Our clients grapple with tough questions. We help reveal the answers.

From established brands and early-stage startups to non-profits of all sizes, we partner with clients to help them unravel their most vexing brand challenges. Interested in learning more?

Get in touch

Commercial Brands

Brands of all sizes can benefit from our two decades of brand strategy experience and our team's broad knowledge of consumers ranging from Gen Z to Boomers and tech savvy executives to fashion-obsessed twenty-somethings.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Our work can be transformational for public school systems and independent schools—improving reputations, bolstering student enrollment and engagement, and helping you attract the best and brightest teaching talent.

Non-Profit Organizations

We uncover and express what makes an organization and its cause relevant to all audiences–from donors to volunteers to beneficiaries–and by doing so, can strengthen connections and engage audiences in entirely new ways.

Creative Partners

For agencies looking to reinforce or strengthen their team, we can provide deep expertise in brand strategy, voice development, naming, and brand identity systems. We play well in the sandbox and can even help you pitch and win the business.

What clients are saying

Testimonials

“I appreciate that Michellene brings a sharp focus on strategy as a distinct part of the identity process. I have worked with her on several projects, and she approaches each challenge diligently and effectively to do the necessary work of understanding the promise, use, meaning, and structure behind the brand.

For Covia, she brought a divergent team together and allowed us to move forward effectively. Our new name, logo, and brand system has accomplished more than we could have hoped—we broke down silos and were able to realize significant goals and reinvigorate our organization in many unexpected ways.”

Mary McMullin
Chief Strategy and Advancement Officer, Covia

“Michellene is a gem. Together with her team, she has delivered time and again for us on various complex, time-sensitive, and high-impact assignments in the wildlife conservation space. Our interactions are always project-enhancing and indeed highly pleasant. Michellene's creative touch is simply superb, as are her attention to detail, quality of insight, and overall professionalism. My only regret, candidly, is not having come across Zeste earlier!”

Thomas S. Kaplan
Chairman, Panthera

“Michellene is an incredibly talented brand strategist and collaborator. Her expertise, work ethic, and insights were invaluable as we worked together on our first brand strategy initiative. She was strategic and enlightening in her findings and delivered quality results that enabled us to update our brand platform and better communicate our position within the industry.

Michellene and Fiona also delivered on the creative design front, creating a new design system that helped transform the look and feel of the company to reflect a more modern organization. I highly recommend Michellene and her team to anyone looking to define, elevate or reposition their brand.”

Liz Morentin
Former EVP, Corporate Communications, Paradigm Talent Agency

“Michellene and I have worked together on several brands and initiatives — she's smart, strategic, a thought leader in the branding industry, and a total joy to work with. I'm thrilled to recommend Michellene for any project, large or small.”

Kristina Duncan
Executive Vice President, Mattel Brands

“Michellene and her firm have worked with us this year, and I could not be happier with the product she has provided. She is professional, creative, smart, and uber-talented! Michellene and her firm provided a complete overhaul to our image, promise statement, logo, and advertisements. I highly recommend her for your marketing needs.”

Dr. Jason Peplinski
Superintendent, Simi Valley Unified School District

“As a direct marketing agency, we consistently delivered dollars in the door for clients but weren't participating in the larger strategic discussions impacting their business. Michellene's seamless integration with our team added to our intelligence and enabled us to speak to client branding opportunities in ways that excited our clients and built our business.”

Lisa Scott Benson
Former President & Chief Strategy Officer, Russ Reid/One & All

“Three years ago, Michellene and her firm consulted in a remarkable fashion with Jurupa Unified to create new branding for the District, which resulted in a new logo, slogan, leadership model, promise statement, color palette, and set of pillars that solidify our District's values. The new and improved changes were enthusiastically embraced by our staff and community. To this day, the product remains effectively aligned with the vision and values of our District as students and staff continue their pursuit of Learning Without Limits.”

Dr. Trenton Hansen
Deputy Superintendent, Jurupa Unified School District

“Michellene and the Zeste team were great partners and guided us through the process of reimagining how we present ourselves to the community. Throughout that process, Michellene was very attuned to our stakeholders and sought to bring the rich history and diversity of Hayward into our refreshed brand. As a result of our work with the Zeste team, we now have a consistent branding strategy that feels modern and true to our mission and values.”

Dr. Matt Wayne
Superintendent, Hayward Unified School District