ChatGPT answers, unedited

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d look for agencies that can do more than a one-time redesign: mobile-first UX, accessibility (WCAG), CMS governance, integrations, analytics, and a reliable support retainer. These Chicago-area firms have relevant higher-ed or education experience:

A few other higher-ed-focused firms to put on the shortlist:

• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago-based agency with higher education website work, including projects for education organizations and ongoing optimization/support. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Kanopi Studios — specializes in higher-ed websites, accessibility, CMS work, and long-term support (though not Chicago-only). Kanopi Studios
• OHO — higher-ed specialist with extensive university website experience and ongoing CMS support offerings. OHO

For a Loop-based university office, I’d ask finalists for:

1. Three recent higher-ed examples (especially admissions, student services, research centers, or continuing education).
2. Mobile metrics: Core Web Vitals, accessibility testing, page-speed improvements.
3. CMS plan: who maintains content, training, governance, approvals.
4. Support model: response times, monthly hours, security updates, analytics reviews.
5. Integration experience: CRM, SIS, LMS, event registration, calendars, and forms.

A practical RFP shortlist could be mStoner + Sandstorm + Orbit + EDUCO + Clique if your priority is a university-grade site with a long-term partner. Orbit Media Studios

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• DCC Marketing - 125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

For a university office in/near the Loop, I’d shortlist agencies with actual higher-ed experience, strong mobile/responsive UX, and a credible post-launch support model rather than a general-purpose web shop.

• mStoner, Inc. — Higher-ed specialist. Their work is specifically centered on higher-education digital strategy and institutional websites. The Chicago office is at 500 W Madison. This is worth considering if your office needs to navigate university stakeholders, enrollment/communications goals, and institutional brand requirements. Orbit Media Studios
• Clique Studios — Strong Loop-location option. Their Chicago office is at 20 N Wacker, and they explicitly offer website support and optimization as an ongoing partnership, including strategy, design, development, and continuous improvement. Clique Studios
• Sandstorm Design — UX/accessibility-heavy choice. Chicago-based and experienced with higher education and other organizations with accessibility/compliance requirements. Their positioning around research-driven UX and digital experiences makes them worth including if the mobile experience and accessibility are major priorities.
• EDUCO Web Design — Smaller, potentially more hands-on option. Based in Oak Park, EDUCO has education work and specifically cites a University of Chicago project; it offers web design/development and ongoing support. Educo Web Design
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — Larger technical partner. Its Chicago office is at 200 W Jackson Blvd and its capabilities span UX/web development, integrations, hosting, security, and post-launch support. I'd consider it if the site needs substantial integrations with university systems rather than being primarily a marketing/content site.
• Orbit Media — A particularly relevant specialist even though its office is outside the Loop. Orbit has a dedicated higher-ed practice, explicitly builds responsive/accessibility-focused university sites, cites Olivet Nazarene University and the Discovery Partners Institute among its work, and offers ongoing technical support and optimization. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

How I'd structure the RFP

For your requirements, I'd ask each finalist to demonstrate:

1. Three higher-ed sites they've launched, preferably with comparable audiences and governance complexity.
2. A mobile-first prototype of 2–3 representative pages, not just desktop comps.
3. Their approach to WCAG accessibility, performance/Core Web Vitals, and mobile QA.
4. Exactly what "ongoing support" means: response times, monthly hours, security/updates, content changes, analytics, and emergency support.
5. CMS recommendation and university-system integrations.
6. A 12-month total cost: build + hosting + maintenance + likely enhancement work.

For a small university office rather than the entire university, I'd put mStoner, Clique, Sandstorm, EDUCO, and Orbit into the initial conversation set, then let the proposals determine which operating model fits. I wouldn't choose solely on agency size or portfolio aesthetics.

If you tell me roughly budget ($25k / $50k / $100k+) and whether you're on WordPress, Drupal, Cascade, etc., I can narrow this to a 3-agency shortlist and provide their official sites/contact routes.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

If this is a university office near the Chicago Loop and you want a mobile-first site plus an ongoing support relationship, I’d put these agencies on the shortlist:

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. mStoner is now part of Carnegie and focuses specifically on higher-education digital work, including research-informed UX, content strategy, IA, web development and ongoing support. Its Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, right in the Loop.
• Clique Studios — Best nearby full digital/technical partner. Their Loop office is at 20 N Wacker. They offer responsive/mobile design, UX, accessibility, web development and ongoing optimization, and are positioned for higher-ed and complex organizations.
• Orbit Media Studios — Best for content + SEO + ongoing growth. Orbit has a dedicated higher-education practice, including university UX, responsive development, CMS implementation, accessibility and post-launch support. It specifically cites work with Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios
• EDUCO Web Design — Best smaller-agency option. EDUCO has substantial education/nonprofit experience and a University of Chicago project; its Music Institute of Chicago work included responsive redesign, Drupal development and ongoing web support. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design
• Eduvantis, LLC — Worth considering if the project needs higher-ed strategy as much as web execution. They're specifically focused on higher education strategy and digital marketing, although I'd confirm whether they can provide the depth of ongoing technical support you need.
• Sandstorm Design — Good UX/accessibility alternative. Chicago-based and experienced with higher education, accessibility and research-driven digital experiences.
• Solid Digital — Good generalist downtown option. Based at 100 N LaSalle, with web UX/development and ongoing digital-growth capabilities; I'd rank it below the higher-ed specialists if university experience is a hard requirement.

My top 3 for your brief

1. mStoner if higher-ed expertise is the priority.
2. Clique Studios if you want a polished mobile experience plus substantial engineering capability and a convenient Loop location.
3. Orbit Media if content, SEO, accessibility and long-term optimization are important alongside the redesign.

I would also ask each bidder for 2–3 recent higher-ed projects, mobile performance metrics, accessibility/WCAG approach, CMS recommendation, and a concrete 12-month support SLA. For a university office, the post-launch relationship can matter more than the initial visual design.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 5 agencies and compare estimated project size, higher-ed clients, CMS expertise, accessibility, ongoing support, and proximity to the Loop.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher-ed audiences, accessibility (WCAG/ADA), CMS governance, mobile-first UX, and ongoing maintenance—not just a one-time redesign. Here are Chicago-area firms worth shortlisting:

Best-fit Chicago agencies for a university mobile-first site

Also worth evaluating (higher-ed specialists, not necessarily Chicago-based)

• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago agency with higher-ed website experience, including university-focused UX, accessibility, CMS training, and post-launch support. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• OHO Interactive — Higher-ed specialist with extensive university website experience, CMS implementation, and ongoing support services. OHO
• ERI Design Studio — Focuses on higher-ed strategy, mobile-first experiences, accessibility, CMS, integrations, and ongoing support. ERI Design

My shortlist for your situation

For a university office near the Loop needing a mobile-first redesign plus ongoing support, I’d put these into an RFP:

1. mStoner — if higher-ed expertise is the top priority.
2. Clique Studios — if you want a Chicago-based team close to campus with strong product/engineering capability.
3. Sandstorm Design — if accessibility, UX research, and content governance are major concerns.
4. Orbit Media — if you want a collaborative Chicago web partner with ongoing optimization experience. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

When interviewing them, I’d ask specifically:

• Can you show 3 higher-ed sites launched in the last 3 years?
• Who handles monthly support after launch (developers vs. account managers)?
• What CMS do you recommend (Drupal, WordPress, Cascade, Modern Campus, etc.) and why?
• How do you manage accessibility testing and remediation?
• What is included in a support retainer (hours, SLAs, analytics, content updates, security)?

I can also help build a Chicago agency comparison matrix with estimated budget ranges and questions for an RFP if you’re preparing a vendor search.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• IDE Interactive, Inc. - 2945 W Peterson Ave Ste 103, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

If this is a university office near the Loop and you want both a mobile-first rebuild and a partner for ongoing support, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

• Clique Studios — Best local fit. Their Chicago office is at 20 N Wacker, so they’re particularly convenient for a Loop-based university team. They offer UX/UI, responsive/mobile design, accessibility, web development, and ongoing optimization/support. Clique Studios

Best for: a sophisticated site that will evolve continuously rather than a one-off redesign.

• Orbit Media Studios — Best higher-ed + ongoing support combination. Orbit explicitly has a higher-education practice, including work with Olivet Nazarene University, and offers post-launch website management, optimization, training and support. Their mobile work is also a stated specialty. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

Best for: a university communications/marketing office that needs strategy, UX, content, development and a long-term partner.

• mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — Best higher-ed specialist. mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed digital work and is now part of Carnegie's higher-ed organization. Carnegie also offers ongoing website support, accessibility monitoring, analytics and content optimization. Carnegie

Best for: an institution where deep higher-ed expertise matters more than having a small local agency.

• EDUCO Web Design — Best smaller/local alternative. Based just west of Chicago in Oak Park, EDUCO has education experience and emphasizes responsive UX, accessibility, CMS development and ongoing maintenance/support. Educo Web Design

Best for: a smaller office that wants a more hands-on agency relationship.

• Promet Source — Best for complex institutional/technical requirements. It is Chicago-based and specifically serves higher education and public-sector organizations, with Drupal/WordPress expertise, accessibility, UX, integrations and ongoing support. Promet Source

Best for: a university site involving complicated CMS, accessibility, integrations or governance requirements.

One additional agency I'd interview

ERI Design Studio isn't Chicago-based, but its higher-ed specialization is unusually strong: it explicitly describes its approach as mobile-first, has worked with colleges and universities, and offers WordPress, Drupal and Modern Campus development plus ongoing support. ERI Design

If I were issuing an RFP, I'd invite Clique, Orbit, mStoner/Carnegie, EDUCO and Promet. I'd ask each to demonstrate a comparable university project on a phone—not just show desktop screenshots—and specifically address WCAG accessibility, CMS governance, page-speed/Core Web Vitals, analytics, integrations, content migration and their post-launch SLA/support model.

For your particular requirement, my first three calls would be Clique → Orbit → mStoner/Carnegie.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• UX 4Sight - 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Office of Marketing and Communications - 10 W 35th St #2 Ste 13D8, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher-ed stakeholders, accessibility (WCAG), CMS governance, mobile-first UX, and long-term site support rather than a one-off marketing site shop. These Chicago-area firms are worth putting on an RFP shortlist:

Best fits for a university mobile-first site + ongoing support

mStoner, Inc.

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-305-0537)

Best for: higher-ed specialists and university-scale projects

• Strong higher education focus: UX research, content strategy, information architecture, and web development.
• Chicago presence (near the Loop) and specifically oriented around higher-ed digital experiences.
• Good fit if your office needs to coordinate with communications, admissions, faculty, and institutional stakeholders.

Sandstorm Design

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4200)

Best for: UX-heavy redesigns, accessibility, and complex university audiences

• Chicago-based UX and digital experience agency with higher-ed experience, including work connected to University of Chicago units. Sandstorm Design
• Offers research-driven UX, accessibility support, and ongoing optimization. Sandstorm Design
• Good choice if the current site has navigation problems, many audiences, or accessibility concerns.

Orbit Media Studios

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4581)

Best for: practical website rebuilds + content management partnership

• Chicago agency with higher-education website experience, including university projects. Orbit Media Studios
• Their higher-ed work emphasizes responsive design, accessibility, CMS training, integrations, and post-launch support. Orbit Media Studios
• A strong fit for a university office that needs a partner after launch, not just a developer.

EDUCO Web Design

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 708-613-0386)

Best for: mid-sized projects and hands-on partnership

• Chicago-area agency with education/nonprofit experience and examples involving university-affiliated organizations. Educoweb Design
• Has experience with Drupal and mobile-focused redesign needs in academic contexts. Clutch
• Good fit if you want a smaller team with direct access to senior people.

Also worth considering

Clique Studios

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+13123799329)

Best for: modern digital experiences and custom development

• Located in the Loop area and works on UX/UI, responsive design, accessibility, and digital platforms.
• Consider if you need more than a CMS refresh—such as integrations, custom tools, or a stronger product-design approach.

Sandbox Studio, Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-525-9258)

Best for: academic/science storytelling and design quality

• Long-running Chicago design firm with higher-ed and research organization experience.
• Better suited for a smaller institutional site, research center, or academic program office than a massive university-wide platform.

Americaneagle.com, Inc.

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-291-5970)

Best for: larger technical builds and ongoing managed services

• Chicago Loop office with broad web development, hosting, integrations, and support capabilities.
• Worth considering if uptime, security, integrations, and enterprise support are major requirements.

My shortlist for your situation

For a university office near the Loop needing mobile-first redesign + ongoing support, I’d start with:

1. mStoner — if higher-ed specialization is the top priority.
2. Sandstorm Design — if UX, accessibility, and complex audiences matter most.
3. Orbit Media — if you need a collaborative long-term web partner.
4. EDUCO — if you prefer a more hands-on boutique relationship.

When interviewing agencies, I’d ask specifically:

• Can you show 3 recent higher-ed sites that are live and mobile-tested?
• Who handles ongoing CMS updates after launch?
• What are your accessibility testing and remediation processes?
• How do you support urgent admissions/program/event updates?
• Do you provide analytics reviews and conversion optimization after launch?

For a university office, the ongoing support model is often as important as the initial redesign—so I’d evaluate retainers, response times, and CMS training as part of the selection process.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Since you mentioned the Loop, I’d focus on Chicago firms with actual higher-ed experience, not just general web shops. My shortlist:

• Clique Studios — Best if proximity + modern digital execution matter. Their Chicago office is on Wacker Drive in the Loop, and their capabilities include responsive/mobile UX, accessibility, web development, and ongoing optimization. Good fit for a university office that wants a polished site without losing technical depth.
• Orbit Media Studios — Best overall for an ongoing website partner. Orbit has a dedicated higher-education practice, including UX, CMS implementation, launch, analytics, and post-launch support/optimization. Its higher-ed portfolio includes Discovery Partners Institute and Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Sandstorm Design — Best for UX/accessibility-heavy work. They have 20+ years working with universities and cite projects for University of Chicago schools and research organizations. Their offering includes UX research, responsive design, accessibility audits/training, and ongoing support. Sandstorm Design
• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Based downtown at 500 W Madison, mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed website design/development and is now part of Carnegie's web-services operation. This is worth considering if institutional higher-ed experience is more important than having a generalist agency.
• EDUCO Web Design — Best smaller-agency option. They're nearby in Oak Park and have worked with the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University. EDUCO
• Solid Digital — Good downtown alternative if your office needs a more general digital-growth partner alongside the website. They're at LaSalle/Adams and handle UX, development, SEO, and ongoing optimization.

My top 3 for your brief

1. Orbit — strongest combination of higher-ed experience + mobile UX + long-term support.
2. Sandstorm — especially compelling if accessibility, research, and user journeys are priorities.
3. Clique — particularly attractive if being close to your Loop office and having a modern digital-product capability are important.

I'd make the RFP explicitly require mobile-first design, WCAG 2.2 AA, CMS training, analytics, performance optimization, security/maintenance, and a defined monthly support retainer. That will separate true long-term partners from agencies that mainly want to deliver a one-off redesign. For comparison, KWALL's higher-ed offering explicitly packages ongoing maintenance, accessibility monitoring, content support, and continuous redesign—not merely the initial build. KWALL

If you tell me the approximate budget ($25k, $50k, $100k+, etc.) and whether this is a department/school site or the university's main site, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, pricing tier, CMS, and relevant university work.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Actualize Coding Bootcamp - 405 W Superior St Ste 714, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Fullstack Academy - 405 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Coding Dojo Chicago - 213 W Institute Pl #610, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

If the office is in/around the Chicago Loop, I’d shortlist agencies with actual higher-ed experience, not just general web shops. For a mobile-first site plus ongoing support, these stand out:

• Clique Studios — Best nearby fit for a modern digital rebuild. Their Loop/Wacker location is convenient, and their work spans strategy, UX, engineering, accessibility, responsive design, and ongoing optimization. Good choice if you want a polished site that can evolve after launch.
• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. mStoner is specifically known for university website design/development and is now part of Carnegie. I'd put them high on the RFP list if higher-ed expertise matters more than physical proximity.
• Sandstorm Design — Best for UX/accessibility. Sandstorm has 20+ years working with universities and cites University of Chicago projects among its higher-ed work. Its process emphasizes user research, information architecture, accessibility, and ongoing accessibility support. Sandstorm Design
• EDUCO Web Design — Good smaller-agency alternative. They're Chicago-area based and have higher-ed work including the University of Chicago and Olivet Nazarene University, with an emphasis on custom websites and longer-term support. EDUCO Web Design
• Orbit Media — Strong all-around higher-ed/web partner. Its higher-ed practice explicitly covers responsive design, accessibility, CMS implementation, SEO, content strategy, launch, and post-launch support; it also cites Olivet Nazarene University and Erikson Institute projects. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

My top 3 for your project

1. Clique Studios — if being close to the Loop and having a sophisticated digital/engineering partner are priorities.
2. Sandstorm Design — if the site has complicated audiences, accessibility requirements, or substantial UX/research needs.
3. mStoner — if you want the deepest higher-ed-specific website experience.

I'd make the RFP explicitly require mobile-first UX, WCAG/ADA accessibility, CMS training, analytics/SEO, security/hosting responsibilities, and a 12-month support/optimization retainer. That's important because ongoing university sites need more than occasional bug fixes; for example, higher-ed specialists such as Sandstorm and Orbit explicitly offer continuing accessibility, optimization, and website-management support. Sandstorm Design Orbit Media Studios

If by "education clients" you mean a university department/office rather than the university's central web team, I'd lean toward the smaller, more hands-on options (EDUCO or Sandstorm) rather than a large institutional redesign shop.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Office of Marketing and Communications - 10 W 35th St #2 Ste 13D8, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

If by “near the Loop” you mean your university office is downtown Chicago, I’d prioritize agencies with real higher-ed experience, strong mobile/UX capability, and a credible post-launch support model.

My shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, and mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed website design/development. It’s now part of Carnegie, so you get a fairly deep higher-ed bench. Good choice if institutional complexity and stakeholder management are major concerns.
• Sandstorm Design — Best for UX + accessibility. Chicago-based and particularly strong in research-driven higher-ed UX. Their higher-ed work includes University of Chicago schools, and they emphasize accessibility audits/training and ongoing support. Sandstorm Design
• Clique Studios — Best Loop-area digital/product partner. Their office is at 20 N Wacker, and they combine UX, responsive design, engineering, accessibility, and ongoing optimization. I'd consider them if the site needs integrations or more sophisticated digital functionality.
• EDUCO Web Design — Best smaller-agency option. They're based in nearby Oak Park and show education work including the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University. Their positioning emphasizes long-term support rather than simply launching a site. Educowebdesign
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — Best for a larger technical build. Their Chicago office is at 200 W Jackson Blvd, and they offer web/app development, UX, integrations, hosting/security, and ongoing support. I'd look here if your university needs a more enterprise-grade platform.

One more worth interviewing

Orbit Media is not in the Loop, but I'd put them on the RFP list. They have a dedicated higher-ed practice, including responsive design, accessibility, CMS implementation, integrations, training, and ongoing optimization/support. They also cite work with Discovery Partners Institute and Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

How I'd narrow it

For your specific brief—mobile-first university site + ongoing support—I'd invite mStoner, Sandstorm, Clique, and Orbit to pitch.

In the RFP, I'd require each agency to demonstrate:

• 2–3 higher-ed mobile projects, not just generic responsive sites
• Accessibility/WCAG approach and testing
• CMS recommendation and how nontechnical university staff will manage content
• Performance/Core Web Vitals strategy
• Integration experience with your CRM, LMS, admissions tools, or student systems
• Post-launch SLA, security/maintenance, analytics, and monthly optimization
• Clear ownership of code, design system, CMS configuration, and content
• Pricing for both the initial build and 12 months of ongoing support

That last point matters: don't evaluate agencies solely on the redesign proposal. For a university site, the long-term operating model can be more important than the launch itself.

In the RFP, I'd require each agency to demonstrate:

• 2–3 higher-ed mobile projects, not just generic responsive sites
• Accessibility/WCAG approach and testing
• CMS recommendation and how nontechnical university staff will manage content
• Performance/Core Web Vitals strategy
• Integration experience with your CRM, LMS, admissions tools, or student systems
• Post-launch SLA, security/maintenance, analytics, and monthly optimization
• Clear ownership of code, design system, CMS configuration, and content
• Pricing for both the initial build and 12 months of ongoing support

That last point matters: don't evaluate agencies solely on the redesign proposal. For a university site, the long-term operating model can be more important than the launch itself.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• UX 4Sight - 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with real higher-ed experience, mobile-first UX, accessibility, and a credible post-launch support model rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialization

• Chicago office at 500 W Madison.
• Built specifically around higher-education web design/development and is now part of Carnegie.
• Best fit if your office wants an agency that already understands university governance, admissions/student audiences, and institutional CMS needs.
• Ask about: who would actually staff the account, ongoing maintenance SLAs, and whether your project gets the same senior talent shown in their higher-ed work.
• Sandstorm Design — strongest UX/accessibility choice

• Chicago-based and has extensive university work, including University of Chicago projects.
• Their higher-ed practice emphasizes UX research, information architecture, accessibility, and ongoing accessibility training/support. Sandstorm Design
• Best for: a mobile-first site where usability for students, faculty, staff and prospective students matters as much as visual design.
• Clique Studios — best Loop-local technical/design option

• At 20 N Wacker, so particularly convenient for a Loop-based university office.
• Strong fit for modern web redesigns, UX/UI, accessibility, responsive design, CMS/development and ongoing optimization.
• Best for: an institution wanting a polished digital experience plus substantial engineering capability.
• Solid Digital — good growth-oriented alternative

• Downtown at 100 N LaSalle.
• More B2B-oriented than the specialists above, but its work spans web strategy, UX, development and ongoing digital growth; education/nonprofit organizations are among its stated fits.
• Best for: a smaller university unit that needs a practical, measurable website rather than a giant institutional redesign.
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — interesting boutique option

• Chicago studio with a long history working with higher education and science/research organizations.
• Particularly appealing if your office has complicated academic/research material that needs to become much easier to understand online.
• Offers responsive/mobile design and ongoing support.
• EDUCO Web Design — good smaller-agency candidate

• Based in Oak Park rather than the Loop.
• Its portfolio specifically includes the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University, and the agency positions itself as a long-term web partner rather than simply a launch vendor. Educo Web Design
• Best for: a more hands-on relationship with a smaller team.

One more worth putting in the RFP

Orbit Media is Chicago-based and has unusually relevant higher-ed work: Erikson Institute and Olivet Nazarene University, among others. Its higher-ed offering explicitly covers responsive/mobile UX, accessibility, CMS training and ongoing support. Orbit Media Studios

Who I'd interview first

For your particular brief, I'd make the first-round shortlist:

mStoner → Sandstorm → Clique → Orbit → EDUCO

I'd give each the same brief and require them to quote both the initial build and 12 months of support. That makes it much easier to distinguish an agency that can build a pretty mobile site from one that can actually support a university office over time.

For the RFP, I'd specifically require:

• Mobile-first prototypes before desktop designs
• WCAG accessibility testing/remediation
• CMS training for nontechnical staff
• Performance/Core Web Vitals targets
• Analytics and conversion tracking
• Security, backups and software updates
• A defined monthly support allocation and response-time SLA
• Content/editorial support, not just technical maintenance
• A 12-month roadmap after launch
• At least 2 higher-ed references you can call

If you want a shortlist specifically within walking distance of the Loop, I can narrow these down to 3–5 firms and compare likely fit, size, higher-ed credentials, and support model.

For your particular brief, I'd make the first-round shortlist:

mStoner → Sandstorm → Clique → Orbit → EDUCO

I'd give each the same brief and require them to quote both the initial build and 12 months of support. That makes it much easier to distinguish an agency that can build a pretty mobile site from one that can actually support a university office over time.

For the RFP, I'd specifically require:

• Mobile-first prototypes before desktop designs
• WCAG accessibility testing/remediation
• CMS training for nontechnical staff
• Performance/Core Web Vitals targets
• Analytics and conversion tracking
• Security, backups and software updates
• A defined monthly support allocation and response-time SLA
• Content/editorial support, not just technical maintenance
• A 12-month roadmap after launch
• At least 2 higher-ed references you can call

If you want a shortlist specifically within walking distance of the Loop, I can narrow these down to 3–5 firms and compare likely fit, size, higher-ed credentials, and support model.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that can do more than a visual redesign: mobile-first UX, accessibility (WCAG), CMS governance, integrations (CRM/LMS/admissions tools), analytics, and a reliable support retainer. These Chicago-area firms are worth shortlisting:

Best fits for higher education

mStoner — higher-ed specialist

• Best for: Universities that want an agency deeply familiar with admissions, academic departments, faculty content, and institutional stakeholders.
• Why consider: mStoner has long focused on higher education website design and development and has a Chicago presence downtown.
• Ask them about: CMS strategy, accessibility, governance models, and ongoing enhancement plans.

Orbit Media Studios — UX/content + long-term optimization

• Best for: A university office that needs a strategic partner, not just developers.
• Why consider: Orbit highlights higher-ed website work, responsive design, accessibility, CMS training, and ongoing support/optimization services. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Good match if: Your office needs help simplifying navigation and making content easier for prospective students, faculty, and staff to find.

EDUCO Web Design — education/nonprofit-friendly partner

• Best for: A collaborative redesign with continuing support.
• Why consider: EDUCO lists education-related projects and web support among its services, including work connected to university organizations. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design
• Good match if: You want a smaller, relationship-oriented team.

Sandstorm Design — accessibility and complex organizations

• Best for: Universities with many audiences, compliance needs, or complicated content structures.
• Why consider: Sandstorm positions itself around UX, accessibility, and digital experiences for organizations including higher education.

Other Chicago agencies worth evaluating

• Clique Studios — Strong for custom digital experiences, UX, responsive design, and engineering-heavy projects.
• Solid Digital — Good if your priority is a polished marketing site plus ongoing improvements.
• Marcel Digital — Consider if analytics, SEO, enterprise CMS, and measurable growth are major priorities.
• Sandbox Studio — A fit for institutions needing strong communication design and research/education storytelling.

My shortlist for your specific need

For a university office near the Loop needing a mobile-first site + ongoing support, I’d invite proposals from:

1. mStoner — strongest higher-ed specialization
2. Orbit Media Studios — strongest mix of UX, content, and ongoing optimization
3. EDUCO — strong relationship/support model
4. Sandstorm Design — strongest accessibility/complex-content angle

When issuing an RFP, I’d ask each agency to include:

• Mobile-first design approach and examples
• WCAG 2.2 accessibility process
• CMS recommendation (WordPress, Drupal, etc.)
• Content migration plan
• Security/update process
• Monthly support retainer options
• Response-time SLA for urgent fixes
• Examples of higher-ed clients and references

I can also help you build a Chicago higher-ed web agency RFP shortlist with estimated budget ranges and interview questions if you’re preparing a procurement process.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• IDE Interactive, Inc. - 2945 W Peterson Ave Ste 103, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602

Recommendation

For a university office near the Loop, I’d shortlist mStoner/Carnegie, Sandstorm Design, Orbit Media, and Clique Studios—with mStoner/Carnegie as my first call if higher-ed experience matters most.

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Its Chicago team is specifically focused on university websites, and mStoner is now part of Carnegie. Strong choice if you need institutional governance, CMS work, mobile UX, and long-term support.
• Sandstorm Design — Best UX/accessibility choice. Sandstorm has 20+ years in higher ed and cites work for University of Chicago schools and research organizations; it also offers accessibility training and ongoing audits. Sandstorm Design
• Orbit Media Studios — Best all-around local partner. Chicago-based, with higher-ed projects including Olivet Nazarene and Erikson Institute, plus responsive design, accessibility, CMS support, SEO, and ongoing optimization. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Clique Studios — Best for a more ambitious digital transformation. Its Loop office combines UX, responsive design, engineering, accessibility, and ongoing optimization.

A strong fifth option is Sandbox Studio, Chicago if your office needs a smaller, more hands-on studio; it has a particularly strong education/science portfolio.

What I’d put in the RFP: mobile-first UX, WCAG 2.2 AA, CMS training, analytics, performance targets, integrations with your university systems, and a 12-month post-launch support/optimization retainer. That will separate genuine long-term partners from agencies that mainly sell a redesign.

orbitmedia.com · sandstormdesign.com

Sandstorm + mStoner/Carnegie + Clique + Orbit + EDUCO.

I'd give each the same brief: mobile-first redesign, accessibility, CMS, analytics, integrations, launch support, and a 12–24-month support/optimization retainer.

One useful differentiator to test in the proposals: ask them to show the mobile version of three comparable higher-ed sites and explain what they would improve. That will reveal much more than portfolio screenshots.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely budget range, higher-ed portfolio, CMS expertise, accessibility, and ongoing-support model.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, not just generic Chicago web shops. My shortlist:

1. Clique Studios — strongest local all-around fit. Their Chicago office is on Wacker Drive, and they explicitly offer UX/design, responsive/mobile work, accessibility, engineering, and ongoing website optimization. Their support model is positioned as an ongoing digital partnership rather than just post-launch maintenance. Clique Studios

cliquestudios.com

2. mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — best if higher-ed specialization is the priority. mStoner is specifically focused on university websites and is now part of Carnegie. Carnegie offers ongoing higher-ed website support, accessibility monitoring, SEO/content optimization, governance and analytics. Carnegie

carnegiehighered.com

3. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — good local design/UX option. They're downtown on Wacker and combine brand strategy, UX/UI and web development. I'd consider them if the office needs a particularly polished visual identity alongside the mobile-first rebuild.
4. EDUCO Web Design — good ongoing-support-oriented alternative. They're just west of Chicago in Oak Park and explicitly work with education organizations. Their support model includes maintenance, enhancements, training, troubleshooting and content/design updates. Educo Web Design

educowebdesign.com

5. Sandstorm Design — worth an RFP slot for accessibility/UX. Their work spans higher education and other mission-driven organizations, with particular emphasis on UX research and accessibility/inclusive design.
6. Design In Chicago — smaller local option. Their West Loop team covers web development, branding, digital marketing and ongoing creative production. I'd put them on the list if you want a more boutique relationship.

One non-Chicago specialist I'd also interview

ERI is particularly compelling for a university project: it specializes in higher education, describes its sites as mobile-first and scalable, and supports WordPress, Drupal and Modern Campus along with CRM integrations and ongoing technical/content support. ERI Design

Orbit Media is another strong Chicago-area candidate. It has substantial higher-ed work—including Erikson Institute and Olivet Nazarene University—and explicitly covers responsive/mobile design, accessibility, CMS training, security/uptime monitoring and long-term optimization. Orbit Media Studios
orbitmedia.com

My recommended shortlist

If you're issuing an RFP, I'd invite Clique Studios, mStoner/Carnegie, Orbit Media, EDUCO, and ERI. That gives you a useful mix of Loop proximity, higher-ed specialization, strong UX/mobile capabilities, and ongoing support.

For the RFP, I'd specifically require examples of:

• Mobile-first university/education sites launched in the last 2–3 years
• WCAG accessibility process and testing
• CMS recommendation and staff training
• Integration experience with your SIS/CRM/admissions systems
• Post-launch SLA, security updates and content support
• Analytics and ongoing conversion/UX optimization
• Clear monthly support pricing versus project-based enhancements

That last point is important: for a university office, I'd choose the agency that can demonstrate what happens six months after launch, not merely the agency with the prettiest redesign.

If you're issuing an RFP, I'd invite Clique Studios, mStoner/Carnegie, Orbit Media, EDUCO, and ERI. That gives you a useful mix of Loop proximity, higher-ed specialization, strong UX/mobile capabilities, and ongoing support.

For the RFP, I'd specifically require examples of:

• Mobile-first university/education sites launched in the last 2–3 years
• WCAG accessibility process and testing
• CMS recommendation and staff training
• Integration experience with your SIS/CRM/admissions systems
• Post-launch SLA, security updates and content support
• Analytics and ongoing conversion/UX optimization
• Clear monthly support pricing versus project-based enhancements

That last point is important: for a university office, I'd choose the agency that can demonstrate what happens six months after launch, not merely the agency with the prettiest redesign.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Alpha Digital Marketing - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Pivot Design - 321 N Clark St #600, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Envisionit - 130 E Randolph St #1600, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• IDE Interactive, Inc. - 2945 W Peterson Ave Ste 103, Chicago, IL 60659, United States

If this is for a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, strong responsive UX, and a credible post-launch support model—not just general Chicago web shops.

My shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Its Chicago team focuses specifically on higher-ed website strategy, design and development, and it is now part of Carnegie. A strong choice if the office needs someone who understands university stakeholders, admissions/content workflows, and institutional websites. Orbit Media Studios
• Sandstorm Design — Best for UX/accessibility. Sandstorm says it has 20+ years working with universities and has done UX research, responsive web development, accessibility training/audits, and ongoing support. Its portfolio includes multiple University of Chicago organizations. Sandstorm Design
• Orbit Media Studios — Best for ongoing optimization. Orbit explicitly markets higher-ed web design, responsive UX, CMS training, security/uptime monitoring, CMS updates and long-term optimization. It also cites Erikson Institute as a higher-ed client. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Clique Studios — Best for a more substantial digital transformation. Located right downtown on Wacker, Clique combines UX, engineering, CMS/web development and ongoing optimization. I'd consider them if this could grow beyond a relatively simple office website into integrations or a broader digital platform.
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Best smaller specialist. They have a long history with higher education/science organizations and offer responsive/mobile design, development and ongoing support. Worth interviewing if you want a smaller team and more hands-on relationship.
• Agency 1204 — Boutique alternative. Chicago-based and explicitly lists education among its focus areas, with strategy, branding, digital marketing and CRM-related capabilities. I'd investigate this one if institutional communications/brand work is as important as the website itself.

Two others worth a look

EDUCO is particularly interesting for a university office because its Chicago portfolio includes the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University; its Music Institute of Chicago project included responsive design, Drupal development and web support, with substantial post-launch traffic/engagement gains. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design

Rightpoint has substantial University of Chicago experience, including responsive UX, web strategy, Drupal implementation and ongoing work with internal university teams. It's more enterprise-scale, though, so I'd only put it on the list if the project is complex. Rightpoint

Who I'd interview first

For your particular brief, I'd send an RFP to mStoner, Sandstorm, Orbit, and EDUCO. They give you four meaningfully different approaches:

In the RFP, I'd require each agency to show 2–3 comparable university projects, demonstrate the site on actual mobile breakpoints, specify WCAG/accessibility responsibilities, identify the CMS, and price 12 months of post-launch support separately. That will make the proposals much easier to compare.

Since you're near the Loop, Clique, mStoner, and several others are actually downtown, so you also have a good pool for in-person stakeholder workshops.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Teamworks Media Inc - 1 E Wacker Dr Ste 1620, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Beth Interactive Inc. - 4541 N Ravenswood Ave #303, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

If your office is near the Loop and this is a university-facing site with a mobile-first rebuild plus ongoing support, I’d shortlist agencies with demonstrated higher-ed work rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My Chicago shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist

• Chicago office at 500 W Madison.
• Built specifically around higher-ed web design/development and is now part of Carnegie.
• Strong choice if you have complex university stakeholders, admissions/program content, or a substantial CMS. Orbit Media Studios
• Clique Studios — Best all-around local digital partner

• Their Chicago office is right in the Loop at 20 N Wacker.
• Higher-ed is among their client sectors, with capabilities spanning UX/UI, responsive design, accessibility, CMS development and ongoing maintenance/optimization.
• Particularly attractive if you want a polished modern experience rather than a traditional university-site look. Clique Studios
• Sandstorm Design — Best UX/accessibility option

• Chicago-based, with a long history in digital experience and UX.
• Works with higher education and emphasizes research-driven design and accessibility.
• Worth interviewing if the site's audience includes prospective students, current students and other diverse user groups.
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Best for complex institutional content

• Chicago-based and particularly relevant to universities, research organizations and scientific institutions.
• I'd consider them if your office has complicated information architecture, research content, or needs a strong blend of brand + UX + web development.
• Synergy Creative — Best marketing/brand-oriented option

• Chicago agency with a higher-ed focus and experience spanning institutions such as National Louis University and other education organizations.
• Good candidate if the website needs to work as part of a broader enrollment/brand campaign rather than as a standalone web project.

One agency I'd definitely add to the RFP

Orbit Media Studios isn't in the Loop, but it's close enough to be practical and has unusually direct higher-ed experience. Its higher-ed practice specifically cites Olivet Nazarene University, responsive/mobile-friendly design, UX, CMS training, integrations and long-term website management, security, monitoring and optimization. Orbit Media Studios

For your particular brief, Orbit, mStoner and Clique would be my first three calls.

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't just ask for "a mobile-responsive website." Ask each agency to demonstrate:

• Mobile-first UX: show the proposed approach for prospective students on phones, not just desktop designs shrunk down.
• Higher-ed references: 2–3 comparable university projects, preferably with ongoing support.
• Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA process, testing methodology and remediation responsibility.
• CMS: who maintains content after launch and how departmental editors are governed.
• Integrations: admissions/CRM, calendars, directories, forms, analytics and any existing university systems.
• Ongoing support: SLA, response times, security/patching, hosting, analytics and hours included per month.
• Governance: how they handle feedback from communications, admissions, faculty, IT and leadership without the project becoming unmanageable.
• Performance: Core Web Vitals, image optimization and mobile page-speed targets.
• Post-launch roadmap: what they will actually do in months 1–12 after launch, rather than simply offering "maintenance."

One useful benchmark: ERI's higher-ed practice explicitly describes mobile-first design, accessibility, WordPress/Drupal/Modern Campus, CRM integrations and managed hosting/support, while Kanopi similarly offers higher-ed redesign plus ongoing technical support. Those are good examples of the capabilities to demand even if you ultimately favor a Chicago-based firm. ERI Design Kanopi Studios

If I were choosing three agencies to invite to an initial pitch, I'd go mStoner + Clique + Orbit: specialist higher-ed expertise, a strong local digital/engineering option, and a particularly strong ongoing-support model.

One useful benchmark: ERI's higher-ed practice explicitly describes mobile-first design, accessibility, WordPress/Drupal/Modern Campus, CRM integrations and managed hosting/support, while Kanopi similarly offers higher-ed redesign plus ongoing technical support. Those are good examples of the capabilities to demand even if you ultimately favor a Chicago-based firm.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• DePaul University - College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) - 243 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• EDGEclick - 632 Lawrence Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117, United States
• Depaul University - 243 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• iD Lab - 243 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Landesberg Design - 64 S 14th St Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, United States
• BD&E - 681 Andersen Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15220, United States
• Ew University - 831 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Sixth City Marketing - 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Since you’re looking around the Chicago Loop and this is for a university office, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated higher-ed work—not just generic web shops.

My shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — best higher-ed specialist. Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, and they focus specifically on higher-education website design/development as part of Carnegie. If institutional stakeholders, admissions/student journeys, CMS governance, and long-term support are central, this is probably the first firm I’d interview.
• Orbit Media Studios — best Chicago-based all-around option. Orbit has substantial higher-ed experience, including work for Erikson Institute and Olivet Nazarene University, and explicitly offers mobile web design, development, analytics, and ongoing optimization. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — strong for complex university/research offices. They combine branding, information architecture, UX and web development and have a particular orientation toward higher education and scientific/research organizations. This could be especially good if your office has complicated academic or research content.
• Sandstorm Design — strong UX/accessibility choice. Their Chicago team focuses on research-driven digital experiences and explicitly serves higher education, with accessibility and inclusive design among its capabilities.
• Synergy Creative — good if marketing/brand is as important as the site. They're Chicago-based and focused heavily on higher education, with responsive/mobile design plus campaign and messaging work.
• Agency 1204 — boutique alternative. A smaller Chicago agency with education among its specialties; worth considering if you want a more hands-on relationship rather than a large higher-ed web practice.

One more worth benchmarking

MF Digital Marketing, Inc. is particularly focused on graduate-program enrollment marketing. I’d consider them if the office's primary objective is program recruitment and lead generation, rather than rebuilding a broader university presence.

For comparison, EDUCO has Chicago higher-ed experience including University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University, while its offering spans strategy, design, development and support. Educo Web Design

Who I'd invite to an RFP

I'd narrow it to mStoner, Orbit, Sandbox, and Sandstorm. They give you four meaningfully different approaches:

For the RFP, I'd specifically require mobile-first prototypes, WCAG accessibility, CMS training, analytics/SEO, security/maintenance, response-time SLAs, and a defined monthly support retainer. Also ask each agency for 2–3 comparable university-office projects, not just flagship university homepages.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Steadfast Media - 209 Court St Ste 200, Tupelo, MS 38804, United States
• Ignited Digital Marketing - 507 S Church St Ste a unit 4, Tupelo, MS 38804, United States
• Vitality South - 600 W Main St Suite B, Tupelo, MS 38804, United States
• SolveTech Media - 811b Varsity Dr, Tupelo, MS 38801, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• JD Scribes - 234 N Main St, Pontotoc, MS 38863
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 88 West - Tupelo, MS 38801
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher-ed audiences (prospective students, current students, faculty, alumni), accessibility, CMS governance, integrations, and long-term maintenance—not just a one-time redesign.

Here are Chicago-area firms worth shortlisting:

Best fits for university / higher-ed websites

mStoner, Inc. — higher-ed specialist

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-305-0537)

• Strongest fit if you want a partner that already speaks university web language.
• Known for higher-ed website strategy, design, development, and digital experience work; their Chicago presence is in the Loop area.
• Good for: admissions sites, departmental sites, complex content governance, institutional redesigns.

Sandstorm Design — UX, accessibility, mission-driven organizations

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4200)

• Good choice if your office needs a thoughtful, accessible mobile-first experience.
• Their work emphasizes UX, digital experiences, accessibility, and organizations including higher education.
• Good for: WCAG/accessibility priorities, stakeholder-heavy projects, content strategy.

Clique Studios — digital strategy + engineering

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+13123799329)

• A fit if the site needs more than a marketing refresh: integrations, custom functionality, strong UX, and ongoing optimization.
• They work across digital strategy, UX/UI, development, and higher-ed-type organizations.

Sandbox Studio, Chicago — institutional storytelling and design

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-525-9258)

• Particularly interesting for university offices that need sophisticated information architecture and communication design.
• Their Chicago work includes higher education and research-oriented organizations.

Good broader digital agencies with education experience

Orbit Media Studios

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4581)

• Strong Chicago web strategy, UX, content, SEO, and ongoing optimization capabilities.
• Better fit for a university office that wants a modern marketing site and continuous improvement rather than a huge enterprise platform.

Monday Loves You

• Has education-related work, including a Chicago charter-school digital project involving UX, content, strategy, and development. Monday Loves You
• Good for: smaller university offices, institutes, centers, and outreach programs.

Verve Marketing Group

• Has education website and enrollment marketing experience, including school website redesign and digital marketing work. Verve Marketing Group Verve Marketing Group
• Good for: recruitment-focused sites, landing pages, campaigns.

CyberOptik

• Offers education-focused website work and emphasizes mobile-friendly, maintainable sites. CyberOptik
• Good for: smaller budgets, WordPress-based builds, straightforward support.

If I were issuing an RFP, I’d invite:

1. mStoner — if this is a true university-level web initiative.
2. Sandstorm Design — if accessibility, UX, and content governance are central.
3. Clique Studios — if integrations and technical complexity matter.
4. Orbit Media — if you want a practical long-term digital partner.
5. CyberOptik or Verve — if the scope is smaller and speed/budget matter.

Questions to ask during vendor interviews

• Can you show higher-ed examples launched in the last 2–3 years?
• Who owns the CMS, hosting, code, and design files after launch?
• What does monthly support include (updates, security, accessibility fixes, analytics, new pages)?
• How do you handle WCAG 2.2 accessibility requirements?
• Can nontechnical university staff publish pages without developer help?
• What integrations have you built with LMS, CRM, admissions, calendars, or event systems?

For a university office near the Loop, I’d especially compare mStoner vs. Sandstorm vs. Clique first, because they are closest to the needs of a higher-ed environment rather than a generic business website.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher-ed audiences, accessibility, complex content governance, CMS training, and long-term maintenance—not just a one-time redesign. These Chicago-area firms are worth shortlisting:

Best fits for a university office website + ongoing support

mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialization

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-305-0537)

Best for: Universities, colleges, academic departments, advancement/admissions offices

• Deep higher-ed focus; known for university website strategy, design, development, and digital platforms.
• Good fit if your office needs stakeholder-heavy work (faculty, staff, students, leadership approvals).
• Ask about: mobile UX strategy, CMS governance, accessibility compliance, analytics, and support SLAs.

Sandstorm Design — UX + accessibility strength

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4200)

Best for: Offices that need a research-driven, inclusive mobile experience

• Chicago-based UX/digital agency with higher-ed experience, including work with University of Chicago–related organizations. Sandstorm Design
• Particularly attractive if your site needs strong information architecture, accessibility practices, and ongoing optimization. Sandstorm Design

Orbit Media Studios — practical long-term website partner

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4581)

Best for: A university office that wants strategy, redesign, content help, and ongoing improvements

• Chicago-based agency with higher-ed projects and ongoing optimization/support offerings. Orbit Media Studios
• Strong choice if your team needs help making content easier to find on mobile and improving conversions (inquiries, registrations, applications, event signups).

EDUCO Web Design — education/nonprofit-friendly option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 708-613-0386)

Best for: Smaller university offices wanting a collaborative partner

• Has education-sector work and highlights long-term website support, including higher-ed-related projects. Educo Web Design
• Could be a good fit if you want closer attention than a large enterprise agency.

Also worth considering

• Clique Studios — good for modern digital experiences, UX, engineering, and organizations needing a technically capable partner.
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — experienced with higher education and research-oriented organizations; a fit when branding and communications design matter.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — better for larger, more complex builds requiring broader digital infrastructure and support.

My suggested shortlist for an RFP

For a university office near the Loop, I’d probably invite:

1. mStoner — if higher-ed experience is the top requirement
2. Sandstorm Design — if UX, accessibility, and research matter most
3. Orbit Media — if you need a hands-on ongoing partner
4. EDUCO — if you want a more boutique relationship

Questions to include when interviewing agencies

• Can you show 3 recent university or education mobile sites you built?
• Who owns accessibility testing and remediation (WCAG)?
• What CMS do you recommend and why?
• What does monthly support include (updates, security, analytics, content edits)?
• How quickly do support requests get handled?
• How do you manage approvals among faculty, administrators, and communications teams?
• Can you provide content strategy—not just design/development?

If you share whether this is for a department site, admissions/student services office, research center, or entire university unit, I can narrow the list further.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with higher-ed experience, mobile-first UX, accessibility, and a real post-launch support model rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My Chicago shortlist

• Clique Studios — Best overall fit. They’re in the Loop on Wacker Drive and explicitly work with higher education. Their capabilities cover responsive/mobile design, accessibility, CMS, engineering, and ongoing optimization. Their own materials say they have higher-ed clients and provide post-launch maintenance/support. Clique Studios

cliquestudios.com

• Sandstorm Design — Best for UX/accessibility-heavy work. They have 20+ years working with universities, including University of Chicago projects, and emphasize user research, accessibility, UX, and ongoing accessibility support. Sandstorm Design

sandstormdesign.com

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed websites and is downtown at 500 W Madison. It’s now part of Carnegie, with mStoner serving as its website design/development team. This is worth a serious RFP if your office has university-level CMS and governance requirements.
• Orbit Media Studios — Best for content, SEO and ongoing optimization. They’re Chicago-based and have higher-ed experience, including Erikson Institute. Their process spans strategy, UX/design, development, measurement and continuing optimization. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Interesting boutique option for an academic/research office. Their work is particularly oriented toward higher education and scientific/research organizations, combining communication design, branding and web development.
• EDUCO Web Design — Good smaller-agency alternative. Based just outside Chicago in Oak Park, EDUCO has education and university work and positions itself as a long-term partner covering strategy, design, development and support. Its portfolio includes the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University. Educo Web Design

educowebdesign.com

If I were issuing the RFP

I'd invite Clique, Sandstorm, mStoner, Orbit, and EDUCO to compete. For a smaller university office rather than the entire university web ecosystem, I'd particularly compare Clique vs. EDUCO vs. Orbit.

Your RFP should require:

• Mobile-first design, not merely a responsive desktop site
• WCAG 2.2 accessibility and accessibility testing
• CMS your staff can actually maintain
• Clear information architecture for prospective students, current students, faculty/staff and other audiences
• Performance/Core Web Vitals targets
• Analytics, SEO and search strategy
• Integrations with university systems where applicable
• 12-month post-launch support, with defined response times
• Monthly maintenance/optimization hours and hourly rates
• Training for your office's content editors
• A demonstrated higher-ed case study—not just a generic corporate website

One useful benchmark: the higher-ed specialist OHO says it has served 180+ higher-education clients and offers ongoing CMS support, while Kanopi similarly emphasizes higher-ed design plus long-term technical support. They aren't Chicago-local in the same way, but they're useful benchmarks when evaluating whether a Chicago agency's education credentials are genuinely deep. OHO Kanopi Studios

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–75k, $75k+) and whether this is a department/school site or the main university site, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, strengths, risks, and what to ask each in the first meeting.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• click5 Interactive LLC - 116 W Hubbard St #301, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 5 Degrees Branding - 90 Miller Cir, Indian Springs Village, AL 35124, United States
• DIESELHAUS | AI, Software, Web & Mobile App Development - 11950 S Harlem Ave Ste 201-1, Palos Heights, IL 60463, United States
• Celsius Marketing | Interactive - 8191 College Pkwy Ste 202, Fort Myers, FL 33919, United States
• Wizerunek w Sieci. WWS - Web Development + SEO - 636 S River Rd #218, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States
• 989 Group, LLC - 20 N Wacker Dr #1000, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Synergy Labs - Mobile App and Web Developers Agency in Chicago - 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Mighty - 358 St Louis St, Mobile, AL 36602, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher-ed stakeholders, accessibility, mobile UX, CMS governance, and post-launch support—not just firms that build attractive marketing sites.

My Chicago shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialist. Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, and they specialize specifically in higher-ed web design/development. They’re now part of Carnegie, giving you a fairly deep higher-ed bench. Best fit if institutional experience is the top priority.
• Clique Studios — strongest Loop-area digital transformation option. Their office is at 20 N Wacker, and their capabilities include responsive/mobile design, accessibility, UX, CMS development and ongoing optimization. Best fit if you want a sophisticated digital partner rather than a conventional web shop.
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — excellent for complex university communications. They specifically work with higher education and scientific/research organizations, combining branding, information architecture, responsive design and development. Best fit for an academic office with complicated content and multiple audiences.
• Sandstorm Design — strong UX/accessibility choice. This Chicago agency focuses on research-driven digital experiences and explicitly serves higher education, with accessibility and inclusive-design capabilities. Best fit if WCAG/accessibility and usability are major requirements.
• Synergy Creative — higher-ed marketing/brand specialist. Based at 1039 W Lake St, they focus heavily on higher education and offer interactive/mobile/responsive work. Best fit if the site needs to reinforce recruitment, positioning and communications as much as technology.

Two benchmarks I'd also consider

Orbit Media has particularly relevant higher-ed experience: its portfolio includes Northwestern Health Sciences University, Olivet Nazarene University and other education organizations. It explicitly offers responsive design, accessibility, CMS implementation, integrations and long-term post-launch support/optimization. Orbit Media Studios

Takt is another interesting benchmark. Its Adler University project involved a mobile-responsive redesign, UX, content strategy, development, accessibility/performance work and a modular CMS approach across Chicago, Vancouver and online programs. Takt | Brand + Digital Agency

Who I'd invite to the RFP

I'd narrow the first round to mStoner, Clique Studios, Sandbox Studio and Sandstorm. That gives you four meaningfully different approaches:

For your RFP, I would specifically require mobile-first prototypes, WCAG 2.2 AA, CMS training, analytics, performance targets, security/maintenance, a defined SLA for ongoing support, and a named post-launch team. Don't let “ongoing support” simply mean an hourly developer you can call when something breaks.

For context, the higher-ed specialists I found also emphasize exactly this longer-term model: Kanopi, for example, offers higher-ed design/development plus ongoing technical support, while Orbit explicitly describes support and optimization extending years after launch. Kanopi Studios Orbit Media Studios

If you want, I can also rank these by likely budget ($25k–$50k, $50k–$100k, $100k+) and identify which ones are most appropriate for a small university office rather than a full university-wide redesign.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Teamworks Media Inc - 1 E Wacker Dr Ste 1620, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Beth Interactive Inc. - 4541 N Ravenswood Ave #303, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience plus mobile-first UX and post-launch support, rather than a generic Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — Probably the strongest higher-ed specialist to interview. They’re downtown at 500 W Madison and are specifically known for university website design/development and digital strategy. Their current positioning is within Carnegie’s higher-ed web services.

Best for: a university-specific website redesign with sophisticated UX and institutional stakeholders.

2. Clique Studios — Especially attractive because they're right in the Loop at 20 N Wacker and combine digital strategy, UX/UI, engineering, accessibility, responsive design and ongoing optimization.

Best for: a modern mobile-first experience where you also need serious technical execution.

3. Orbit Media Studios — A strong Chicago option with substantial higher-ed work. Orbit explicitly offers responsive design, accessibility, CMS implementation, analytics and post-launch support; its higher-ed portfolio includes Olivet Nazarene University and Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios

Best for: website + content strategy + SEO + continuing optimization.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Worth considering if the office has complicated academic/research content and needs strong information architecture and visual communication. Its Chicago practice has a particular history with universities and scientific organizations.

Best for: research-heavy or academically complex sites.

5. Sandstorm Design — A Chicago UX/digital-experience agency with higher-ed experience and a notable accessibility/inclusive-design capability.

Best for: accessibility, UX research and a polished digital experience.

6. EDUCO Web Design — Nearby in Oak Park and has education experience, including work for the University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute and Olivet Nazarene University. Its site also emphasizes long-term support. Educo Web Design

Best for: a potentially more hands-on/smaller-agency relationship.

One non-Chicago specialist I'd still interview

ERI has unusually strong alignment with your exact requirements: it explicitly describes mobile-first design, higher-ed UX, accessibility, CMS development, integrations, technical/content support, managed hosting, monitoring and ongoing maintenance. ERI Design

Who I'd invite to an RFP

I'd narrow the first round to mStoner, Clique Studios, Orbit Media, and Sandstorm, with EDUCO as the smaller-agency alternative.

For the RFP, I'd make agencies demonstrate—not merely promise—these five things:

• A mobile-first prototype for your three highest-priority user journeys.
• Accessibility testing and remediation, ideally targeting WCAG 2.2 AA.
• CMS/content governance that your university staff can actually maintain.
• A concrete 12-month support model: response times, included hours, maintenance, security, analytics and enhancement work.
• Two comparable higher-ed clients you can contact about both the launch and the agency's support after launch.

That last point is important: plenty of agencies can launch a beautiful university site; fewer can demonstrate that they remain useful six, twelve, or twenty-four months later. Orbit, for example, explicitly offers on-call website management and ongoing optimization after launch. Orbit Media Studios

I'd narrow the first round to mStoner, Clique Studios, Orbit Media, and Sandstorm, with EDUCO as the smaller-agency alternative.

For the RFP, I'd make agencies demonstrate—not merely promise—these five things:

• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• UX 4Sight - 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Teamworks Media Inc - 1 E Wacker Dr Ste 1620, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a university office in/near the Chicago Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated higher-ed work and the ability to stay involved after launch—not just firms that build a nice responsive site.

My shortlist

• Sandstorm Design — Best Chicago higher-ed UX/research option. They’re Chicago-based and have a strong higher-ed portfolio; notably, their University of Chicago Crown Family School redesign used user research, usability testing, accessible responsive Drupal, structured content, and flexible landing pages. Sandstorm Design

Best for: a mobile-first site where UX, accessibility, recruitment journeys, and content architecture matter.

• mStoner, Inc. — Best specialist for university websites. Their Chicago office is in the Loop at 500 W Madison, and they're specifically known for higher-ed web design/development and digital strategy.

Best for: a conventional university/department website where institutional higher-ed experience is the priority.

• Clique Studios — Best modern digital-product option. Their Loop office is at 20 N Wacker. They combine UX/UI, responsive/mobile design, accessibility, web engineering, and ongoing optimization.

Best for: an office that wants something more sophisticated than a standard university CMS site.

• EDUCO Web Design — Best smaller-agency/local option. They're in nearby Oak Park and have higher-ed work including the Music Institute of Chicago, where they handled responsive redesign, Drupal development, and ongoing web support. Educo Web Design

Best for: a hands-on partner rather than a large institutional agency.

• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Worth considering for research/science-heavy offices. Their work combines communication design, responsive web development, and complex subject matter, with a particular orientation toward universities and scientific/research organizations.

Best for: academic centers, research institutes, or offices that need sophisticated information design.

• Synergy Creative — Strong higher-ed-focused Chicago alternative. Their work includes interactive/mobile-responsive design and clients such as National Louis University and other education organizations.

Best for: an office where higher-ed marketing and communications expertise are as important as the website itself.

If ongoing support is a major requirement

I'd put Sandstorm, mStoner, and EDUCO at the top of the initial RFP list. A particularly strong non-Chicago specialist to benchmark against is Kanopi Studios: its higher-ed offering explicitly covers design/development and ongoing technical support, including Drupal, WordPress, accessibility, and long-term maintenance. Kanopi Studios

Another useful benchmark is ERI, whose higher-ed practice explicitly combines mobile-first design with monitoring, maintenance, technical/content support, hosting, and CMS training. ERI Design

What I'd put in your RFP

Don't just ask for "mobile responsive." Require:

• Mobile-first UX and usability testing with actual students/faculty/staff
• WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility target
• Performance/Core Web Vitals targets
• CMS recommendation and editor training
• Analytics + conversion/event tracking
• Security, hosting, backups and software updates
• A defined post-launch support SLA
• Monthly hours/retainer for content and development changes
• Accessibility monitoring after launch
• A roadmap for improvements after the initial launch

My first three calls would be Sandstorm, mStoner, and EDUCO, with Clique as the wildcard if the office wants a particularly polished digital experience. Sandstorm Design Educo Web Design

Don't just ask for "mobile responsive." Require:

• Mobile-first UX and usability testing with actual students/faculty/staff
• WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility target
• Performance/Core Web Vitals targets
• CMS recommendation and editor training
• Analytics + conversion/event tracking
• Security, hosting, backups and software updates
• A defined post-launch support SLA
• Monthly hours/retainer for content and development changes
• Accessibility monitoring after launch
• A roadmap for improvements after the initial launch

My first three calls would be Sandstorm, mStoner, and EDUCO, with Clique as the wildcard if the office wants a particularly polished digital experience. Sandstorm Design Educo Web Design

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Teamworks Media Inc - 1 E Wacker Dr Ste 1620, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Digital Third Coast - 2540 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Advisor Patrick Baldwin - 110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Allevi8 Marketing - 6127 S University Ave Ste 110K, Chicago, IL 60653, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• AllCampus - 227 W Monroe St #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Collegis Education - 1415 W 22nd St #220, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States

If this is for a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, strong mobile/UX capabilities, and a credible ongoing-support model—not just general Chicago web shops.

My shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialist. Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, right in the Loop. They focus heavily on higher-ed digital strategy, websites, UX, and CMS work, making them a particularly natural fit for a university office. Carnegie acquired mStoner, so I’d clarify whether you’d be contracting with the mStoner team directly and what ongoing support looks like.
• Orbit Media Studios — best all-around web/UX + ongoing optimization option. Chicago-based, with higher-ed work including Erikson Institute. Their approach combines research, content, accessible design, development, SEO, measurement, and ongoing optimization rather than treating launch as the end of the engagement. Orbit Media Studios
• Promet Source — best for a technically complex university site. They're Chicago-based and explicitly specialize in higher education, accessibility, Drupal/WordPress, UX/UI, and ongoing maintenance. Their portfolio includes Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and other universities. Promet Source
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago — interesting choice for research/academic communications. They combine responsive web development, information design, branding, and communications, with particular experience in higher education and scientific/research organizations.
• Teamworks Media Inc — worth considering if the office needs storytelling/content as well as web. They're downtown at 1 E. Wacker and have worked with higher-ed organizations including Northwestern University.
• EDUCO — good smaller-agency alternative. Based in Oak Park, they work with education organizations and emphasize responsive UX, accessibility, CMS work, and ongoing maintenance/support agreements. EDUCO

How I'd narrow it

For your particular brief, I'd invite mStoner, Orbit, and Promet Source to pitch.

One particularly relevant benchmark: Takt recently redesigned Adler University's digital experience around user journeys, responsive layouts, accessibility, and clearer program navigation, so I'd also ask prospective vendors to show mobile UX for prospective students/staff, not merely screenshots of attractive desktop sites. Takt | Brand + Digital Agency

For the RFP, I'd make vendors price two things separately: (1) the initial mobile-first redesign/build and (2) a 12-month support/optimization retainer. Ask for accessibility/WCAG testing, CMS training, response-time SLAs, security/maintenance, analytics, and a defined bucket of monthly enhancements. That will make the proposals much easier to compare.

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Synergy Labs - Mobile App and Web Developers Agency in Chicago - 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Alpha Digital Marketing - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Pilot Digital Marketing - 4753 N Broadway Ste T110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

If “near the Loop” means you want a Chicago-based partner—and the key requirements are mobile-first UX, higher-ed experience, and ongoing support—I’d shortlist these:

1. mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, and the firm is specifically focused on higher-education web design/development. It’s now part of Carnegie, with mStoner positioned as its higher-ed website team. Obfs

Why shortlist: deep university experience, rather than a general agency learning the sector on your project.

2. Clique Studios — Best Chicago/Loop option for modern UX. Their office is at 20 N Wacker, and they explicitly work with higher education, responsive/mobile design, accessibility, SEO, and ongoing maintenance. Clique Studios

Why shortlist: particularly attractive if the office needs a polished, contemporary experience rather than a conventional university template.

3. Orbit Media Studios — Best for content + conversion + long-term optimization. Orbit has a substantial Chicago presence and specifically markets higher-ed website design; its work includes Erikson Institute and Discovery Partners Institute. It offers post-launch measurement and ongoing optimization. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

Why shortlist: good fit if the site needs to drive inquiries, registrations, applications, or other measurable actions—not just look better.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — Best for complex academic/research communications. The Chicago firm has a particular orientation toward higher education and scientific/research organizations, combining information architecture, UX, branding, and web development.

Why shortlist: especially compelling for a university office with complicated programs, research content, or multiple audiences.

5. Thirdwave — Best for technical ownership and maintenance. Their Chicago team builds and operates maintainable web platforms, with responsive UX, CMS, and ongoing web support; their portfolio includes Adler University. Thirdwave

Why shortlist: consider them if the ongoing support relationship is as important as the initial redesign.

6. Sandstorm Design — Best accessibility/UX-heavy option. This Chicago digital experience agency works with higher education and emphasizes research-driven UX and accessibility, including accessibility audits and remediation.

Why shortlist: a strong candidate if your university has substantial accessibility/compliance requirements.

My top 3

For your particular brief, I'd invite mStoner, Clique, and Orbit to an RFP.

• mStoner: strongest higher-ed-specific credentials.
• Clique: strongest modern mobile-first digital experience angle.
• Orbit: strongest content, SEO, conversion, and ongoing optimization combination.

One other agency worth knowing: Lipman-Hearne is downtown and specializes in higher education, nonprofits, and philanthropy, so it could be useful if the website project is part of a broader institutional marketing/communications effort.

For the RFP, I’d require each agency to show: 2–3 recent university sites, mobile performance examples, accessibility approach (WCAG 2.2), CMS recommendations, post-launch SLA/support model, and exactly who will be on the account after launch. That will separate a genuinely good long-term partner from an agency that mainly wants the redesign project. Kanopi Studios OHO

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that can handle mobile-first UX, accessibility (WCAG), CMS governance, analytics/enrollment goals, and a long-term support relationship—not just a one-time redesign. These Chicago-area firms are worth shortlisting:

Strong higher-ed / education fits

• EDUCO Web Design — A strong match for education and mission-driven organizations. They have higher-ed examples including Music Institute of Chicago and experience with Drupal, redesigns, and ongoing support. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design

Best for: universities, institutes, schools needing a hands-on partner.

• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago-based agency with a research-driven web process, content strategy, accessibility focus, and ongoing optimization. They cite education work including Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios

Best for: content-heavy university sites where SEO, UX, and continuous improvement matter.

• OHO Interactive — Specializes in higher education websites, including strategy, CMS implementation, and ongoing support. OHO

Best for: larger university environments with complex stakeholders and governance needs.

• Kanopi Studios — Education-focused web development partner with experience in higher-ed redesigns, CMS work, and ongoing technical support. Kanopi Studios

Best for: Drupal/WordPress-heavy environments and long-term maintenance.

Chicago agencies worth considering for UX/design strength

• Eastern Standard — Focuses on higher-ed digital experiences, enrollment journeys, CMS platforms, and accessibility-minded design. Eastern Standard

Best for: institutions wanting a strategic redesign partner.

• Fastspot — Higher-ed specialist with experience serving universities and cultural institutions. Fastspot

Best for: ambitious institutional sites with many audiences and departments.

• Flamingo Agency

Best for: smaller offices or departments that need a more boutique web partner.

How I’d run the selection process

Ask each agency for:

1. Two recent university/education examples (preferably mobile-first redesigns).
2. Their approach to: - WCAG accessibility testing
3. mobile performance/Core Web Vitals
4. CMS training for staff editors
5. security updates and maintenance
6. analytics dashboards and conversion tracking
7. A sample 12-month support plan (hours/month, response times, proactive improvements).
8. Who will actually work on your account after launch.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d probably start with a shortlist of EDUCO, Orbit Media, OHO, and Kanopi because they align most closely with education workflows and ongoing support needs. Educo Web Design OHO Orbit Media Studios Kanopi Studios

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, not just general Chicago web shops. My shortlist:

1. mStoner, Inc. — best higher-ed specialist
   • Downtown at 500 W Madison.
   • Built specifically around higher-ed website strategy, design and development; now part of Carnegie.
   • Strong choice if your office needs someone who understands university stakeholders, admissions/content complexity and institutional governance.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best Chicago all-rounder
   • Chicago-based and particularly strong on UX, content, SEO and ongoing optimization.
   • Its higher-ed work explicitly covers responsive/mobile design, accessibility, integrations and CMS training/support, including work with Erikson Institute and Discovery Partners Institute. www.orbitmedia.comwww.prometsource.com
   • I'd shortlist them if enrollment/conversion and content performance matter as much as the visual redesign.

3. Synergy Creative — strong higher-ed creative option
   • Chicago-based and focused substantially on higher education.
   • Particularly interesting if the project includes brand/messaging + responsive digital design, rather than being purely a technical rebuild.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — good for complex academic/research content
   • Chicago firm with a higher-ed/scientific-research orientation.
   • Worth considering if the office has complicated program, research or institutional information architecture that needs to become much easier to navigate on mobile.

5. Design In Chicago — convenient local full-service alternative
   • West Loop location, with web development, branding, digital marketing and ongoing digital capabilities.
   • I'd put them behind the higher-ed specialists unless your project is relatively contained.

Also worth putting on the RFP list

Promet Source is a particularly strong technical candidate if accessibility, CMS governance and long-term maintenance are priorities. Its Chicago team explicitly specializes in higher education/public-sector sites and lists UX/UI, WCAG/Section 508 accessibility, Drupal/WordPress and ongoing support; its portfolio includes Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, UC Riverside and Calvin University. www.prometsource.com

OHO isn't Chicago-based, but I'd seriously consider it if you're willing to work with a national agency. It reports 180+ higher-ed website clients, more than 20 years in the sector, and offers ongoing CMS development/support. Its Illinois Tech redesign is especially relevant to a Chicago university context. www.oho.com

Kanopi Studios is another strong technical/ongoing-support option, particularly for Drupal. It explicitly offers higher-ed redesign, UX, accessibility and long-term web support. kanopi.com

My recommended first three

For your RFP, I'd require each bidder to demonstrate 3 recent higher-ed projects, a mobile-first prototype, WCAG 2.2 accessibility approach, CMS/editor training, analytics/SEO migration, integrations with university systems, and a 12-month post-launch support model with response-time SLAs. That will separate genuine university partners from agencies that simply have an “education” page.

If being physically near the Loop matters, mStoner, Orbit, Synergy, and Promet give you particularly good Chicago options; mStoner and Promet have especially clear higher-ed specialization. www.orbitmedia.comwww.prometsource.com

• mStoner, Inc. - 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Synergy Creative - 1039 W Lake St 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Agency 1204 - 1552 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• UX 4Sight - 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• MF Digital Marketing, Inc. - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave Ste 110, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• iD Lab - 243 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Alpha Digital Marketing - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Crosby Associates - 1714 N Crilly Ct, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Eduvantis, LLC - 118 N Clinton St Ste 100-12, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Maude Group - 311 W Monroe St Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with higher-ed experience, strong mobile/UX capability, and a credible post-launch support model rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

• mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist. Based at 500 W Madison, mStoner is specifically focused on higher-education website design/development and is now part of Carnegie. This would be my first call if institutional/higher-ed expertise matters most.
• Orbit Media Studios — Best for mobile UX + ongoing optimization. Chicago-based, with higher-ed work including Olivet Nazarene University, and a strong emphasis on UX, performance, SEO, conversion optimization, and continuing website improvement. Orbit Media Studios
• Synergy Creative — Good higher-ed marketing/creative option. Their Chicago practice focuses substantially on higher education and includes responsive/mobile digital work, branding, campaigns, and web experiences. Good if the site needs to reinforce recruitment or institutional messaging.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — Best for a larger/complex implementation. Their Loop office is at 200 W Jackson Blvd and offers web design, development, digital marketing, analytics, hosting, and post-launch support.
• Agency 1204 — Worth considering for a smaller, strategy-led engagement. They're Chicago-based and explicitly work in education, with branding, digital marketing, SEO, and CRM-related capabilities.
• Lipman-Hearne — Strong institutional communications choice. Its Chicago practice is geared toward higher education, nonprofits, and philanthropy. I'd consider them if the project includes messaging, enrollment communications, or broader institutional positioning in addition to the website.

Two non-Loop firms I'd still put on the RFP list

Sandbox Studio, Chicago has a particularly relevant higher-ed/scientific-research portfolio and combines communications design with web development.

UX 4Sight, in the Loop at 111 W Jackson, is more UX-focused than higher-ed-specialized; it could be useful if you already have a development partner and primarily need research, IA, usability, and mobile UX.

My recommended RFP shortlist

I'd invite mStoner, Orbit Media, Synergy Creative, and Americaneagle.com to compete. If budget is tighter or you want a smaller team, add Agency 1204.

For the brief, I'd explicitly require:

1. Mobile-first UX, with prospective students/staff able to complete key tasks one-handed.
2. Higher-ed references and examples of comparable university/department sites.
3. Accessibility/WCAG baked into design and development.
4. CMS/editorial governance so your office can make routine changes without an agency ticket.
5. Ongoing support SLA—response times, security updates, analytics, UX improvements, and hourly/project rates.
6. Integrations with whatever your university uses for CRM, admissions, events, forms, calendars, and authentication.
7. Performance targets for Core Web Vitals and mobile page speed.
8. A clear distinction between launch cost and recurring support cost.

One particularly strong benchmark is Promet Source: its Chicago practice specializes in higher ed, accessibility, Drupal/WordPress, UX, and ongoing maintenance, although its office is north of the Loop. Promet Source

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. <$50k, $50–100k, $100k+) and whether you're on WordPress, Drupal, or another CMS, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually invite to bid.

For the brief, I'd explicitly require:

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed portfolios, strong responsive/mobile UX, accessibility experience, and a credible post-launch support model—rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — best overall fit
   • Chicago-based, with substantial higher-ed experience including Erikson Institute and Olivet Nazarene University.
   • Explicitly offers mobile web design, ongoing optimization, website management, and support. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Particularly attractive if your office needs a partner that can handle UX + content strategy + development + continuous improvement, rather than just a redesign.
   • HQ is in Ravenswood, so not Loop-adjacent, but very established locally.

2. mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — best higher-ed specialist
   • mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed web design and is now Carnegie's Website Design + Development team.
   • Strong choice if university experience is the highest priority. Carnegie also offers ongoing website support, accessibility monitoring, optimization, and governance. www.carnegiehighered.com
   • The Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, making it especially convenient for a Loop-area university office.

3. Lipman-Hearne — best for university communications/brand
   • Chicago-based agency focused heavily on higher education, nonprofits, and philanthropy.
   • Worth considering if the website needs to reinforce institutional positioning, enrollment/engagement goals, and broader communications—not just improve the interface.
   • Located downtown at 200 S Michigan Ave according to the business listing.

4. Synergy Creative — good higher-ed creative option
   • Chicago agency with a higher-ed focus and experience spanning institutions including National Louis University and other education organizations.
   • Its capabilities include interactive/mobile/responsive design. Synergy Creative
   • Located on West Lake Street, reasonably close to the Loop.

5. Americaneagle.com — best for a more complex technical platform
   • Loop office at 200 W Jackson Blvd.
   • Better suited if your project involves integrations, sophisticated CMS needs, hosting, analytics, accessibility, or a larger institutional digital ecosystem. The firm also offers post-launch support and hosting.

Two strong non-Loop specialists I'd also invite

Promet Source is particularly compelling for Drupal/WordPress, accessibility, and long-term maintenance. It cites work for Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, UC Riverside, and Calvin University and explicitly offers ongoing support from its Chicago headquarters. www.orbitmedia.comwww.carnegiehighered.comwww.prometsource.comhighered.weareconvoy.com

Convoy is another good fit if you want an agency to function almost like an extension of your internal web team. Its higher-ed offering includes responsive UX, accessibility, performance, security/updates, WordPress multisite, hosting/management, content support, and ongoing digital work. highered.weareconvoy.com

Who I'd put in an RFP

I'd make the first-round shortlist:

Orbit + mStoner/Carnegie + Promet Source + Convoy + Americaneagle.com.

That gives you a useful spread: higher-ed specialization, local presence, mobile UX, accessibility, CMS expertise, and ongoing support.

For the RFP, I'd specifically require mobile-first prototypes, WCAG 2.2 accessibility, Core Web Vitals/performance targets, CMS training, analytics, content governance, security/updates, and a defined monthly support SLA. That will separate agencies that can build a pretty site from ones that can actually support a university website over several years.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d shortlist agencies with actual higher-ed experience rather than a general Chicago web shop. My strongest options:

1. mStoner, Inc. — probably the most directly relevant. They specialize in higher-ed websites and digital strategy, with a Chicago office at 500 W Madison. Best if your project needs university-specific information architecture, CMS work, and stakeholder management.

2. Sandstorm Design — strong choice if UX, accessibility, and mobile-first user journeys are priorities. Sandstorm reports 20+ years working with universities and has case studies involving the University of Chicago and other higher-ed institutions. They also offer ongoing accessibility support. www.sandstormdesign.com

3. Teamworks Media Inc — downtown at 1 E. Wacker. They have higher-ed experience and work across digital experiences, content, and marketing, making them interesting if the office needs more than a website—e.g., campaigns or audience engagement.

4. Simple Truth — a good fit for a complex university office that needs strategy + brand/content + web. They have worked with City Colleges of Chicago and other education organizations.

5. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — worth considering for a mission-driven office. Their offering includes UX/UI, accessibility and SEO audits, WordPress development, integrations, analytics, and training.

6. Dialogue Theory — smaller Chicago studio, potentially attractive if you want a more hands-on partner rather than a large agency. Their work centers on UX, digital strategy and web development for mission-driven organizations.

Two especially strong alternatives

Sandbox Studio, Chicago has a particularly relevant higher-ed/scientific-research orientation and does responsive/mobile design as well as front- and back-end development.

MF Digital Marketing, Inc. is worth adding if your office's website is primarily about graduate-program recruitment/enrollment marketing, rather than being a broad institutional site.

For comparison, Marcel Digital is another Loop option, but I'd prioritize it when SEO, analytics, CRO, and measurable acquisition are more important than university-specific UX.

My top 3 for your brief

If ongoing support is a major requirement, I'd put Orbit Media on the RFP list too. Its higher-ed practice specifically cites Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute, and it offers post-launch support, security/uptime monitoring, CMS updates and ongoing optimization. www.orbitmedia.com

I'd make the RFP require mobile-first prototypes, WCAG accessibility, CMS training, analytics, performance targets, and a defined post-launch retainer/SLA. That will separate agencies that can merely launch a pretty site from ones that can actually support a university office long-term.

For a university office in/around the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with higher-ed experience, strong mobile UX, accessibility, and a real post-launch support model rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — Best higher-ed specialist
   • Longstanding focus on university websites and digital strategy.
   • Particularly worth considering if your office has complex academic content, admissions/program information, or lots of stakeholders.
   • Their Chicago office is at 500 W Madison, so it's especially convenient for a Loop-based team.

2. Sandstorm Design — Best for UX + accessibility
   • Strong university portfolio, including University of Chicago work.
   • Their higher-ed practice emphasizes user research, information architecture, responsive experiences and accessibility, with ongoing accessibility audits and support. www.sandstormdesign.com
   • I'd put them high on the list if "mobile-first" really means redesign around student/user journeys, not simply making desktop pages responsive.

3. Orbit Media Studios — Best all-around Chicago option
   • Explicit higher-ed practice and Chicago clients including Discovery Partners Institute and Olivet Nazarene University.
   • Strong fit for mobile UX, SEO, responsive development, CMS training and ongoing optimization/support. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Their support offering covers CMS updates, bugs, performance, security and new features; they also offer managed hosting. www.orbitmedia.com
   • My pick if you want one agency to build it and remain your long-term digital partner.

4. EDUCO — Best smaller education/mission-driven specialist
   • Has a Chicago higher-ed portfolio, including the Music Institute of Chicago.
   • That project specifically included responsive design, Drupal development and ongoing web support, with substantial post-launch traffic/engagement improvements. www.educowebdesign.com
   • Worth comparing against the larger firms if you want a potentially more hands-on relationship.

5. Clique Studios — Best creative/digital transformation option
   • Works with higher education and has an explicit education culture/expertise.
   • Their Chicago office is at 20 N. Wacker Drive, making them particularly convenient for a Loop office. cliquestudios.com
   • They also provide ongoing website support, including content updates, feature work, troubleshooting and QA. cliquestudios.com

Who I'd invite to the RFP

I'd narrow it to Orbit, Sandstorm, mStoner, and EDUCO. That's a useful mix of:

• Orbit: strongest overall combination of higher ed + mobile + SEO + ongoing support
• Sandstorm: deepest UX/accessibility orientation
• mStoner: higher-ed specialization and proximity to the Loop
• EDUCO: potentially more nimble, with demonstrated education support work

For the RFP, I'd specifically require mobile-first prototypes, WCAG accessibility, CMS/editor training, analytics/SEO, integrations with your university systems, a defined support SLA, security/updates, and a 12-month post-launch roadmap. That will expose whether an agency genuinely supports the site after launch or just sells a redesign.

Orbit Media · Sandstorm Design · Clique Studios · EDUCO

If you tell me roughly your budget (e.g. <$50k, $50–150k, $150k+) and whether this is a department/school site or a university-wide site, I can rank these four by likely fit and project scale.

For a Chicago university office near the Loop, I’d shortlist agencies that combine higher-ed experience with mobile/UX capability and a real post-launch support model—not just firms that build a site and disappear.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — strongest higher-ed specialist
   • mStoner is now Carnegie’s Website Design + Development team and has worked with 350+ colleges, universities and professional schools.
   • Strong on UX, information architecture, content strategy, responsive web development, and partnering with campus IT.
   • Carnegie explicitly offers ongoing website support. www.carnegiehighered.com
   • Best fit: if this is a university-level site where enrollment, academic programs and multiple stakeholders matter.
   • Carnegie / mStoner higher-ed web services

2. Sandstorm Design — strongest UX/accessibility option
   • Chicago-based and particularly interesting if your priority is mobile UX, user research, accessibility and complicated institutional content.
   • Sandstorm says its higher-ed work is informed by thousands of hours of research with students and faculty; it has worked with the University of Chicago and other higher-ed organizations. www.sandstormdesign.com
   • Best fit: a university office that needs to simplify navigation and user journeys rather than merely refresh the visual design.
   • Sandstorm higher-education work

3. Orbit Media — strongest local web/support partner
   • Chicago-based, with a dedicated higher-ed offering emphasizing responsive/mobile-friendly design, UX, CMS training and ongoing optimization/support.
   • Its higher-ed portfolio includes Discovery Partners Institute, and Orbit explicitly describes support extending years after launch. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Best fit: if you want a relatively hands-on Chicago partner that can keep managing and improving the site after launch.
   • Orbit Media higher-ed web design

4. Clique Studios — good digital-product alternative
   • Located right in the Loop and offers UX/UI, usability testing, accessibility, responsive/mobile design and engineering.
   • Best fit: if the “website” may eventually become a more substantial digital service or portal, rather than just an institutional marketing site.

5. Promet Source — strongest technical/Drupal option
   • Chicago-based, with deep higher-ed/public-sector experience, accessibility expertise and ongoing maintenance.
   • Its higher-ed work includes Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Calvin University and Waubonsee Community College; the latter specifically involved addressing a non-mobile-responsive student portal. www.prometsource.com
   • Best fit: if you have a complicated CMS, integrations, accessibility requirements or a large amount of institutional content.
   • Promet Source higher-ed services

If I were issuing the RFP

I'd invite mStoner/Carnegie, Sandstorm, Orbit and Promet to bid. They give you four meaningfully different approaches:

For the RFP, I'd make mobile-first UX, WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility, CMS training, analytics, performance, security/updates, and a defined monthly support/optimization retainer mandatory—not optional add-ons. That will make the proposals much easier to compare.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d shortlist agencies that combine higher-ed experience, mobile/UX strength, accessibility, and a real post-launch support model.

Strongest fits

1. mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — best higher-ed specialist
   • Chicago office at 500 W Madison.
   • mStoner is now part of Carnegie and is specifically focused on higher-ed website design/development.
   • Carnegie offers ongoing website support, accessibility, SEO, analytics, CMS work, and optimization. www.carnegiehighered.com
   • Best for: a university team that wants deep higher-ed expertise rather than a generalist web shop.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best Chicago web/UX option
   • Chicago-based and has a dedicated higher-education practice.
   • Their higher-ed work emphasizes responsive/mobile UX, CMS usability, integrations, and ongoing optimization/support. Their portfolio includes Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Best for: a modern mobile-first site with strong UX, SEO, content strategy, and long-term optimization.

3. Lipman-Hearne — best if communications/brand is central
   • Downtown Chicago agency specializing in higher education and other mission-driven organizations.
   • Particularly attractive if the website project also involves institutional messaging, enrollment communications, brand, content, or campaigns.
   • Best for: a university office where the website needs to reinforce a broader communications/marketing strategy.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — best for complex academic/research content
   • Chicago firm with a strong higher-ed and scientific/research orientation.
   • Their sweet spot is translating complicated institutional or research material into clear information architecture and digital experiences.
   • Best for: academic centers, institutes, research offices, or specialized university programs.

5. Sandstorm Design — best UX/accessibility alternative
   • Chicago-based digital agency emphasizing UX, inclusive design, accessibility, and enterprise web development.
   • Best for: a university office that needs accessibility and stakeholder/user research to be first-class requirements.

6. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller/local option
   • Chicago-based, with an office at 801 S Wells.
   • Focuses on responsive WordPress sites, hosting, maintenance, security, and ongoing support; its education work includes school websites. windycitywebsolutions.com
   • Best for: a smaller office that wants a more hands-on local partner and doesn't need a huge higher-ed agency.

How I'd prioritize them

For your particular brief, I'd invite Orbit, mStoner/Carnegie, and Sandbox to an initial conversation. Orbit is especially compelling because it explicitly combines higher-ed work with mobile UX and long-term support. mStoner/Carnegie is the safest choice if institutional higher-ed experience and ongoing governance matter most. Sandbox is worth adding if your office deals with research, academic programs, or unusually complex content.

I'd put Sandstorm into the mix if WCAG/accessibility and inclusive UX are major procurement criteria, and Windy City if budget and local responsiveness outweigh the advantages of a large higher-ed specialist.

For the RFP, I would specifically ask each agency to demonstrate:

• mobile-first designs tested against actual student/faculty user journeys
• WCAG 2.2 accessibility process and testing
• CMS recommendations and editor training
• integrations with your university's existing systems
• analytics/SEO and Core Web Vitals
• a defined monthly support SLA, including response times
• examples of higher-ed clients they still support after launch, not just portfolio redesigns
• who will actually staff your account after the sale.

If you want a small, 3-agency shortlist for an RFP, I'd use Orbit + mStoner/Carnegie + Sandstorm.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies that understand higher education audiences (students, faculty, alumni, donors, prospective applicants), accessibility, CMS governance, integrations, and long-term site maintenance—not just a one-time redesign.

Here are Chicago-area agencies I’d shortlist:

A few other firms worth comparing:

• Orbit Media Studios — has higher-ed website experience, responsive design expertise, CMS training, and post-launch support offerings. www.orbitmedia.com
• EDUCO — has worked with education and mission-driven organizations, including university-related projects. www.educowebdesign.com
• Inquirium — more specialized if your office needs learning technology, interactive tools, or custom educational experiences beyond a marketing site. www.inquirium.net

For your specific use case (mobile-first university office site + ongoing support), I’d probably put them into tiers:

Higher-ed specialists

1. mStoner
2. Synergy Creative
3. Sandbox Studio

Strong ongoing web operations partners

1. Orbit Media
2. Windy City Web Solutions
3. Americaneagle.com

If enrollment/marketing outcomes matter heavily

1. Digital Authority Partners
2. Sandstorm Design

When requesting proposals, I’d ask each agency to address:

• WCAG accessibility compliance
• mobile UX testing with students/staff
• CMS choice and editor training
• turnaround times for ongoing updates
• security/plugin/platform maintenance
• analytics dashboards and conversion tracking
• integration experience (LMS, CRM, admissions systems, event platforms)

I’d also ask for 2–3 higher-ed references specifically, since university websites often fail from governance and content-management issues rather than design problems.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with higher-ed experience plus mobile-first UX and a real post-launch support model, rather than a general Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — best higher-ed specialist
   • Located at 500 W Madison, right in the Loop.
   • Strong higher-ed focus and specifically oriented toward university website design/development.
   • Worth putting near the top of the RFP list if institutional stakeholders, admissions content, accessibility, and university CMS complexity are important.

2. Americaneagle.com, Inc. — best for a larger/complex build
   • Chicago office at 200 W Jackson Blvd.
   • Good fit if you need a robust CMS, integrations, analytics, hosting and continuing technical support rather than simply a visual redesign.
   • Their Chicago operation covers design/development, digital marketing and post-launch support.

3. Teamworks Media Inc — strong Loop-area higher-ed option
   • Downtown at 1 E Wacker.
   • Has higher-ed experience, including Northwestern, and combines digital experience with marketing/creative capabilities.
   • I'd consider them particularly if the office needs the website to support broader communications and engagement, not just information architecture.

4. Lipman-Hearne — best for institutional communications
   • Chicago-based agency focused heavily on higher education and other mission-driven organizations.
   • A good candidate if your project involves messaging, positioning, enrollment/communications strategy and the website together.

5. Synergy Creative — higher-ed-focused creative alternative
   • Chicago-based and primarily focused on higher education.
   • Its capabilities include responsive/mobile digital experiences and it has worked with institutions including National Louis University and NewSchool of Architecture + Design.

Also worth an RFP

Orbit Media is probably my strongest recommendation if you're willing to look beyond the immediate Loop. Its Chicago higher-ed practice explicitly covers responsive design, accessibility, UX, CMS training and ongoing support/optimization; its portfolio includes Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute. www.orbitmedia.com

Promet Source is another particularly good technical choice. It's Chicago-based, specializes in higher education/public-sector sites, has Drupal/WordPress expertise, accessibility experience and explicitly offers ongoing maintenance/support. www.prometsource.com

Sandstorm stands out for UX research and accessibility: it reports 20+ years working with universities, substantial student/faculty research, and ongoing accessibility audits. Its higher-ed portfolio includes University of Chicago schools and units. www.sandstormdesign.com

Kanopi Studios is worth considering if you're on Drupal/WordPress and want a long-term technical partner; it specifically markets higher-ed redesign, development and ongoing support. kanopi.com

How I'd narrow it

For your stated needs, my first 5 calls would be:

In the RFP, I'd specifically require mobile-first prototypes before desktop design, WCAG 2.2 AA, CMS/editor training, performance targets, analytics, security/maintenance SLAs, and a defined monthly support/optimization retainer. That will separate genuine long-term partners from agencies that mainly sell a redesign.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with higher-ed experience, strong mobile/UX capability, and a real post-launch support model rather than a general-purpose Chicago web shop.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — best higher-ed specialist
   • Chicago-based and specifically focused on higher education digital work.
   • Particularly compelling if your office has complicated audiences, CMS governance, admissions/program content, or university stakeholders.
   • Their downtown office is at 500 W Madison, which is convenient for Loop collaboration.
   • Best fit: a university office that wants an agency deeply familiar with academic institutions.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best overall for mobile-first + ongoing optimization
   • Chicago agency with substantial higher-ed work, including Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute.
   • Their higher-ed offering explicitly includes responsive/mobile UX, CMS training, ongoing support, website management and optimization. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Best fit: you want a modern site and a long-term partner rather than a one-and-done redesign.

3. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — best for sophisticated university/research communications
   • Strong fit if the office communicates complicated academic, scientific or research material.
   • Their work combines information architecture, UX, responsive/mobile design, branding and development.
   • Best fit: research centers, institutes, schools, and academically complex programs.

4. Synergy Creative — best higher-ed-focused creative option
   • Chicago-based agency with an explicit higher-education orientation and experience with institutions including National Louis University and Follett.
   • Their capabilities include interactive/mobile/responsive design.
   • Best fit: an office that needs both a strong creative identity and education-sector understanding.

5. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller/local support partner
   • Based in the South Loop and focused on WordPress, mobile-responsive sites, accessibility, hosting/maintenance and ongoing support.
   • Their education work includes school/university sites and emphasizes easy staff updates and ongoing support. windycitywebsolutions.com
   • Best fit: a smaller office that doesn't need a large enterprise agency and values hands-on local support.

Two more worth putting on the RFP list

• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — a much larger option, with a Loop office and capabilities spanning UX, development, hosting, analytics, SEO and post-launch support. Good if your site has significant technical/integration requirements.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Loop-based creative/web agency offering UX, web development and long-term maintenance; worth considering if brand/design quality is especially important.

If I were choosing three

I'd invite mStoner, Orbit Media, and Sandbox Studio to pitch.

Orbit would be my first call for the combination you described: their higher-ed practice explicitly covers responsive design, CMS, training, ongoing support and optimization. www.orbitmedia.com mStoner is the strongest specialist comparison, while Sandbox gives you a different, more design/information-architecture-heavy perspective.

For the RFP, I'd require each agency to demonstrate three mobile experiences they've actually launched for education clients, provide a 12-month support/maintenance plan with response times, and explain how they handle accessibility, CMS governance, analytics, security, content migration, and stakeholder approvals. That will distinguish a true university web partner from an agency that simply makes attractive websites.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, not just generic Chicago web shops. My shortlist:

1. mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialist
   • Chicago-based, at 500 W Madison.
   • Specifically focused on higher-ed website design/development and digital strategy.
   • Worth putting near the top if your office needs to navigate university stakeholders, admissions/content complexity, and long-term governance.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best all-around Chicago option
   • Strong fit for a mobile-first, content-heavy site plus ongoing optimization/support.
   • Their higher-ed practice explicitly covers responsive UX, CMS training, integrations, and post-launch support. They cite work with Erikson Institute and Olivet Nazarene University. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Particularly attractive if you want the agency to keep improving the site after launch rather than simply hand it over.

3. Sandstorm Design — best for UX/accessibility
   • Chicago-based and has substantial higher-ed work, including the University of Chicago's Harris School, Marine Biological Laboratory, and Crown Family School. www.sandstormdesign.com
   • I'd shortlist them if accessibility, user research, information architecture, and serving multiple audiences are major concerns.

4. Synergy Creative — good higher-ed-focused creative option
   • Based in the West Loop and focused heavily on higher education.
   • Their work spans responsive/mobile experiences, branding, campaigns, and digital creative. Good candidate if the project is as much about positioning and storytelling as it is technical implementation.

5. IDE Interactive, Inc. — good smaller technical studio
   • Chicago studio offering web design/development, WordPress, maintenance, and mobile experiences.
   • I'd consider them if you want a more hands-on development partner rather than a large higher-ed marketing operation.

Also worth an RFP

Promet Source is particularly compelling if you're dealing with Drupal, accessibility, complex integrations, or institutional governance. They're Chicago-based and explicitly specialize in higher education, with ongoing support and maintenance. www.prometsource.com

Convoy is another higher-ed specialist worth interviewing if you want an embedded, ongoing digital partner; its offering covers UX, accessibility, performance, security/updates, web development, and continuing support. highered.weareconvoy.com

My three-agency shortlist

For your specific brief, I'd invite:

Orbit + mStoner + Sandstorm

They give you three useful alternatives: growth/content + higher-ed specialization + UX/accessibility.

In the RFP, I'd make agencies demonstrate the same mobile journey—e.g. “prospective student → program information → contact/application CTA”—and ask for a concrete 12-month support model, including accessibility remediation, security/CMS updates, analytics, response times, and a monthly improvement budget. That will expose the difference between an agency that builds a pretty site and one that can actually support your office afterward.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d shortlist agencies that can handle mobile-first UX, higher-ed information architecture, accessibility, CMS development, and a genuine post-launch support relationship—not just a one-time redesign.

My Chicago shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. — strongest higher-ed specialist
   • Chicago office at 500 W Madison, right in the Loop.
   • Their core focus is higher-ed website design/development, and they’re now part of Carnegie.
   • Particularly worth considering if your office needs a university-native approach rather than a general-purpose agency.

2. Sandstorm Design — strongest UX/accessibility option
   • Excellent fit if “mobile-first” really means research-driven UX, not simply responsive layouts.
   • Sandstorm says it has 20+ years working with universities and emphasizes accessibility, UX research, and ongoing accessibility audits. Its higher-ed portfolio includes multiple University of Chicago organizations. www.sandstormdesign.com
   • Best choice if your site serves complicated audiences—prospective students, current students, faculty, alumni, etc.

3. Orbit Media Studios — strongest Chicago all-rounder
   • Orbit Media's higher-ed practice
   • Specifically offers higher-ed website design, responsive/mobile-friendly UX, CMS training, integrations and ongoing support/optimization. Its portfolio includes Erikson Institute and Discovery Partners Institute. www.orbitmedia.com
   • I’d put them high on the list if the office wants a partner that can continue improving the site after launch rather than handing it over.

4. EDUCO — strong boutique Chicago option
   • EDUCO's site
   • Particularly relevant for an education office: its portfolio includes University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Olivet Nazarene University, and Music Institute of Chicago. The Music Institute project included responsive design, Drupal development and ongoing web support. www.educowebdesign.com
   • I'd consider them if you want a smaller, more hands-on team.

5. Marcel Digital — good if performance/SEO matters
   • Their Loop office is at 20 N Wacker.
   • More digital-performance oriented than purely higher-ed specialized, with web development, SEO, CRO and analytics capabilities.
   • Better fit if the project has a significant lead generation, program enrollment or measurable conversion component.

6. Synergy Creative — good higher-ed marketing/creative alternative
   • Chicago-based and focused substantially on higher education, including responsive/mobile digital work.
   • Its cited education clients include National Louis University and other higher-ed organizations.
   • I'd favor them when brand, messaging and recruitment marketing are as important as the underlying website.

One non-Chicago specialist I'd also invite

OHO deserves an RFP invitation even though it's not a Chicago shop. It has 180+ higher-ed website clients, more than 20 years in the sector, and explicitly offers ongoing CMS development/support. Its work includes Illinois Tech. www.oho.com

If I were narrowing it to 3

Sandstorm + Orbit + EDUCO would be my first three conversations.

• Sandstorm: best for UX research, accessibility and complex university audiences.
• Orbit: best balance of Chicago presence, higher-ed experience, web strategy and long-term optimization.
• EDUCO: best boutique alternative with directly relevant Chicago education work.

For the RFP, I'd make agencies demonstrate the mobile experience on 3–5 critical journeys (program discovery, admissions/contact, events, faculty/staff information, etc.), specify their CMS/support retainer, and explain how they'll handle accessibility, analytics, content governance and incremental improvements after launch. That will separate genuine ongoing partners from agencies primarily selling a redesign.

For a university office near the Loop, I’d prioritize agencies with actual higher-ed experience, strong responsive/mobile UX, accessibility expertise, and a credible post-launch support model.

My shortlist

1. mStoner, Inc. / Carnegie — best higher-ed specialist
   • Chicago office at 500 W Madison, right by the Loop.
   • mStoner is specifically focused on higher-ed web design/development and is now part of Carnegie.
   • Carnegie offers ongoing website support, accessibility monitoring, SEO/content optimization, analytics, and CMS support. www.carnegiehighered.com
   • Best if: your office wants an agency that already understands university stakeholders, admissions/content needs, and institutional governance.

2. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — best for sophisticated institutional design
   • Chicago firm with a long history working with higher education and scientific/research organizations.
   • Offers responsive/mobile design plus front- and back-end development.
   • Best if: the office needs strong visual communication and has complex academic/research content.

3. Orbit Media — best all-around web strategy + support
   • Chicago-based and has a dedicated higher-education practice, including work with Olivet Nazarene University and the Erikson Institute. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Explicitly offers responsive design, accessibility, CMS training, integrations, and long-term technical/support services. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Best if: you want the agency to handle strategy, UX/content, development, launch, and ongoing optimization rather than simply build pages.

4. Synergy Creative — worth interviewing for higher-ed communications
   • Chicago-based agency focused heavily on higher education.
   • Its work includes responsive/mobile experiences and clients such as National Louis University and other education organizations.
   • Best if: this is as much a communications/brand project as a technical website project.

5. Lipman-Hearne / Yes& — best if enrollment/communications is central
   • Downtown Chicago presence and a strong higher-ed/mission-driven focus.
   • More of an integrated communications partner than a pure web shop.
   • Best if: the website needs to connect with broader university marketing, enrollment, positioning, and campaign work.

One I'd add if technical depth matters

Promet Source is another strong candidate. It's Chicago-based and explicitly specializes in higher education, accessibility, Drupal/WordPress, UX/UI, and ongoing maintenance/support. Its higher-ed work includes Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and other universities. www.orbitmedia.comwww.prometsource.com

How I'd narrow it

For your stated requirements, I'd invite Orbit, mStoner/Carnegie, Promet Source, and Sandbox to an initial conversation.

I'd make the RFP/interview emphasize:

• Mobile-first, not merely responsive: show the proposed mobile navigation and top 5 user journeys.
• Accessibility: require WCAG 2.2 AA testing and remediation, not just an accessibility statement.
• CMS ownership: your staff should be able to make routine edits without agency intervention.
• Ongoing support: ask for actual SLA/response times, monthly retainer structure, security updates, backups, analytics, and emergency support.
• Higher-ed references: ask for 2–3 comparable university clients and speak directly with them.
• Integrations: identify any CRM, admissions, events, directory, LMS, or student-portal dependencies before selecting the CMS.

Orbit is particularly compelling for a smaller university office because it explicitly describes dedicated project management, CMS training, and support extending well beyond launch. www.orbitmedia.com

If you tell me rough budget (e.g. <$50k, $50–100k, $100k+) and whether this is a department/school site or the university's main site, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually put on the shortlist.