Platform Studios
Building a platform for Chicago artists
Platform Studios came to Chamber at a pivotal moment in their evolution. Since 2009, they had served as a cornerstone for Chicago’s 1821 Hubbard Street creative community, offering workspace and support for local artists. As they looked toward the future, they needed to redefine what it meant to be a “platform” in a rapidly changing arts ecosystem.
The challenge was to move beyond the idea of a studio space and position Platform as a catalyst — a hub for collaboration, connection, and artistic growth. They wanted a brand that would honor their legacy while creating room for expansion, community partnerships, and new models of creative support.
From space to community catalyst
We began by reframing Platform Studios’ identity around their deeper purpose: connection. Through research and interviews, we mapped Chicago’s arts ecosystem to understand where Platform fit and how they could strengthen their role as a connector and collaborator.
The strategy centered on shifting perception from a place that houses artists to a platform that uplifts them. We developed a brand and messaging framework that celebrates Platform as an essential part of Chicago’s creative infrastructure — a place where serious artistic practice meets shared opportunity.
Our focus was on creating a visual and verbal identity that would resonate with both emerging and established artists, reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of Chicago’s creative community.
Discovery
Design from the inside out.
A brand that uplifts creative collaboration
The new Platform Studios identity repositions the organization as a dynamic community catalyst, bridging established trust with renewed purpose. It communicates both the grounded stability of their studio space and the expansive energy of their role within Chicago’s arts ecosystem.
The result is a brand that doesn’t just represent a space — it embodies a movement to support, connect, and elevate Chicago’s creative community.
