ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• IDE Interactive, Inc. - 2945 W Peterson Ave Ste 103, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Artversion - 205 N Michigan Ave 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States

Yes. For an architecture firm, I’d avoid a generic web-design shop and prioritize someone who understands how to make the work itself the visual centerpiece—large imagery, project storytelling, typography, and a portfolio that feels more like an architecture publication than a corporate website.

My Chicago shortlist

• Orbit Media Studios — Best overall fit. They’re Chicago-based and specifically have an architecture/engineering/construction web-design practice. Their approach combines custom visual design with content strategy, UX, SEO, and portfolio/case-study systems. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

• Span — Best if visual sophistication is your #1 priority. They have actually designed websites for Chicago architecture firms, including Studio GC and Ross Barney Architects. The Ross Barney project, for example, uses cinematic imagery, video, editorial storytelling, and a portfolio-first structure. Span Span

span.studio

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best if you also want to rethink your firm's brand. They did branding and web design for Chicago architecture firm Legat Architects, including identity, typography/visual language, website, and messaging. ArtVersion

artversion.com

• Andiamo Creative — Worth talking to if you're a smaller/boutique practice. They have directly worked on Chicago architecture-firm branding and websites, including RADA Architects, with portfolio imagery, project locations, bios, and news. Andiamo Creative

andiamocreative.com

• Flamingo Agency — A more conventional small-business web agency option if you want something less bespoke and potentially more straightforward to maintain. Their focus is primarily custom WordPress sites and ongoing support.

Who I'd call first

I'd interview Span, Orbit, and ArtVersion.

If you tell me roughly your firm's size, whether you're primarily residential/commercial/institutional, your budget (e.g. $10k / $25k / $50k+), and 2–3 websites whose visual style you like, I can narrow this to the best 3 Chicago firms and tell you what I think each would likely cost.

Yes. For an architecture firm, I’d prioritize design studios with actual architecture/portfolio experience, rather than a generic web agency. A few Chicago options stand out:

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best overall fit
   • Chicago-based, with branding + web design under one roof.
   • They have a particularly relevant architecture case study: they redesigned Legat Architects’ brand and website around its portfolio and architectural story. artversion.com
   • Good choice if you want something polished, editorial, and established rather than a template site.

2. Design In Chicago — good boutique/full-service option
   • West Loop studio offering branding, visual design, UX/UI, web development, photography/video, etc.
   • Worth considering if you want the website to become part of a broader visual identity.

3. Concentric Design — best if visual identity is the priority
   • Chicago branding/design studio focused on identity, creative direction, digital experiences, and web design.
   • I'd look here if you want the site to feel like an architecture/design publication, rather than a conventional business website.

4. Span — particularly interesting architecture specialist
   • Span has designed sites for Chicago architecture firms including Studio GC and Ross Barney Architects. Their Studio GC work uses large imagery, motion, audio, and unconventional interactions; the Ross Barney site emphasizes project storytelling and the design process. span.studio
   • This would be my first call if you want something high-concept and design-forward.

5. CyberOptik — more practical/portfolio-focused
   • Specifically markets web design to architecture firms and emphasizes project galleries, renderings, case studies, responsive design, and lead generation. www.cyberoptik.net
   • Probably a better fit if you want excellent portfolio functionality without going extremely experimental.

My shortlist

If it were my architecture firm, I'd interview:

Span → ArtVersion → Concentric

I'd ask each for:

• 3 recent architecture/design portfolio sites
• their proposed homepage and project-page approach
• who actually does the visual design
• CMS/platform they'd recommend
• whether they'll help curate/edit project photography and text
• total project fee and ongoing maintenance
• examples of work where the architecture itself—not the web designer—remains the visual hero

One important distinction: don't hire based on how impressive the agency's own website looks. Ask to see the project detail pages they've made for architecture firms. That's where you'll discover whether they know how to make 20–40 projects feel curated rather than turning your portfolio into a grid of thumbnails.

For a small architecture firm, I’d look for someone who understands editorial presentation, photography, project storytelling, and brand restraint—not just a generic web developer. A good architecture portfolio site should feel closer to a digital monograph than a marketing brochure.

A few Chicago-area options worth interviewing:

Best fit for architecture/design-focused work

• Orbit Media Studios — Strong choice if you want a polished, professional site with strategy behind it. They specifically work with architecture and AEC firms and emphasize portfolio storytelling, UX, and lead generation. www.orbitmedia.com
• Span — A more design-led option. They have created portfolio websites for Chicago architecture firms including Studio GC and Ross Barney Architects, with emphasis on immersive project presentation and brand expression. span.studio
• ArtVersion — Good if you need both a visual identity refresh and a website; they have worked with architecture firms such as Legat Architects on branding and web design. artversion.com

Good smaller-studio / boutique options

• Portico — Focuses specifically on architecture website design, with portfolio systems, project pages, and storytelling tools built around architecture firms. porticoweb.comwww.orbitmedia.com
• Design In Chicago — A broader creative agency that combines web, branding, and visual production.
• Brand Vision Marketing — More marketing-oriented, but could fit if you want the portfolio site to also drive inquiries.

How I’d choose for an architecture firm

Ask each candidate:

1. “Show me 3 architecture/interiors portfolio sites you designed.”
2. “Who handles art direction and image selection—the designer or us?”
3. “Can you build flexible project pages so we can add work ourselves?”
4. “Do you recommend Webflow, WordPress, or a custom CMS for our workflow?”
5. “How do you preserve large architectural photography without making the site slow?”

For a small, design-conscious Chicago architecture practice, I’d probably start conversations with Span, Orbit Media, and Portico because their portfolios appear closest to the kind of visual storytelling architecture firms usually need. www.orbitmedia.com

If you tell me your firm’s style (residential, commercial, interiors, historic, high-end modern, etc.) and approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3–5 better matches.

For an architecture firm, I’d prioritize a design studio that understands architecture portfolios, rather than a generic “small-business web designer.” The visual storytelling matters as much as the technology.

My Chicago shortlist

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best all-around fit
   • Chicago-based, with branding, web design, UX, and development under one roof.
   • They’ve specifically done architecture work, including a website/brand refresh for Legat Architects. artversion.com
   • Good choice if you want the site to feel like a sophisticated extension of the firm's identity, not just a portfolio template.

2. Clique Studios — best for a highly custom digital experience
   • Strong combination of strategy, visual design, UX and development.
   • More substantial agency than boutique studio, so I'd consider them if you want sophisticated interactions, project filtering, animation, or a larger content system.

3. Design In Chicago — good boutique/full-service option
   • West Loop studio doing branding, web design/development, photography/video and graphic design.
   • Potentially attractive if you want one team handling both the visual identity and website.

4. Brand Vision Marketing — good if budget and practicality matter
   • Downtown Chicago web/branding shop with a smaller-business orientation.
   • I'd put them below the first three if your goal is a very art-directed architecture portfolio.

One I'd look at especially closely

There's also Span, a Chicago interactive design studio that has done unusually good architecture work. They designed the website for Studio GC with things like audio, image effects and a strong portfolio-focused experience, and they created the identity + website for Ross Barney Architects with cinematic imagery, ambient video and project storytelling. span.studio

That is much closer to what I'd envision for a design-led architecture practice than a conventional corporate website.

Span's architecture work

My ranking for your use case: Span → ArtVersion → Clique → Design In Chicago.

If you tell me roughly your firm size, budget ($5–10k / $10–25k / $25k+), and the aesthetic you're after (minimalist Swiss, editorial, cinematic, brutalist, etc.), I can narrow this to 2–3 firms I'd actually contact and explain why.

For a small architecture firm, I’d look less for a generic “web developer” and more for a design-led studio that understands architecture portfolios, large imagery, case studies, and brand positioning. A few Chicago-area options worth talking to:

Best fits for an architecture portfolio site

Orbit Media Studios — strong option if you want a polished site that also helps generate leads. They specifically market architecture and AEC website work, including portfolio presentation and strategy. www.orbitmedia.com

ArtVersion — worth considering if you need both visual identity and website design. They’ve done branding and web work for architecture firms, including Legat Architects. artversion.com

Portico Web Design — a more specialized choice; they focus on architecture and design-led practices, with an emphasis on organizing portfolios and project storytelling. porticoweb.com

After Focus — another architecture-specific studio focused on websites for architecture firms rather than general businesses. www.after-focus.com

CyberOptik — a more local, practical option; they explicitly work with architecture firms and emphasize portfolio galleries, responsive design, and showcasing high-quality project photography. www.cyberoptik.netwww.wuaw.cool

If you want a smaller boutique relationship

• WUAW — focused on AEC firms and offers a more hands-on boutique approach. www.wuaw.cool
• Legible Studio — smaller studio approach with custom websites and strong emphasis on design clarity. legible.studio

How I’d choose

For a small architecture practice, I’d interview 3 firms and ask:

1. “Show me 3 architecture/design portfolio sites you built that are live.”
2. “Who will art-direct the visual design?”
3. “How do you handle 50–200 project images without making the site feel like a gallery dump?”
4. “Will we be able to add projects ourselves after launch?”
5. “Do you recommend Webflow, WordPress, or a custom build for our needs?”

Budget-wise, a serious architecture portfolio site in Chicago is often a mid-four-figure to low-five-figure project depending on photography, branding, copywriting, CMS complexity, and animation.

If your firm is residential, interiors, commercial, institutional, or landscape, I’d narrow the list differently because the right visual language changes a lot.

If the goal is a visually sophisticated portfolio site for a small architecture practice, I’d prioritize studios that understand architecture/design aesthetics rather than a generic Chicago web agency.

Here’s my shortlist:

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best all-around
   • Chicago-based, with branding, web design, UX and development under one roof.
   • They have directly relevant architecture experience: they redesigned Legat Architects’ brand and website, including the portfolio experience and responsive design. artversion.com
   • Good choice if you want the site to feel polished and established rather than like a template.
   • ArtVersion

2. Span Studio — best for a design-forward architecture portfolio
   • This is probably the first one I'd investigate if your priority is visual design and storytelling.
   • They created the identity and website for Ross Barney Architects, using cinematic imagery, video, project stories and an editorial approach. span.studio
   • They also built a portfolio site for Chicago architecture firm Studio GC, incorporating audio, image effects and project storytelling. span.studio
   • Span Studio

3. Andiamo Creative — best if you also need branding
   • They have an unusually direct architecture case study: branding and a custom website for Chicago firm RADA Architects.
   • The site included portfolio imagery, project-location maps, bios and news. andiamocreative.com
   • Andiamo Creative

4. Design In Chicago — good practical small/midsize-agency option
   • West Loop studio offering strategy, UI/UX, web design/development, branding and photography/video.
   • I'd consider them if you want something custom but don't need an ultra-art-directed architecture-industry specialist.

5. Design B&B — good brand/design-first option
   • Independent Chicago design agency; particularly worth considering if the project is as much about repositioning the firm's visual identity as building the website.

What I'd do in your position

I'd talk to Span, ArtVersion, and Andiamo first. They represent three slightly different approaches:

For an architecture firm, I'd specifically ask each one to show you 3–5 completed architecture/interior/design sites, not just their general portfolio. The important question isn't whether they can make a beautiful website—it's whether they know how to make projects, drawings, photography, process and architectural thinking the hero of the experience.

If you tell me roughly your firm size, whether you're residential/commercial/mixed, and your approximate website budget (e.g. $10k, $25k, $50k+), I can narrow this to 2–3 Chicago firms that are actually appropriate for your situation.

Yes. For a small architecture firm, I’d prioritize someone who understands portfolio storytelling, typography, image sequencing, and restrained visual design over a generic “Chicago web design” agency.

My Chicago shortlist:

1. Portico — my first call
   • They specialize specifically in architecture and design-firm websites, rather than treating architecture as just another client category.
   • Their approach emphasizes project storytelling, custom layouts, project filtering, team profiles, and a bespoke visual system. porticoweb.com
   • Best fit if you want the site to feel like an extension of your firm's architectural work.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best if you want beautiful + commercially effective
   • Chicago-based, with a dedicated architecture/engineering web-design practice.
   • They explicitly work with small-to-mid-sized architecture firms and handle strategy, UX, custom design, development, SEO, and CMS. www.orbitmedia.com
   • I'd choose them if the site needs to generate inquiries, not just win design awards.

3. C2 Creative Studio — best boutique creative/branding option
   • West Loop studio covering brand strategy, visual identity, UI/UX, and website development.
   • More interesting if you're also thinking about refining your firm's identity rather than simply replacing the website.

4. One Design Company — strong design-led digital option
   • River North studio combining brand strategy, information architecture, web design, and development.
   • Worth talking to if you want something highly considered but not necessarily architecture-specific.

5. 11hundred — good small-studio / hands-on alternative
   • Chicago boutique focused on identity, graphic design and digital experiences.
   • I'd investigate them if you want a more art-directed, less agency-like relationship.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd send the same short brief to Portico, Orbit, and C2 and ask each for:

• 3 examples of portfolio-heavy sites they've designed
• their recommended CMS
• approximate budget range
• who will actually design the site
• how they handle large architectural photography
• examples of project pages, not just homepages
• how easy it will be for your team to add a new project six months later

For an architecture firm, I'd specifically ask them to design around projects first, rather than starting with a conventional corporate sitemap. A strong site might feel closer to a digital monograph: large imagery, minimal navigation, excellent typography, concise project narratives, drawings/details where appropriate, and very little visual clutter.

If you tell me roughly how many projects you have, your budget (e.g. $10k / $25k / $50k+), and whether you want minimalist, editorial, or more experimental, I can narrow this to 2–3 Chicago firms and tell you exactly why I'd pick one over the others.

Yes. For a small Chicago architecture firm, I’d prioritize a studio that understands visual storytelling and architecture portfolios, rather than a generic web-development shop.

My shortlist

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — probably my first call. They’re Chicago-based, do branding + web + UX, and have actual architecture-firm website experience. Clutch lists a completed architecture website redesign/development project for them, with typical web projects in the $10k–$49k range. clutch.co

ArtVersion

2. Concentric Design — interesting if you want something more design-studio/editorial than conventional corporate web. They're a Chicago branding and web-design studio with visual identity, creative direction, web design, print/editorial, and animation capabilities. www.concentric.design

Concentric Design

3. Orbit Media Studios — especially good if you want the beautiful portfolio and a site that brings in new clients. They explicitly specialize in architecture websites and describe work with small/midsize architecture firms, including filterable portfolios and visual case studies. Their Chicago office is on N. Ravenswood. www.concentric.designwww.orbitmedia.com

Orbit Media Studios

4. Andiamo Creative — worth talking to if you want branding + website together. They have a particularly relevant Chicago architecture case study: they rebranded RADA Architects and built its custom WordPress site, including portfolio imagery, project maps, bios and news. andiamocreative.com

Andiamo Creative

5. Brand Vision Marketing – Web Design & Branding — a smaller local option if you want a more hands-on shop rather than a larger agency. Their local profile specifically notes portfolio-forward sites for creative studios.

One wildcard I'd seriously look at

Span has done a beautiful site for Chicago architecture firm Studio GC. The project uses large imagery, animation, audio and a deliberately editorial presentation to convey the firm's personality rather than just listing projects. span.studio

Span / Studio GC case study

If it were my firm, I'd interview ArtVersion, Concentric, and Span first. I'd ask each to show me 2–3 portfolio sites where they had to make architecture itself the visual experience—not just put project photos into a standard WordPress template.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($5–10k, $10–25k, $25k+) and the aesthetic you want (minimal/Swiss, editorial, experimental, luxury, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 very specific Chicago firms.

For a small architecture firm, I’d look less for a generic “web designer” and more for someone who understands visual storytelling, large-format imagery, project case studies, and architectural branding. A few Chicago-area options worth considering:

Strong fits for architecture portfolios

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Good if you want a high-end brand refresh plus website. They’ve done work for architecture firms including Legat Architects, combining web design, branding, and visual identity work. artversion.com

• Design In Chicago — A local West Loop studio that handles branding, web design/development, and visual production. A fit if you want one partner for photography direction, graphics, and the site itself.

• Concentric Design — Smaller design studio focused on branding systems and digital experiences; potentially a good match if your firm’s aesthetic is more design-led and you want a thoughtful identity rather than a template site.

• Clique Studios — Better suited if you want a more sophisticated UX process, custom interactions, and a polished digital experience.

Firms with specific architecture experience

• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago-based and explicitly works on architecture/engineering websites, with a focus on portfolio presentation, case studies, and lead generation. www.orbitmedia.com

• CyberOptik — Has a dedicated architecture web design offering and emphasizes showcasing architectural photography and portfolios. www.cyberoptik.net

A smaller-studio route

If you want a more personal relationship (often better for a 3–15 person architecture practice), I’d also look at:

• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding — small Chicago-area studio with branding + website capabilities.
• Glantz Design — Evanston-based brand/digital studio with experience across identity, UX, and websites.

When interviewing them, I’d ask:

1. “Show me 3 architecture/interiors portfolio sites you designed.”
2. “How would you structure 10–20 projects so visitors actually explore them?”
3. “Who handles art direction for photography and project storytelling?”
4. “Will my team be able to add new projects without calling you?”

For a boutique Chicago architecture firm, I’d probably shortlist ArtVersion, Orbit Media, Concentric Design, and Clique Studios first, then choose based on whose visual taste feels closest to your work.

For a small architecture firm in Chicago, I’d prioritize a designer/studio that already understands how to make architectural work feel editorial and immersive—not a generic small-business web shop.

My shortlist:

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best overall fit
   • They’ve specifically done branding + website work for Legat Architects, including the portfolio experience and visual identity. artversion.com
   • Good choice if you want the site to feel like a polished architecture publication rather than a standard corporate website.
   • Chicago office: 211 W Wacker Dr.

2. Span — best for highly visual, design-led work
   • Their work for Ross Barney Architects and Studio GC is unusually relevant: they created portfolio sites specifically around architectural storytelling, imagery, video, and the character of each practice. span.studio
   • I'd seriously consider them if visual design is your highest priority.

3. Orbit Media Studios — best if you also want the site to generate clients
   • Chicago-based and explicitly focused on architecture/AE firms. They combine custom visual design with content strategy, SEO, UX and lead generation. www.orbitmedia.comandiamocreative.com
   • Their office is at 4043 N Ravenswood Ave.

4. Andiamo Creative — best smaller-scale architecture-specific option
   • They have a direct Chicago architecture case study: rebranding RADA Architects and building its portfolio website with project imagery, maps and dynamic content. andiamocreative.com

5. Concentric Design — best if you need brand + site together
   • Chicago studio focused on creative direction, positioning, visual identity and web design. www.concentric.design
   • Particularly interesting if your current identity/logo also feels dated.

Who I'd contact first

For your specific description—small architecture firm + portfolio site + visual design—I'd talk to Span, ArtVersion, and Andiamo first.

I'd give each the same brief and ask for:

• 2–3 examples of architecture/interiors portfolio sites
• their proposed CMS (Webflow, WordPress, custom, etc.)
• estimated project range
• who actually does the design
• whether they handle art direction/image selection and project storytelling, not just development
• examples of subtle animation/video without making the site feel gimmicky

The big distinction is whether you want “beautiful portfolio” or “beautiful portfolio that also wins inquiries.” Span/Andiamo lean more toward the former; ArtVersion/Orbit are stronger candidates for the latter. www.orbitmedia.comandiamocreative.com

If you tell me roughly your budget ($10k, $20k, $40k+, etc.) and the style you want (minimal Swiss, editorial, brutalist, cinematic, warm/material, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and compare them.

For a Chicago architecture firm where the portfolio and visual presentation are the priority, I’d shortlist these rather than hiring a generic web shop:

1. Portico — my first choice. They specialize specifically in architecture websites and design portfolio systems around storytelling, project imagery, team profiles, filtering, and repeatable project pages. That specialization is unusually well aligned with what you’re asking for. porticoweb.com

2. Span Studio — best for a more experimental/art-directed site. They're Chicago-based and have done particularly strong work for architecture practices, including the Studio GC and Ross Barney Architects sites. Their Ross Barney project combines identity, strategy, cinematic imagery/video, and portfolio storytelling. span.studio

3. Orbit Media Studios — best if you also care about generating leads. They're Chicago-based and explicitly specialize in architecture/engineering/construction websites, combining custom design with SEO, UX, and conversion strategy. www.orbitmedia.com

4. Concentric Design — good if the project is really a brand + website overhaul. They're a Chicago branding/web studio, so I'd consider them if your firm's visual identity needs as much attention as the website itself.

5. Design In Chicago — good broader local option. They're in the West Loop and combine branding, UX/UI, web development, photography/video, and digital work, which could be useful if you want someone to handle the whole visual system.

What I'd do

I'd contact Portico, Span, and Orbit and give all three the same brief. Ask each to show you 3 architecture-firm sites they personally designed, then compare:

• How they handle large architectural photography
• Project-page storytelling
• Drawings/renderings alongside photography
• Mobile presentation
• Whether your staff can easily add projects themselves
• CMS and ongoing maintenance
• Their proposed budget and timeline

For a small design-led practice, I'd lean Portico if you want sophisticated but restrained, Span if you want something distinctive and memorable, and Orbit if the site needs to function as a serious business-development tool as well as a portfolio.

If you tell me roughly your firm size, type of architecture (residential/commercial/hospitality/etc.), number of projects, and your budget, I can narrow this to 2–3 Chicago firms that are the best fit and give you a realistic price range.

For an architecture firm where the portfolio and visual presentation are the product, I’d favor a design studio with architecture-specific experience over a generic Chicago web agency.

My shortlist

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — probably my first call if you want a polished, sophisticated site. They do branding, UX/UI, and web development, and Clutch specifically lists a completed architecture-company website redesign among their Chicago projects. Typical web projects listed are roughly $10k–$49k. clutch.cowww.orbitmedia.com

2. Orbit Media Studios — strongest choice if you want the beautiful portfolio plus serious strategy, SEO, and lead generation. They have a dedicated architecture/engineering practice and explicitly build portfolio-driven architecture sites. Their projects tend to be substantially larger-budget; Clutch lists $50k+ as their typical minimum. clutch.cowww.orbitmedia.com

3. Portico Web Design — worth talking to if you want someone who really understands architecture rather than translating a generic corporate template. They specialize specifically in portfolio-driven websites for architecture and design practices, with a strong emphasis on information architecture and visual storytelling. porticoweb.com

4. Arccentric — particularly interesting if your firm has strong 3D visualization, animation, or rendering work. They're a Chicago multidisciplinary digital-media studio with architecture clients including Ross Barney Architects and offer web design alongside CGI/visualization. www.arccentric.com

5. Design In Chicago — a more generalist local option combining branding, web, photography/video and digital design. I'd consider them if you want to refresh the firm's broader visual identity at the same time as the website.

What I'd do in your position

I'd interview ArtVersion, Orbit, and Portico first.

For an architecture portfolio, I'd specifically ask each one to show you 3 live architecture/design sites they've actually built, then ask:

• How do you handle 30–100+ projects without making the site feel like a database?
• Can projects be filtered by type, location, scale, etc.?
• Who handles art direction and image sequencing?
• Can our staff add projects ourselves?
• How do you handle large architectural photography without killing page speed?
• Can you create custom project pages rather than forcing us into a template?
• What's the total project cost, including content migration, photography/video, CMS, hosting and maintenance?

I would not choose based on the prettiest agency homepage. For your firm, the important test is whether they can make your actual projects look exceptional.

If you tell me roughly your budget (e.g. $10k, $25k, $50k+) and whether you're looking for minimalist/high-end vs. more editorial/experimental, I can narrow this to 2–3 Chicago firms that fit.

Yes. For a small Chicago architecture firm where the portfolio and visual presentation are the point, I’d prioritize a design studio that already understands architecture—not a generic web-development shop.

My shortlist

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best overall fit
   • Chicago-based, with branding + web design + UX under one roof.
   • Most importantly, they have a documented Chicago architecture case study: they redesigned Legat Architects’ brand and website around its portfolio and architectural storytelling. artversion.comwww.concentric.design
   • I'd put them at the top of your interview list if you want something polished and editorial.

2. Concentric Design — best for a smaller design-led studio
   • Chicago studio focused on visual identity, creative direction, and web design rather than just development.
   • Their positioning is particularly appropriate if you want the website to feel like an extension of your firm's design philosophy. www.concentric.design

3. Span — best if you want an architecture-specific, highly conceptual site
   • Span has actually designed sites for Chicago architecture practices, including Studio GC and Ross Barney Architects. Their Studio GC site uses unusual elements such as audio and image effects to make the portfolio feel experiential. span.studio
   • This is the one I'd investigate if you're after something that feels architect-designed rather than a conventional agency website.

4. Archmark -The Branding & Marketing Agency for Architects — best architecture-industry specialist
   • They focus specifically on architects and position the website as a business-development tool as well as a portfolio.
   • I'd consider them if getting inquiries and positioning the firm matters as much as visual impact.

5. Liska & Associates Inc — best for brand/identity work alongside the website
   • More of a communication/branding firm, so interesting if you're thinking, "We need to rethink how the whole firm presents itself," rather than simply replacing the website.

One more worth looking at

Pavlovcik Architecture Inc. isn't a web designer, but I'd look at its work for a different reason: when interviewing designers, ask whether they have experience making architecture photography, drawings, plans, renderings, and project narratives work together rather than treating the site like a normal corporate portfolio.

What I'd do in your position

I'd send the same brief to ArtVersion, Concentric, and Span and ask each for:

• 2–3 examples of architecture/design-firm websites they've built
• their proposed homepage concept
• how they'd structure the project portfolio
• CMS they'd use so your staff can add projects themselves
• estimated budget and timeline
• who actually does the visual design
• whether photography/video/art direction is included

There's a meaningful difference between "a nice website with your projects on it" and a site where the website itself communicates the firm's architectural point of view. For what you described, I'd optimize for the latter.

If you tell me roughly your budget (e.g. $10k, $25k, $50k+) and the aesthetic you want—minimal Swiss/editorial, cinematic, experimental, warm/material, etc.—I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and tell you exactly why I'd choose each.

If the priority is a visually sophisticated architecture portfolio—not a generic small-business website—I’d shortlist firms with actual architecture/design work in their portfolio.

My top Chicago picks

1. Portico — best overall fit
   • They specialize specifically in architecture websites and design-led practices.
   • Their approach is unusually aligned with an architecture firm: project storytelling, image-heavy portfolio systems, team profiles, filtering, and custom layouts. porticoweb.com
   • My first call if you want the website itself to feel like a piece of design.

2. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best for branding + website
   • They did the Legat Architects brand refresh and website, including web design, brand strategy, graphic design, and UX. artversion.com
   • Good choice if your firm needs a stronger visual identity alongside the portfolio site.

3. Span — best for an unconventional, editorial/art-directed site
   • Their Chicago architecture work includes websites for Studio Gang and Ross Barney Architects.
   • The Ross Barney project, for example, combines identity, cinematic imagery, video, project storytelling, and a distinctive homepage concept. span.studio
   • I'd look here if you want something less "architecture firm template" and more digitally experimental.

4. Orbit Media Studios — best if the site also needs to generate business
   • Chicago-based, with a dedicated architecture practice.
   • They combine custom design with content strategy, SEO, conversion optimization, and portfolio/case-study functionality. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Probably the strongest choice if you're balancing beautiful portfolio + new-client acquisition.

5. CyberOptik — good practical architecture-specific option
   • They explicitly specialize in Chicago architecture websites and emphasize visual storytelling, expansive portfolios, and responsive presentation. www.cyberoptik.net
   • I'd consider them if you want architecture expertise without necessarily pursuing a highly experimental art-directed site.

If it were my firm

I'd contact Portico, Span, and ArtVersion first and give all three the same brief. Their approaches are different enough that you'll quickly discover which design direction fits your practice.

For an architecture firm, I'd specifically ask them to show you 3–5 live architecture sites they've built, not just screenshots. Pay attention to how the sites handle:

• Full-bleed photography and drawings
• Project filtering and categories
• Long-form project narratives
• Mobile image presentation
• Team/project relationships
• Awards and publications
• Fast-loading high-resolution imagery
• Adding new projects yourself
• Whether the CMS makes updating the portfolio painless

One particularly useful benchmark is Portico's project-builder approach, where new projects can be added through a structured intake process rather than having someone redesign each page manually. porticoweb.com

If you tell me roughly your firm size, budget (e.g. $10k / $25k / $50k+), and the aesthetic you want (minimal Swiss, editorial, experimental, luxury residential, institutional, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and tell you which one I'd hire.