Creative Strategy and Design

Brands. Stories. Connections.

Laura Ress partners with leading institutions and organizations to transform complex ideas into clear, compelling visual stories. Her approach is research-driven and collaborative—she becomes an extension of her clients’ teams, working alongside leadership to solve strategic challenges and strengthen brand narratives.

Since founding Laura Ress Design in 2009, she’s developed communications strategies and creative solutions for Northwestern University, University of Illinois Chicago, Perkins & Will, and others navigating the intersection of education, design, and social impact. Her work spans branding, advertising, publications, video, digital experiences, and strategic consulting—always grounded in discovery and insight.

Laura’s career began at leading Chicago design firms VSA Partners, Petrick Design, and DesignKitchen, crafting annual reports and branding materials for clients including Allstate, Motorola, and Bluetooth. At Lipman Hearne, she expanded into higher education and nonprofit work, developing brand campaigns for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the University of Sydney, Australia.

Beyond creative work, Laura helps marketing teams optimize their operations—from communications audits and intake processes to workflow improvements and marketing planning. She’s committed to work that doesn’t just look good, but works hard for the people and missions it serves.

A woman standing on steps in front of a building, having her photo taken by two women with photography equipment, including a large umbrella and a reflector.
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A camera on a tripod capturing a night shot of modern, curved glass buildings with illuminated interiors and wooden accents, against a twilight sky.
A group of videographers and photographers with cameras and tripods preparing for a shoot inside a modern building with large glass windows and a high ceiling. Two people are on a mezzanine level, one filming and one observing.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Strategic Consulting
• Research Translation
Turning insights into creative direction
• Communications Audits
Ensuring brand consistency and messaging clarity
• Marketing Planning
Optimizing tactics and budget allocation
• Operations Consulting
Streamlining workflows for better team performance

Creative and Content Development
• Branding and brand management
• Advertising and donor campaigns
• Print publications
• Digital experiences and website development
• Editorial direction
• Photography and illustration direction
• Video direction and production

A woman wearing black clothes and a hijab is standing in front of a red photo backdrop, smiling at a photo shoot. There is professional photography equipment around her, including lights and reflectors, in a large room with chairs and closed double d
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Three men filming an elderly man sitting outdoors in a garden surrounded by trees and greenery, with filming equipment and a boom mic overhead.
A video interview taking place in a modern office conference room with large windows showing city skyscrapers. Five people are involved, including two women seated at the table, one woman with red hair using a laptop, and two men operating camera and

AWARDS INCLUDE

Logos of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and American Marketing Association.
Black and white logo for the Case Communication Arts program showing a square with the word 'CASE' and the phrase 'Communication Arts' below.
A comparison of text styles showing the words 'Graphics' in gray bold font and 'print' in black bold font inside white boxes with gray borders.
Black-and-white logo with the words "Latham Lucotto" at the top, a circular emblem with intertwined "L" and "Q" letters in the center, and the words "UQC" in a gray block at the bottom.
A photoshoot taking place on a rocky shoreline with three model or actors. One person stands holding a reflector, another is sitting on a rock editing or reviewing photos, and a third is kneeling in the water in a red jacket and shorts, smiling at th
Person taking a photo of a large vibrant digital artwork featuring colorful abstract swirling lines and patterns.
Sheet of colorful and black-and-white illustrations and sketches about happiness hacks, gratitude, and health, including various icons, text, and artwork related to wellness and gratitude practices.
Man sitting in front of a white backdrop during a studio photoshoot, with photography equipment surrounding him.

CLIENTS INCLUDE

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Logos of Elmhurst University and University of Illinois Chicago displayed side by side in grayscale.
Logos of Northwestern University and Midway Partnership on a black background.
Black background with white and gray text. The title reads 'Why Choose Perkins & Will' and includes the logo of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

CONTACT