Constructive is a brand strategy and web design agency based in Jersey City, New Jersey, led by its founder and Chief Brand Officer, Matt Schwartz, and its Managing Director, Andrea Powers St-Aubin. Its team page lists nine people across strategy, design, digital and client services. The agency describes its mission as "brand strategy and web design for nonprofits that helps build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world."
It leads with brand strategy and positioning, then designs the system that carries it, so the website arrives after the organisation has settled what it stands for. That order suits foundations and advocacy groups going through a repositioning, and the clients it presents include the Environmental Defense Fund, American Forests, the Rocky Mountain Institute and the FrameWorks Institute.
What it does
- Brand strategy and branding: positioning, messaging and the identity that expresses them.
- Design and design systems: the visual system that carries a brand across every touchpoint.
- Digital strategy and web design: the website and the digital presence built on the brand.
- Content strategy and development: planning and producing the content an organisation publishes.
How it works
Constructive starts with strategy rather than with pages. It first works out what an organisation stands for and how it should position itself, then builds the brand and the design system from that work, and only then designs the website that carries it. Content strategy runs alongside, so that what the site says follows from the positioning.
The agency states ten values that shape how its team works: Bring Your Full Self, Show Up for Each Other, Be Accountable, Put People First, Be Curious, Work With Purpose, Lead With Intention, Speak Uncomfortable Truths, Pursue Greatness, and Have Fun, Seriously!
Who it works with
Constructive works with mission-driven organisations in seven areas:
- Climate and the environment
- Education and the arts
- Foundations and philanthropy
- Healthcare and social services
- Think tanks and policy advocacy
- Public interest law and government
- Science and research
Clients it shows
The case studies on its site include the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the FrameWorks Institute, the Center for Family Representation (CFRNY), the Endangered Languages Project, American Forests, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Additional Ventures and the Climate Knowledge Initiative at Columbia Business School.
FAQ
Where is Constructive based? In Jersey City, New Jersey, at 1078 Summit Ave, Unit #396, Jersey City, NJ 07307.
Who leads Constructive? Its founder and Chief Brand Officer, Matt Schwartz, with Managing Director Andrea Powers St-Aubin.
What kind of organisations does it work with? Nonprofits and mission-driven organisations: climate and environment groups, foundations and philanthropy, think tanks and policy advocacy, public interest law, education and the arts, healthcare and social services, science and research.
Does Constructive only build websites? It covers the whole chain, from brand strategy and positioning to branding, design systems, content strategy and web design, and it treats the website as the last step of that chain.
Which clients has it worked with? Among others, the Environmental Defense Fund, American Forests, the Rocky Mountain Institute, the FrameWorks Institute, the Endangered Languages Project and Columbia Business School's Climate Knowledge Initiative.
Who is it best suited for? Foundations and advocacy groups that are repositioning their brand and want the website to follow from that work.
Contact
- Website: constructive.co
- About the team: constructive.co/about-us
- Address: 1078 Summit Ave, Unit #396, Jersey City, NJ 07307, United States