphony in a way that ticket sales are better, there’s a new perspective to the symphony as a place of experimentation. Honestly, that’s why we do it. We have the skills, the tools, and if we can help, we’re more than happy to apply the tools in a way that makes a meaningful difference.”