The Erie Regional Chamber partnered with Gem City Creative to modernize a dated and fragmented brand identity. Through deep brand strategy sessions, we uncovered key attributes—innovation, leadership, and community support—that shaped the redesign. We unified the Chamber’s multiple sectors under a cohesive color-coded system and introduced a new logo featuring forward movement and a subtle nod to Erie’s peninsula. Updated typography, purposeful imagery guidelines, and refined visual standards now communicate clarity and progress. The revitalized identity positions the Chamber as a bold, collaborative leader guiding Erie’s economic transformation.

Your content isn’t underperforming because the writing is bad — it’s because your visuals aren’t connected. When every asset looks different, your audience spends their first few seconds confused instead of absorbing your message. Consistency helps people process information faster, recognize your brand, and engage more. That’s why our membership plans — Cadet, PRO, and VIP — are built to create a repeatable system, not one-off designs. And for teams needing fast results, our new Two-Week Sprint delivers focused, high-impact assets that bring clarity quickly. You don’t need a rebrand. You need a system your team can rely on.

their new partnership with Connected Mathematics, they needed a modern brand identity that reflected their expanded offerings without losing their friendly, educator-first personality. We created a color-coded visual system—coral for math, green for science, and blue for corporate—supported by playful gradients and bubble elements. The result is a unified, approachable identity that stands out at tradeshows, communicates clearly across materials, and feels exciting for both teachers and students. This refreshed brand brings clarity, consistency, and energy to every part of the Lab Aids experience.

A rebrand becomes necessary when there’s a gap between how a business sees itself and how its audience perceives it. This “perception gap” creates confusion, weakens marketing, and slows growth. When customers don’t instantly understand who you are or what you offer, they move on. A rebrand helps realign your visuals, messaging, and identity with the direction your business is truly heading. It brings clarity, strengthens trust, and re-energizes your presence in the market. If your company has evolved, if your brand feels outdated, or if your marketing feels harder than it should, it’s likely time to rebrand.

FRC, a longstanding leader in cybersecurity and IT solutions, needed a brand identity that reflected the innovation and global momentum happening inside the company. Their previous visuals tied closely to their early roots and no longer communicated the forward movement, ecosystem collaboration, and people-focused mission they embody today. Gem City Creative redesigned FRC’s brand around three core ideas—aggregation, uplift, and innovation—resulting in a modern logo, bold color palette, and simplified name that supports their expanding footprint. The refreshed identity honors their heritage while positioning FRC for its next era of growth, technological advancement, and international impact.

FERVELL is a modern CPA firm founded by Kyle and Ryan to elevate how people experience tax advisory. Their mission goes beyond filing taxes—they educate clients so they can gain clarity, confidence, and control over their financial future. With a premium, tiered service model, clients can start with foundational support and work toward proactive tax strategy over time. The brand blends innovation with trust, using mountain-inspired visuals to symbolize vision and growth, paired with sharp, modern design elements to reflect disruption. The result is a premium yet approachable brand that empowers clients to rise to new financial heights.

Brands don’t fade overnight — they quietly lose energy until customers stop feeling connected. Just like walking through a ghost town, you can sense when a brand is lifeless: outdated visuals, inconsistent messaging, and no clear story to follow. A thriving brand should feel alive, engaging, and unmistakably “you.” In this post, we explore the signs of a dying brand, why stagnation happens, and the steps to revive it with intentional strategy, fresh design, and meaningful engagement. If your brand feels like it’s stuck in the past, it might be time to breathe life back into it.

Franco’s, a beloved restaurant in Erie, PA, partnered with Gem City Creative for a brand refresh to modernize their look while staying true to their local roots. With a new location in the works, this was the perfect time to update their visual identity. The redesign includes a bold typographic logo, a playful diner-inspired color palette, and friendly, approachable fonts. Menus and a modern website now reflect the warmth and community-driven experience Franco’s is known for. This strategic restaurant branding positions Franco’s to continue growing within Erie while celebrating their classic, welcoming atmosphere.

Gem City Creative offers three membership plans to support businesses at different stages. The Cadet Plan provides quick, flexible creative help. Pro adds strategy and project management for structured campaigns. VIP offers full-service creative partnership for brands ready to scale. All plans include consistent quality, predictable pricing, and a dedicated team. Prices increase in 2026, so now is a great time to lock in 2025 rates.

Discover simple ways to overdeliver for your clients and earn better reviews. Learn how small, thoughtful extras can build trust, increase referrals, and create long-term client loyalty. This guide shares practical tips you can implement today to boost your reputation and fuel business growth through outstanding client experiences.

Branding isn’t just about a logo — it starts long before anyone sees your design. Your brand is shaped by the first interaction a customer has with your business, and that moment sets the tone for trust, connection, and sales. Too many companies jump straight to logos and colors, but without strategy and a clear customer journey, design falls flat. By understanding who your customers are, where they are in their journey, and what they need at each stage, you can create branding that resonates, builds trust, and converts. Strategy first. Design second.

Most brands hire an agency for visuals — logos, websites, social graphics. But design without strategy is wasted effort. It may look polished, yet fail to move the needle.

At Gem City Creative, we begin with questions: What’s the bigger vision? What problem are we solving? Strategy shapes every color, font, and layout so design connects to business goals.

Before hiring an agency, don’t just ask, “Can they design?” Ask, “Will they think with me?” Choose a partner who slows down, digs deeper, and designs with purpose — so your investment delivers real results.

Your business is what you do. Your brand is how people feel about what you do. A business is the bookstore—the shelves, staff, and sales. But your brand is the feeling readers get when they walk in and want to stay awhile. The strongest brands aren’t perfect or polished—they’re authentic, different, and memorable. People connect with what feels real. Pro tip: list three things that make your brand unique, then amplify them by 10. That’s how you stand out, build trust, and spark real connections. What’s one trait that makes your brand different?

Mini golf is a lot like running a business—full of obstacles, unexpected curves, and occasional “unfortunate circumstances.” Success isn’t just about taking a shot; it’s about knowing exactly where to aim. At Gem City Creative, we don’t just “design pretty things.” We help businesses identify obstacles, focus on their goals, and line up a clear path to success. Just like in mini golf, strategy and clarity matter more than luck. While our mini-golf scorecards might not impress, our approach to branding and design ensures your business stays on course, cuts through distractions, and hits its target.

Many brands cling to sameness—repeating the same colors, fonts, and templates—thinking it builds trust. But when your message no longer resonates, that consistency only amplifies the wrong story. Netflix avoided this trap by evolving its message and value to match shifting audience behaviors, moving from DVDs to streaming, from distributor to creator, and from local to global. Their purpose stayed steady, but their brand adapted. The lesson? Relevance matters more than rigid consistency. Brands that thrive know when to refresh their story so it connects with today’s audience while staying true to their mission.

Great design isn’t enough—without strategy, it falls flat. At Gem City Creative, we believe branding should be driven by purpose, not just aesthetics. To keep your brand aligned, regularly seek outside feedback, audit for consistency across platforms, and set one clear focus each quarter. These small but intentional actions ensure your visuals support your goals and messaging. If your brand looks good but feels off, it’s likely a strategy issue, not a design one. Start realigning today with our free Brand Audit Checklist provided in this blog post. Design should amplify your strategy—not replace it. Let’s make sure it does.

At Gem City Creative, we used to do it all—design, strategy, sales, admin. It felt smart… until it burned us out. The real breakthrough came when we embraced the Who Not How mindset: instead of asking how to do everything, we asked whocould help us do it better. That shift protected our time, improved our output, and multiplied our impact. Now, we focus on what we do best: building bold, elevated brands. Want to grow faster? Delegate one draining task today. Ask: Who can do this better than me? That small step can change everything. Need help? Let’s talk.

Great design isn’t just about visuals—it’s about clarity. A brand is rooted in a company’s beliefs, behaviors, and the way others perceive it. Without clear messaging, branding, and positioning, even the best design can fall flat—especially in a world where attention spans are shorter than ever. To stand out, brands must be clear, recognizable, and just a little weird. The key to clarity? Asking the right questions.

Tyrese Haliburton didn’t win the 2025 NBA Finals—but he gained something far more valuable: respect. By playing through injury, leading with composure, and elevating his team, Haliburton proved that character outweighs trophies. The same is true in business. Clients don’t just choose the best product—they choose brands they trust, admire, and respect. This is the Respect Economy in action: when consistency, grace under pressure, and a commitment to others become your brand’s foundation. Want to build long-term brand equity? Start by earning respect. Download our free Brand Audit Checklist to evaluate how your brand is showing up where it counts.

At Gem City Creative, we only work with clients we can truly help grow. Why? Because alignment is everything. When values and vision don’t match, the work suffers—and so does the impact. We’re not here for cookie-cutter branding or one-off projects. We’re here to build unforgettable, story-driven identities rooted in trust, purpose, and collaboration. Long-term partnerships allow us to go deeper, work smarter, and create real transformation. Design isn’t just decoration—it’s evolution. So whether you're on the client or creative side, ask yourself: are we growing together? If the answer’s yes, you’re on the right path. Let’s evolve.