News archive: February 2009

Gates Studio is an award-winning boutique design firm in Boston, Massachusetts founded by Valerie Gates and run with her husband, Barry Friedman. They specialize in complete creative design solutions including branding and style guide design, print and collateral design, website design and development, digital photography, and film/video creative and production.

When Valerie Gates read Omnivore’s Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable and Miracle this winter, she knew she had to do something to help the small organic farms and the local food movement in the Boston area. Gates came up with the idea to offer local growers and farms her studio’s professional design and branding services on a creative pro-bono sliding scale. With help from the non-profit group, Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership, she put out the word to local farms that she was offering her studio’s services on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

First five farms: a barter agreement of design time and services for organic food or CSA shares

Next five farms: 75% discount on rates for services

Next five farms: 50% discount on rates for services

Next five farms: 25% discount on rates for services

By the end of the second day, Gates had over 15 farms and local growers lined up to take advantage of her unique offer. “I wanted
to do my part in helping even out the playing field for small growers and help them compete with larger farms and organizations that have larger marketing budgets,” explained Gates. “I also wanted to find a creative way to get my family to eat more organically and introduce them to sustainable farming life by creating a relationship with these local farms.”

Gates Studio has won EMMY, BDA, Promax and American Film Institute Awards and their clients include: CBS, Liberty Mutual, United Way, Women’s Entertainment Network, The American Meteorological Society, Charles River Labs, The Medical Foundation, and the Dept. of Health and Human Services.

See more at gatesstudio.blogspot.com/