Welcome. Let me introduce myself.
My name is Nathan McDonald, and I’m a creative consultant who specializes in brand strategy and design. With extensive experience as an in-house creative director in both commercial and nonprofit settings, I firmly believe that an organization's most valuable marketing assets are its customers and employees. This conviction drives my focus: to nurture engagement with those you serve through a holistic brand experience that enriches their lives. When this happens, you build a community of enthusiastic brand advocates—externally and internally—who naturally amplify your marketing efforts and grow your business.
I work primarily with small business leaders of consumer brands to bring their unique value and personality to life through their offerings, customer engagements, messaging and visual identity—all for the sake of deepening emotional connections they can build on for years.
If you’d like to explore the benefits of a branding engagement with me, or simply want to inquire about my design or illustration work, please reach out. If you’re not quite ready and you want to learn more, keep scrolling.
All the details
I’ve done my best to include essential details below covering my services, process and approach. You can also send me an email if you have specific questions.
My Services
The below list highlights the core services I offer small businesses and in-house marketing teams as a strategy consultant and designer.
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My core service is creating logos and visual identity systems that embody your brand's unique value and personality. I’ll work with you to design a simple, memorable mark and develop a cohesive visual system that appeals to your ideal customer.
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I offer design services that bring your brand to life across all touchpoints. From packaging and apparel to environmental elements like signage, murals and vehicle wraps, I’ll help you create a fluid brand experience that connects with your audience in impactful ways.
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I offer custom illustration for brand collateral and video animation. My style is playful and minimalistic. See examples on my portfolio page.
My Process
Every engagement covers some level of the process below, tailored to your specific context and needs.
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Most businesses compete on cost and how they are “better” than the competition. I’ll help you avoid that trap and define what makes you distinct, so you occupy uncontested space in the minds of your customers.
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Your offerings aren’t the only way you deliver value. I’ll help you map out your customer’s journey and pinpoint the key moments of interaction, so you take advantage of every opportunity to engage and delight.
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Meaningful connections happen at the emotional level. I’ll help you convey your brand’s value and personality through your messaging and visual identity, so everywhere you show up feels genuine and resonates with the right people.
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Marketing often feels like a complex equation to solve, but it should be straightforward and approachable. I’ll help your team adopt a practical approach to marketing that focuses on nurturing relationships, while providing easy-to-use resources, so their contribution feels natural and enjoyable.
My Approach
My approach is characterized by three distinct qualities that provide insight into what it's like to work with me
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Effective action is always paired with intentional reflection. Without it, you risk being reactive instead of proactive. My engagements facilitate space for you and your team to reflect and gain clarity, leading to more focused results and deeper impact.
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Some of the best insights come from genuine, down-to-earth conversations rather than formal meetings. I keep things relaxed and open, allowing ideas to flow naturally, sparking fresh perspectives and innovative thinking.
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Working in isolation can lead to decisions based on personal preferences rather than what's best for your brand. By collaborating with regular feedback throughout the process, we can guide the solution to better align with your audience and desired outcomes.
Customer testimonies
“Nathan and his team’s process was deliberate and intentional at extracting the heart of our business and translating that into branding and messaging. Each step of the way was smooth and executed with excellence and the utmost professionalism. We couldn’t be happier with the result.”
ALEJANDRA KOTTKE
Co-founder, SpecApp
“The project far exceeded our expectations, and our team could not be more excited about the results. Nathan and his team were thorough, intuitive and easy to work with, capturing the very essence of our company and message.”
PATTI THAYER
President, Thayer Energy Solutions
“Nathan and his team just get it, making the work process seamless and efficient. They asked the right questions, delivering beyond expectations.”
KATHRYN LAVEY
Creative Director, Visit Milwaukee