Answers that do not mention Solid Digital

• Walker Sands - 55 W Monroe St Ste 3925, Chicago, IL 60603
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
• Double Clutch Brewing Company - 2121 Ashland Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654
• Flor164 b2b Creative Agency - 618 W Inverrary Ln, Deerfield, IL 60015
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647

For a small B2B consulting firm, I’d focus less on “pretty websites” and more on agencies that understand positioning, credibility, lead generation, conversion paths, and B2B buying cycles.

A few downtown/central Chicago firms worth putting on your shortlist:

• Walker Sands — 55 W Monroe St. Their web practice is explicitly B2B-focused, with brand expression, conversion-rate optimization, landing pages, and B2B demand generation. They could be a particularly relevant fit if your website needs to support a broader marketing strategy. Walker Sands
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency — 332 S Michigan Ave. A downtown option with a strong web/digital-marketing orientation; worth considering if you want website + acquisition/SEO rather than design alone.
• 10com Web Development — 205 N Michigan Ave. A larger-review-volume local web-design option that could be worth interviewing if you want a more website-development-centric engagement.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — 30 N Michigan Ave. Worth considering if brand presentation and a polished professional identity are major priorities.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — 211 W Wacker Dr. A central Chicago creative/design option if the visual side of the rebrand is especially important.

One important exception: Orbit Media

Although it isn't downtown—it is at 4043 N Ravenswood Ave—I'd still put Orbit Media Studios on the interview list.

For your particular description, their positioning is unusually aligned: they have a dedicated consulting web-design practice, explicitly discuss credibility and lead generation for consulting firms, and combine UX, content, SEO, analytics and conversion optimization. They report that a consulting client, The Horton Group, saw a 26% increase in qualified website leads after its redesign. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

How I'd structure the pitch process

I'd interview 3 agencies, rather than asking 10 for proposals. Give each the same brief:

1. “We're a small B2B consulting firm.”
2. “Our website needs to establish expertise quickly.”
3. “The primary conversion is qualified consultation/demo inquiries.”
4. “We want sophisticated, professional design—not a generic consulting template.”
5. “Show us how you'd turn an anonymous visitor into a qualified lead.”

Then ask each agency to show you one existing B2B/consulting site and its measurable results, and specifically ask what they'd test after launch.

One caution: don't choose based on Google/Clutch star ratings alone. For a consulting firm, the quality of the agency's strategy and messaging work can matter more than its raw web-development capability.

If you tell me roughly what kind of consulting you do, your approximate website budget ($10k, $25k, $50k+, etc.), and whether you need branding/copywriting too, I can narrow this to a more useful shortlist and compare what each agency appears best suited for.

• AttorneySync - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Market JD, Inc. - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• dNOVO Group | Law Firm Marketing Agency - 545 N McClurg Ct Ste 1808, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• OVC Lawyer Marketing - 750 Warrenville Rd Ste 203, Lisle, IL 60532, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 460 N Main St Unit 209, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 3553 W Peterson Ave Ste 30, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• BSPE Legal Marketing - Chicago - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Attorney Web Design | Chicago - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Pattern 6 - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Lawyers Court Legal Web Services - 5444 N La Crosse Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

Since you’re moving a law practice into the Loop, I’d prioritize firms that understand legal/professional-services positioning—not just general small-business web design. A few Chicago options worth contacting:

• AttorneySync — 211 W Wacker Dr. They work exclusively with law firms and emphasize conversion-focused website design, SEO, and lead generation. Their Loop location is particularly convenient. Warhol and West
• Market JD, Inc. — 20 N Wacker Dr. Focused on attorneys and law firms, including modern, mobile-responsive website builds and SEO. A natural fit if you want the website tied closely to client acquisition.
• dNOVO Group | Law Firm Marketing Agency — Chicago-based legal marketing agency offering web design alongside SEO, paid advertising, and branding. This is worth considering if you want one firm handling the broader marketing operation.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — 30 N Michigan Ave. More branding/design-oriented than the legal-specialist shops, with web design, visual identity, and SEO. I'd consider them if your relocation is also a rebrand/positioning exercise.
• Warhol + West — A Chicago studio that explicitly designs websites for law firms, including solo practices and larger firms, with an emphasis on modern custom design and SEO. They're at 212 N Sangamon St. Warhol and West
• Dupont Creative — Specifically markets Chicago law-firm web design, with custom WordPress sites, in-house development, and experience with both small and large firms. Dupont Creative
• Zaremba Studio — An interesting specialist option: the founder is himself a practicing Illinois attorney and builds websites for law firms and professional practices. That gives them unusually direct understanding of the legal-business side. Zaremba Studio

Who I'd contact first

For a modern Loop law-firm site, I'd have initial conversations with AttorneySync, Dupont Creative, and Warhol + West. They represent three somewhat different approaches: legal-specialist marketing, polished professional-services web development, and Chicago creative/design.

When you talk to them, ask to see 3 recent sites for firms comparable to yours, rather than just their overall portfolio. I'd also ask:

• Who actually writes the practice-area and attorney copy?
• Do I own the site, domain, content, and design files?
• What platform will it be built on?
• How will existing Google rankings be preserved during the move/redesign?
• Can you handle Illinois attorney advertising/compliance considerations?
• What's included after launch—SEO, hosting, maintenance, analytics?
• Can you show me the mobile versions of your recent law-firm sites?

If you tell me your practice area (e.g. corporate, litigation, family, real estate, plaintiff-side, etc.), approximate firm size, and whether you want a premium/high-end look or a more understated professional look, I can narrow this to 3 firms and compare their portfolios, location, services, and likely fit.

• AttorneySync - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Market JD, Inc. - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• dNOVO Group | Law Firm Marketing Agency - 545 N McClurg Ct Ste 1808, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• OVC Lawyer Marketing - 750 Warrenville Rd Ste 203, Lisle, IL 60532, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 460 N Main St Unit 209, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 3553 W Peterson Ave Ste 30, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• BSPE Legal Marketing - Chicago - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Attorney Web Design | Chicago - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Pattern 6 - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a Loop law practice, I’d contact these first:

• AttorneySync — Chicago-based and exclusively focused on law firms; particularly relevant if lead generation matters alongside design. Website Design Chicago | warhol + west
• Market JD, Inc. — Wacker Drive location, with law-firm website design plus SEO.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Downtown Chicago branding + web design; worth considering if you want a more polished, brand-forward professional-services site.
• dNOVO Group | Law Firm Marketing Agency — Chicago agency combining modern web design, SEO, and broader marketing.
• Dupont Creative — specifically showcases Chicago law-firm work and custom WordPress builds with firms retaining ownership. dupontcreative.com

My practical shortlist: get proposals from AttorneySync, Market JD, and Dupont Creative, and compare portfolio quality, content strategy, SEO migration, ownership, and ongoing costs.

• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Angle180 - 141 W Jackson Blvd #4236, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 North Michigan Ave, Fl 31, Chicago, IL 60611
• OneIMS - 110 N Wacker Dr Suite 2500A, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RSXigital | B2B Lead Generation & Performance Marketing Agency in Chicago, USA - 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• OneIMS - 111 E Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Emery J Homor - 500 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045, United States

If you’re a marketing director at a Chicago engineering firm, I’d look for an agency that understands technical buyers, long sales cycles, and qualified-lead generation—not simply a firm that makes attractive corporate websites.

A few Chicago options stand out for that specific combination:

• VisualFizz — B2B + industrial + web + demand generation. They explicitly work with technical/industrial companies and build sites around qualified-lead generation, CRO, SEO, and integrations with CRM/ERP systems. VisualFizz VisualFizz

visualfizz.com

• LoSasso Integrated Marketing — Particularly relevant if your firm sells sophisticated engineering/industrial services. They have specific experience marketing to engineers and technical decision-makers, combining website development with content/SEO, demand generation, and performance marketing. Their HEIDENHAIN work is a useful example. LoSasso Marketing LoSasso Marketing

losasso.com

• Orbit Media Studios — A well-established Chicago web agency with explicit B2B/manufacturing experience. Their approach connects web design with SEO, content, conversion optimization, analytics, and ongoing improvement rather than treating the website as a one-time design project. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

• Angle180 — Worth a conversation if your engineering firm is particularly focused on inbound lead generation. Their Chicago practice specifically targets B2B industrial/manufacturing and construction businesses and combines web design with SEO/PPC/content/CRO.
• Solid Digital — More broadly B2B-focused, with Chicago-based web design/development and digital marketing. I'd consider them if you're looking for a sophisticated B2B website partner rather than an agency exclusively focused on engineering/industrial firms.

If I were building the shortlist

I'd probably have VisualFizz, LoSasso, and Orbit in the first round of conversations. They represent somewhat different approaches:

One non-Chicago alternative is also worth knowing about: Menta positions itself specifically around engineering, manufacturing, and industrial B2B, combining web design with systematic lead generation. Its founder has an engineering background, which is an interesting differentiator for a technically complex firm. Menta Experts

The key thing I'd ask every agency in the pitch is not "Can you redesign our website?" Instead:

"Show me how you would turn our website into a pipeline-generation channel for engineers and technical decision-makers, and show me how you'd measure qualified opportunities rather than form fills."

That question will quickly separate a web-design vendor from a B2B growth partner.

If you tell me roughly what kind of engineering firm you are (civil, structural, MEP, environmental, industrial, consulting, etc.) and your approximate website budget, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies that are particularly relevant to your market.

• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Angle180 - 141 W Jackson Blvd #4236, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• OneIMS - 110 N Wacker Dr Suite 2500A, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• RSXigital | B2B Lead Generation & Performance Marketing Agency in Chicago, USA - 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 North Michigan Ave, Fl 31, Chicago, IL 60611
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Office of Experience, LLC - 980 N Michigan Ave Ste 1090, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a Chicago engineering firm where the website needs to generate qualified B2B opportunities—not just look polished, I’d put these agencies on the shortlist:

• LoSasso Integrated Marketing — Particularly relevant if your firm sells complex engineering/industrial services. They explicitly work with technical buyers and combine website development, content/SEO, demand generation, and marketing strategy. Their published engineering case work includes generating 5,000 qualified leads for HEIDENHAIN through digital programs. LoSasso Marketing
• VisualFizz — A Chicago B2B agency with specific manufacturing, industrial and construction experience. Their web-development offering emphasizes qualified-lead generation, CRO, and integration with CRM/ERP systems. They also publish an AEC case involving AI-focused SEO/PPC and increased demo-form completions. Visual Fizz Visual Fizz
• Angle180 — Worth talking to if your engineering firm resembles an industrial manufacturer, contractor, or technical B2B service business. Their positioning combines web design with inbound marketing, SEO, PPC, content and conversion optimization.
• Marcel Digital — More of a B2B digital-growth partner than a pure creative web shop. Their capabilities span web development, SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics, which is useful if you want the new site tied tightly to pipeline measurement.
• Orbit Media Studios — A well-established Chicago web agency with a strong emphasis on content, SEO, conversion and measurable business outcomes. I'd consider them if the primary challenge is rebuilding the website/content architecture while keeping lead generation central.
• OneIMS — Especially worth a conversation if you want inbound marketing + website + sales/marketing alignment, rather than hiring a web designer separately. Their focus is B2B demand generation and measurable pipeline.

If I were running the agency search

I wouldn't send out a generic "we need a new website" RFP. I'd tell the agencies:

We're an engineering firm. We need a website that helps technical decision-makers understand our capabilities, establishes credibility, captures qualified opportunities, and can be measured through the sales pipeline.

Then ask each agency to show you:

1. 2–3 engineering/industrial B2B websites they've actually built.
2. How they distinguish a qualified engineering lead from a generic form fill.
3. Their proposed conversion paths—e.g. consultation, capability inquiry, project inquiry, technical content, RFQ, etc.
4. How they'll handle technical SEO and content architecture for specialized engineering services.
5. How website leads will get into your CRM and ultimately be attributed to opportunities/revenue.
6. What they would change about your current site before you tell them what you want redesigned.

One particularly interesting option is VisualFizz because its published work explicitly spans B2B + industrial + web development + lead generation, rather than treating those as separate disciplines. Visual Fizz Visual Fizz

If you tell me what kind of engineering firm you are (civil, structural, MEP, environmental, manufacturing/process, consulting, etc.) and roughly your annual marketing budget, I can narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies that appear most aligned and give you the specific questions I'd ask each in the pitch meeting.

• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look for an agency that can do more than make the site prettier: you want positioning + visual identity + professional-services messaging + a sophisticated website that makes the firm feel differentiated without becoming too “creative agency.”

A few Chicago firms I’d put on the shortlist:

• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency — Chicago-based and particularly relevant if the website is a major part of the project. They combine web design/development with digital marketing and have experience across finance and other professional-service sectors. Codazz
• Design In Chicago — A West Loop shop offering brand strategy, identity, web design/development, content and marketing under one roof. Their published work includes professional-services work and brand refreshes, making them worth a serious conversation. Design In Chicago
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Integrated branding + website + SEO. Their positioning specifically discusses B2B, consulting, financial and advisory firms, so there's a fairly direct industry fit. Brand Vision
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Downtown agency combining brand identity, web/UX and development. Their positioning around keeping strategy, design and development together could work well for a brand refresh where you don't want separate branding and web vendors.
• Flamingo Agency — More boutique and website-oriented. They explicitly specialize in accounting/CPA websites and have published accounting-specific work, including service pages, bios, SEO and WordPress builds. Flamingo Agency
• Substance — A more strategy/brand-led option. Their work encompasses brand strategy, naming, visual identity, messaging and websites, with an emphasis on strategy before aesthetics.
• Landor — The big-brand option. Their Chicago office handles brand strategy, positioning, design and digital/experience work. I'd investigate them if you're contemplating a substantial repositioning, rather than simply modernizing the existing identity.
• ColorJar — Boutique brand strategy/design firm in Fulton Market. Their capabilities span positioning, naming, messaging, identity and websites, which is a useful combination for a professional-services rebrand.

How I'd narrow it

For your particular brief, I'd probably invite 4 agencies to pitch, with deliberately different approaches:

1. Design In Chicago — integrated brand + web partner.
2. Brand Vision — professional-services/B2B-oriented brand + digital approach.
3. Substance — strategy and brand identity emphasis.
4. Flamingo — accounting-specific website expertise and a more focused/boutique option.

That gives you a useful comparison between strategic brand work, professional-services expertise, and website execution rather than getting four agencies that all sell essentially the same thing.

One useful benchmark: current Chicago branding-agency listings show many projects in roughly the $10K–$49K range, with larger engagements above that, although a serious mid-market accounting-firm rebrand + website can obviously exceed those ranges depending on strategy, content, photography, integrations and CMS requirements. Clutch

If you tell me roughly firm revenue/employee count, current website, budget ($25k / $50k / $100k+), and whether you're trying to look more “Big Four,” boutique advisory, or modern growth firm, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies and explain what I would ask each one in the RFP.

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web design” shops. You want a partner that can make a professional-services firm feel credible and sophisticated without becoming another interchangeable CPA brand, and that can connect the brand refresh to a strong business-development website.

Here’s a shortlist I’d put into an RFP:

The three I'd interview first

1. Substance — if this is genuinely a brand refresh, not just a logo cleanup. Their stated approach puts strategy and messaging ahead of visual execution and includes website development.

2. Multiple Inc. — particularly interesting if you're trying to move the firm's positioning from “accounting firm” toward trusted business advisor / sophisticated middle-market partner. Their work is explicitly strategy-led and geared toward organizations dealing with complex markets and stakeholders.

3. ArtVersion — I'd include them if you want one team to handle brand strategy → UX → design → development, rather than coordinating a branding agency and a separate web shop.

I'd add Flamingo as a useful benchmark because they have actual CPA/accounting website work. Their published accounting case study describes a full redesign for a Chicago-area CPA firm, including positioning, service architecture, mobile UX, SEO and conversion paths. www.flamingoagency.com

One important distinction

I'd decide internally whether you're asking for:

A. “Make us look better.”
New identity, website, photography, collateral.

B. “Change how the market perceives us.”
Positioning, differentiation, messaging architecture, identity, then website.

For a mid-market accounting firm, B is the more interesting agency brief. Otherwise you can spend six figures making the same “trusted / experienced / personalized / forward-thinking” accounting story look prettier.

I'd also ask every finalist to show you 2–3 examples of B2B or professional-services work, not just consumer branding. And ask specifically how they'll turn your firm's differentiators, industries, partner expertise and client proof into a website that generates qualified conversations.

If you give me your approximate revenue/employee size, target client ($10M businesses vs. $100M+ companies, etc.), and rough budget (e.g. $50–100k vs. $100–250k+), I can narrow this to 5 agencies and give you a suggested RFP/agency-selection scorecard.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, 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
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Woodhouse Tinucci Architects - 230 W Superior St Ste 600, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a Chicago architecture firm whose site needs to make the work—and the awards—feel exceptional, I’d shortlist these firms:

• Orbit Media Studios — Architecture-specialist option. Orbit explicitly focuses on architecture/engineering/construction websites and has experience building portfolio-driven sites around project storytelling, content strategy, SEO, and lead generation. They’re in Chicago, though not downtown. Orbit Media Studios
• ArtVersion — ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Strong fit if brand + website are both important. They designed and developed the Chicago architecture firm Legat Architects' site, including brand work, portfolio presentation, and responsive UX; that project subsequently received several web/design awards. ArtVersion
• Span — A particularly interesting design-led studio if you want something less conventional than a typical corporate architecture website. They designed/developed Studio GC's Chicago architecture portfolio, using project storytelling, audio, animation, and a deliberately distinctive visual experience. Span
• Portico — Worth talking to if the portfolio itself is the centerpiece. Their architecture-specific system supports detailed project narratives, filtering, awards/data, team profiles, and an easier process for adding new projects. Portico
• Clique Studios — Bigger digital-strategy option, located on Wacker. They combine UX, content strategy, design, development, accessibility, and ongoing optimization, which makes sense if the site is part of a broader repositioning. Clutch

How I'd narrow it down

For your particular brief, I'd interview Orbit, ArtVersion, and Span. They represent three fairly different approaches:

I would not choose solely from screenshots. Ask each one to show you 2–3 architecture/creative-industry sites they personally designed and built, then ask who will actually be doing the design, development, photography direction, copy/content strategy, and CMS implementation.

And for an architecture firm, I'd make one requirement explicit: the CMS needs to make adding a new award-winning project painless. A beautiful launch site that becomes cumbersome to update will age quickly.

If you tell me roughly your firm size and budget (e.g. $20–40k, $40–75k, $75k+), I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and compare likely scope, style, and fit.

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• AECx - 444 W Lake St STE 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Teramok Advertising Agency - Chicago, IL 60630
• KTGY | Chicago - 225 W Randolph St #1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• BOD Creative LLC - 9 W Hubbard St Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Partners by Design - 363 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• NELSON - 30 W Monroe St Ste 1710, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Chicago Design Network - 217 N Jefferson St #150, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Joel Berman Architecture & Design, Ltd. - 5212 N Clark St #3, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

If you mean Chicago proper, I’d shortlist these rather than hire a generic web shop. I looked specifically for firms with demonstrated architecture/design work and the ability to handle both the visual storytelling and the build.

My shortlist

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best all-around fit if the site should feel highly designed. They’re downtown, and their Legat Architects project covered web design, branding, messaging and development. That site won multiple awards, including W3, Davey, Vega and Muse awards. ArtVersion
• Orbit Media Studios — best if the portfolio also needs to generate business. They explicitly specialize in architecture websites, including case studies, filterable portfolios, SEO/CRO and custom CMS work. They're in Ravenswood rather than downtown. Orbit Media Studios
• AECx — best AEC-specialist option. They're downtown at 444 W Lake and focus specifically on architecture, engineering and construction firms, combining websites with digital marketing and lead generation.
• Design In Chicago — good choice for a more boutique creative approach. They're in the West Loop and combine branding, design, web development and content/video under one team.
• Clique Studios — best for a larger, sophisticated digital build. They're downtown and emphasize strategy, UX, design and engineering rather than simply producing a brochure site.
• Span — the one I'd interview if visual/architectural pedigree is paramount. They've actually designed sites for Chicago architecture practices including Studio Gang and Ross Barney Architects. Their Ross Barney work integrated identity and website design around the firm's award-winning architectural work. Span Span

Who I'd call first

For an architecture firm whose projects and awards are the stars, my first three conversations would be:

1. Span — strongest architecture-specific creative pedigree.
2. ArtVersion — strongest combination of architecture experience + branding + polished web execution.
3. Orbit Media — strongest if winning new commissions and measurable inbound leads matter as much as aesthetics.

I'd give each the same brief: “We want a portfolio-led site that makes our best projects and awards immediately legible, feels like an extension of our architectural work, and helps us win the next commission.” Then see who responds with the most interesting information architecture and content strategy—not just the prettiest homepage.

One particularly useful benchmark: Span's Studio GC project deliberately made the portfolio experience more human through audio and interactive imagery, while its Ross Barney site used a “pin-up board” concept to tell richer project stories. Span Span

If you tell me roughly your firm size, project types (commercial/residential/institutional/etc.), and whether you're looking for a $20k, $50k, or $100k+ site, I can narrow this to 2–3 firms and compare likely fit, strengths, and what I'd ask each in the RFP.

• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• THIEL Brand Design - 2150 S Canalport Ave Ste 5B06, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Paragraphs, LLC - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Avenue - 954 W Washington Blvd #750, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Walker Sands - 55 W Monroe St Ste 3925, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• BrandAction Agency - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2297, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Keys & Kites - 727 S Dearborn St #211, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Marketri LLC - 190 S LaSalle St Unit 2100, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• AE Marketing Group - 18 N Ada St Suite 18i, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• G&S Business Communications - 125 S Wacker Dr #2600, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Devarj Design Agency - 180 N Stetson Ave Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

If by “designer” you mean someone who can help sharpen your positioning and then turn it into a credible B2B brand, rather than just make a logo, I’d look at these Chicago options:

• Silva Brand, LLC — 211 W Wacker Dr. This looks particularly relevant for an independent consultant: they explicitly focus on complex B2B organizations and strategy-led branding, including differentiation, messaging, design, and digital experiences. Design B&B
• Jayne Agency, LLC — River North, 400 N State St. More strategy/brand consultancy than pure design. Their work spans brand clarity, positioning, design, messaging, and go-to-market support. All For Agency
• VisualFizz — 875 N Michigan Ave. Explicitly B2B-focused, with positioning, brand strategy, identity, web, and marketing under one roof. This makes sense if your practice needs both a sharper story and a new website/marketing presence. VisualFizz
• THIEL Brand Design — Pilsen. A strategic-to-creative shop with experience in B2B-heavy industries; worth considering if the visual identity and brand system are a substantial part of the project.
• Paragraphs, LLC — Loop. Particularly interesting if your challenge is explaining what you do as much as how you look: their services include positioning, messaging frameworks, brand strategy, and identity, with experience around complex industries.
• VSA Partners, Inc. — 600 W Chicago Ave. A larger, established B2B brand strategy/creative firm. Potentially relevant if you're looking for sophisticated corporate positioning, although it may be more agency than you need as a solo consultant.

One I'd especially investigate

Silva Brand stands out based on your description. Their stated focus on helping B2B organizations move away from commodity positioning toward clearer differentiation is unusually close to what you're asking for. Drucker Group - Investigative Marketing

If you're specifically looking for a one-person/small-studio designer rather than an agency, I'd approach the search differently—I can dig into Chicago's independent brand strategists and designers and give you 5–8 people whose portfolios look appropriate for a solo B2B consulting practice, including approximate project scale and location.

• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• BrandAction Agency - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2297, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Simple Truth - 314 W Superior St Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Avenue - 954 W Washington Blvd #750, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Keys & Kites - 727 S Dearborn St #211, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• AE Marketing Group - 18 N Ada St Suite 18i, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Winger Marketing - 213 W Institute Pl Ste 707, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Bluedog Design - 403 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Jell Brand Strategy - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave Unit 80, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• THIEL Brand Design - 2150 S Canalport Ave Ste 5B06, Chicago, IL 60608, United States

If you’re a freelance consultant moving to the Near North Side and you need a designer who understands B2B positioning (not just a logo/website makeover), I’d look for someone who can help translate your expertise into a clear market category, buyer story, and sales narrative.

A few Chicago options I’d put on your shortlist:

Strategy-first / B2B-focused

• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing — Good fit if you’re a solo consultant or boutique practice and need help clarifying your offer, ideal clients, positioning, LinkedIn/content presence, and authority-building.
• Jayne Agency, LLC — A brand strategy consultancy in River North that emphasizes brand clarity and structured positioning work. This may fit if you want a more strategic brand platform before visual design.
• VisualFizz — Located in the Near North Side area and positioned around B2B marketing, branding, web, and digital execution. A possible fit if you need positioning plus a new site and demand-generation support.
• BrandAction Agency — A B2B-focused Chicago agency that works across branding, demand generation, and customer-facing messaging.

More design-led, but still strategy-oriented

• ColorJar — A boutique Chicago brand strategy/design consultancy; worth considering if you want a sophisticated identity system after the positioning is clear.
• VSA Partners, Inc. — A larger Chicago brand strategy and creative firm with experience in complex organizations and B2B contexts; likely better if your practice is scaling or has enterprise ambitions.
• Simple Truth — In the River North/Near North Side area and offers brand strategy, messaging, identity, and web work.

For a freelance consultant specifically, I’d probably start conversations with:

1. Caliber (personal brand + consulting positioning)
2. Jayne (brand platform and clarity)
3. VisualFizz (if you need positioning → website → pipeline)

When you reach out, don’t ask “can you design my brand?” Ask:

“I’m repositioning my consulting practice. I need help defining my ideal buyer, differentiators, messaging architecture, and then translating that into a visual identity and website. Is that the kind of work you lead?”

That question will quickly separate strategic partners from firms that mainly produce creative assets.

If you tell me your consulting niche (e.g., executive coaching, IT, finance, operations, healthcare, marketing, etc.) and whether you need website + identity or mainly positioning/messaging, I can narrow this to 3–5 better matches.

For a Chicago healthcare consulting firm, I’d focus less on ordinary “web design” and more on agencies that can demonstrate HIPAA-aware data handling, security, accessibility, secure forms/integrations, and healthcare-sector experience.

A few Chicago-area firms worth putting into your RFP:

• Evolve Healthcare Marketing — Chicago-based and specifically focused on healthcare. Its services include website design/development for healthcare organizations and B2B healthcare marketing, so it may be particularly relevant if you sell to health systems, providers, payers, or life-sciences

For a Chicago healthcare consulting firm, I’d look beyond a typical “pretty website” agency. You’ll likely need a partner that understands HIPAA/HITECH considerations, secure hosting, accessibility (WCAG/ADA), protected data boundaries, integrations (CRM, scheduling, portals), and enterprise-level security practices. A key question to ask every agency: “Will the website handle protected health information (PHI), or will all PHI stay inside compliant systems?” Many firms can build a healthcare marketing site, but fewer have experience with regulated workflows. Orbit Media Studios Marceline Studios

Here are Chicago-area agencies worth evaluating:

My shortlist for a healthcare consulting firm

I’d put these into a first-round RFP:

1. Orbit Media Studios — if your priority is a polished, enterprise-quality website with strong strategy, UX, SEO, and integrations. Orbit Media Studios
2. ActiveColor — if the website is more than a marketing site (client portals, data tools, healthcare platforms, custom applications). ActiveColor
3. Sinopia — if growth marketing, healthcare positioning, and inbound lead generation are major goals. Sinopia

Questions I’d ask before signing

• Do you sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) when required?
• What parts of the site are designed to handle PHI, and what parts intentionally avoid collecting it?
• What hosting providers and security controls do you use?
• Do you perform vulnerability testing, dependency updates, backups, and monitoring?
• How do you handle accessibility testing (WCAG 2.1/2.2)?
• Who owns the code, design files, domain, analytics accounts, and content?
• Can you integrate securely with our CRM/EHR/portal systems without storing sensitive data on the website?

If you tell me your firm’s size (solo boutique vs. 10–100+ employees), whether you need client portals or just a secure marketing site, and your approximate budget range, I can narrow this to 3–4 agencies and suggest an RFP scope.

• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, 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
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services - 888 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Wizerunek w Sieci. WWS - Web Development + SEO - 636 S River Rd #218, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

For a boutique CPA firm on a tight budget, I’d focus on agencies that publish pricing, understand professional services/B2B, and can build a credible lead-generation site without pushing you into a $10k+ branding engagement.

Chicago agencies worth getting quotes from

• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Downtown / Loop

• Publishes web-design pricing around $2,500, with redesigns around $1,500.
• Their positioning is strongly lead-generation/SEO oriented, which is useful for a CPA firm rather than simply making a pretty brochure site.
• Especially worth considering since you're already downtown.
• Flamingo Agency — Lakeview

• Specifically works with small businesses and professional-service firms.
• The agency emphasizes WordPress, positioning/content, SEO and ongoing support. Pricing isn't published, so I'd ask for a fixed-fee quote for a 5–8 page CPA site.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Focuses on WordPress websites for small businesses and professional organizations.
• Their target-market mix includes professional services, so there's a reasonable fit with accounting/CPA firms.
• Lizardo Agency — Chicago

• Publishes an affordable package starting at $1,499.
• Says its package includes custom WordPress design, mobile responsiveness, on-page SEO, basic content setup and training. That's a sensible scope for a budget-conscious professional-services site. Lizardo Agency
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services — Lakeview

• Smaller Chicago agency focused on website design, SEO and lead generation for small businesses.
• I'd include them in the quote process if you want a more hands-on boutique relationship.

If you're willing to work with a very lean agency

Intuico Digital is particularly interesting from a budget perspective. Their published Chicago pricing is $199/month + $199 setup for a basic 2–3 page managed site, $399–$599/month for a 4–5 page Growth site, or $2,500+ for a custom build. Intuico Digital

Another unusually inexpensive option is PIXALPHA STUDIO, which publishes a $799 fixed-price 5-page site and a $1,599 Growth package. Pixalpha Studio

What I'd budget for your CPA firm

For a boutique B2B CPA firm, I'd target roughly $1,500–$3,000 for the initial site rather than paying for a large agency engagement.

A good scope would be:

• Home
• Services / specialties
• Industries or client types
• About / team
• Case studies or client results
• Insights/blog
• Contact / consultation CTA
• Basic technical/on-page SEO
• Google Analytics/Search Console
• Mobile optimization
• CMS you can edit yourselves

The key is not to buy a generic "small business website." Ask specifically for examples of professional-services, accounting, financial, legal, consulting, or other B2B websites they've built.

I'd send the same one-page brief to Chicago Website Design SEO Company, Flamingo, Windy City Web Solutions, Lizardo, and Intuico and compare the proposals apples-to-apples. That should give you a good read on what Chicago firms are charging without spending much time on sales calls.

• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, 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
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States

For a boutique CPA firm, I’d prioritize agencies that understand professional services, B2B lead generation, credibility, and modest budgets. These Chicago options look worth shortlisting:

• Flamingo Agency — Small-business and professional-service focus; good fit for a CPA firm needing a polished WordPress site plus SEO/maintenance support.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop-based provider focused on small-business WordPress sites and ongoing support.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Better fit if you want the website tied closely to search visibility and lead generation.
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency — Offers web design plus SEO and marketing services; potentially useful for a firm targeting local business owners.
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Downtown option with small-to-mid-sized business positioning and SEO-focused builds.

Budget benchmarks:

• Under ~$1,500: look for fixed-scope 5–8 page sites. Some Chicago providers advertise packages around this range. Pixalpha Lizardo Agency
• ~$2,000–$3,500: realistic range for a professional CPA site with custom design, service pages, basic SEO, and conversion-focused forms. Intuico Digital Prismatics Digital

For a CPA firm, ask agencies specifically for:

• Partner bios + credibility pages
• Service pages (tax, advisory, audit, outsourced accounting)
• LinkedIn integration
• Case studies/testimonials
• Lead forms that route inquiries
• Local SEO setup for “Chicago CPA” searches

I’d start with 3 proposals: Flamingo, Windy City Web Solutions, and one SEO-focused shop (SEOLEVELUP or SEO Design Chicago) to compare design vs. lead-generation approaches.

• 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
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• One North, A TEKsystems Company - 227 W Monroe St #3500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RSXigital | B2B Lead Generation & Performance Marketing Agency in Chicago, USA - 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Sixth City Marketing - 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• OneIMS - 110 N Wacker Dr Suite 2500A, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a Chicago staffing firm where the website’s job is to generate qualified client leads, I’d put these agencies on the shortlist. I’m focusing on firms that combine website strategy/design with SEO, conversion optimization, analytics, and B2B marketing—not just firms that make attractive sites.

Shortlist

• Orbit Media Studios — Strong fit for lead-gen website redesigns. Orbit explicitly focuses on B2B lead-generation websites, SEO, conversion optimization, content, analytics, and ongoing optimization. Most relevantly, it publishes a case study for The Horton Group showing a 26% increase in qualified leads. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

Consider if: you want the website itself to become a measurable acquisition channel rather than simply refreshing the design.

• Clique Studios — Strong fit for a larger strategic redesign. Their Chicago office is at 20 N Wacker, and their offering spans strategy, UX, content, engineering, SEO, CRO, analytics, and CRM/marketing integrations. Clique Studios

Consider if: your site is complicated, needs a significant replatform/integration effort, or you want an agency capable of staying involved after launch.

• Marcel Digital — Interesting B2B/performance-marketing option downtown. They're at 20 N Wacker and combine web development with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics. Their positioning specifically addresses B2B organizations where lead quality and measurement matter.

Consider if: you want the redesign tightly connected to paid acquisition, SEO and conversion measurement.

• VisualFizz — Worth considering if positioning/brand is a major part of the project. They're downtown-adjacent at 875 N Michigan and position themselves as a B2B-focused agency spanning branding, web and performance marketing.

Consider if: your staffing firm needs to differentiate itself in a crowded market and the project is partly a brand/messaging overhaul.

• One North, A TEKsystems Company — Enterprise-scale option. They're at 227 W Monroe and cover strategy, UX, design, engineering, CMS/DXP implementation, analytics and ongoing digital operations. Their public work skews toward larger organizations and complex digital ecosystems.

Consider if: you're a sizeable staffing organization with sophisticated technology, multiple audiences/brands, or complex integrations. For a straightforward lead-gen redesign, their enterprise orientation may be more than you need.

How I'd structure the RFP

I'd invite Orbit, Clique, and Marcel to pitch against the same brief. That gives you three meaningfully different approaches without creating a 10-agency beauty contest.

For a staffing firm, I'd specifically ask each agency to demonstrate how they'd improve:

1. Employer/client segmentation — separate journeys for companies looking for talent vs. candidates looking for jobs.
2. Conversion architecture — e.g. “Request Talent,” “Talk to a Recruiter,” industry-specific landing pages and high-intent CTAs.
3. SEO — especially local/Chicago searches plus industry- and role-specific searches.
4. Lead qualification — forms that capture enough information for sales without killing conversion rate.
5. CRM integration — attribution from website visit → lead → opportunity → placement/revenue.
6. Proof/credibility — case studies, placement statistics, testimonials and vertical expertise.
7. Post-launch CRO — require them to explain what they'll test in the first 90–180 days rather than treating launch as the finish line.

One particularly useful benchmark: Orbit says its websites are built around SEO, conversion optimization, analytics and measurable lead generation, and its published Horton Group case study reports a 26% increase in qualified leads. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

If I were preparing the vendor shortlist, I'd start with Orbit, Clique, and Marcel, then use VisualFizz as the fourth proposal if brand repositioning is important. That's a shortlist based on documented service fit rather than a ranking of the agencies.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601
• TechGropse Chicago - Mobile App Development Company | Node Js | Software Developers - 10 S Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606

For a Chicago-based financial-services firm, I’d shortlist agencies based less on visual design alone and more on financial-services experience, security/compliance discipline, enterprise CMS capability, and ongoing support.

My shortlist:

1. Orbit Media Studios — Chicago

• Probably the first agency I’d interview.
• They specifically market to financial services and cite work across financial planning, wealth management, banking, and financial consulting. Their offering includes security monitoring, backups, CMS/plugin updates, and ongoing support. Orbit Media Studios
• Chicago-based at 4043 N Ravenswood.
• Particularly compelling if this is a high-end corporate site rather than a transactional client portal.
• Americaneagle.com — Chicago

• Better fit if you're thinking enterprise-scale: complex integrations, sophisticated infrastructure, hosting/security, and long-term support.
• Their Chicago office explicitly provides web design, development, hosting, security and post-launch services for mid-size and enterprise organizations. Americaneagle.com
• I'd put them on the RFP if your site will have substantial integrations or multiple stakeholder groups.
• Clear Digital

• Worth interviewing if financial-services compliance and security are central requirements.
• They explicitly work with banks, fintechs, credit unions and insurance companies and discuss GLBA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, secure form handling, encryption and security audits. Clear Digital
• This would be particularly interesting if your firm handles sensitive prospect/client information through the website.
• Blacksmith Agency

• Their Chicago practice specifically highlights financial institutions and "high-security digital solutions." Blacksmith
• I'd consider them if brand positioning and a sophisticated executive-facing experience are as important as the technical build.
• 011BQ

• An option to investigate for a more technically oriented engagement. They advertise Chicago finance experience, ISO 27001 certification, dedicated project management, and PCI-DSS/security documentation. 011BQ
• I'd scrutinize their financial-services references and proposed architecture during diligence rather than selecting them based on the certification claim alone.

Who I'd put in the first round

If I were putting together a 3-agency RFP, I'd start with:

Orbit Media + Americaneagle.com + Clear Digital.

They give you three meaningfully different propositions: Chicago financial-services specialization, enterprise digital infrastructure, and financial-services security/compliance specialization.

One important distinction: a secure corporate website isn't necessarily a "secure financial platform." If the site is primarily public-facing—firm overview, investment philosophy, thought leadership, careers, contact/lead generation—you probably don't need to build the site like an online banking application. You do want disciplined hosting, access control, vulnerability management, backups, secure forms, third-party script governance, privacy controls, accessibility, and a clear incident-response process.

For the RFP, I'd specifically ask each agency:

• Which financial-services firms have you built websites for, and can we speak to two?
• Where is the site hosted, and who has production access?
• What security testing happens before launch and continuously afterward?
• How are CMS/plugin/dependency vulnerabilities handled?
• What data does the website collect, where does it go, and which vendors touch it?
• Can you accommodate our firm's compliance/legal review process?
• Who owns the code, design files, CMS, analytics accounts and hosting account?
• What happens if we terminate the relationship?
• What's your SLA for a security incident or critical outage?
• Can you provide a complete architecture/data-flow diagram before development begins?

If you tell me roughly your firm's size, whether you're an RIA/wealth manager/private-equity firm/investment bank/etc., whether the site will collect sensitive information, and your approximate budget ($50k / $100k / $250k+), I can narrow this to a much more targeted shortlist and compare their relevant case studies and capabilities.

One important distinction: a secure corporate website isn't necessarily a "secure financial platform." If the site is primarily public-facing—firm overview, investment philosophy, thought leadership, careers, contact/lead generation—you probably don't need to build the site like an online banking application. You do want disciplined hosting, access control, vulnerability management, backups, secure forms, third-party script governance, privacy controls, accessibility, and a clear incident-response process.

For the RFP, I'd specifically ask each agency:

• Which financial-services firms have you built websites for, and can we speak to two?
• Where is the site hosted, and who has production access?
• What security testing happens before launch and continuously afterward?
• How are CMS/plugin/dependency vulnerabilities handled?
• What data does the website collect, where does it go, and which vendors touch it?
• Can you accommodate our firm's compliance/legal review process?
• Who owns the code, design files, CMS, analytics accounts and hosting account?
• What happens if we terminate the relationship?
• What's your SLA for a security incident or critical outage?
• Can you provide a complete architecture/data-flow diagram before development begins?

If you tell me roughly your firm's size, whether you're an RIA/wealth manager/private-equity firm/investment bank/etc., whether the site will collect sensitive information, and your approximate budget ($50k / $100k / $250k+), I can narrow this to a much more targeted shortlist and compare their relevant case studies and capabilities.

• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• BatesMeron Sweet Design - 1006 S Michigan Ave #601, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RSXigital | B2B Lead Generation & Performance Marketing Agency in Chicago, USA - 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606

Yes. For a boutique management consultancy in the West Loop, I’d bias toward agencies that understand professional-services positioning and executive-level buyers, rather than a generic “Chicago web design” shop.

My shortlist:

1. Clique Studios — strongest overall if you want sophisticated digital presence

• Strategy + UX + design + development, with a more substantial digital-transformation capability.
• Good choice if the site needs to feel like a top-tier consulting firm, not a small-business website.
• Their Chicago office is on Wacker, so they're very accustomed to professional-services environments.
• One Design Company — strongest design-led boutique option

• More design-studio sensibility than traditional marketing agency.
• Particularly interesting if you're looking for a restrained, editorial, highly crafted identity rather than a conventional consulting-site template.
• Their positioning spans branding, web/interactive design, research and development.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — strong premium brand + website combination

• Chicago-based and combines brand strategy, visual identity, UX and web development.
• I'd consider them if the website is part of a broader brand elevation/repositioning rather than simply a redesign.
• VisualFizz — particularly good for B2B consulting

• This is one I'd put high on your list because their positioning is explicitly B2B-oriented and they combine positioning, branding, web and digital marketing.
• Clutch's current Chicago rankings also highlight their work with consultancy/staffing businesses and B2B positioning. Clutch
• Design In Chicago — convenient West Loop option

• They're actually in the West Loop/Fulton Market area and offer brand strategy, positioning, web design, development and content production under one roof. Design In Chicago
• I'd consider them if you want a relatively hands-on local partner rather than a large agency.

One wildcard I'd seriously investigate

ALL FOR™ is literally in Fulton Market/West Loop and does brand strategy, positioning, messaging, identity and custom web design. Their work appears more boutique/creative than corporate-agency, which could be an advantage if your goal is to make the firm feel distinctive and expensive. ALL FOR™ ALL FOR™

allfor.agency

My ranking for your specific brief

If it were my firm, I'd take three pitches: One Design Company, ArtVersion, and VisualFizz. I'd give all three the same brief and see who understands the business positioning rather than simply producing the prettiest homepage.

The key thing I'd insist on in the RFP: don't let them start with the sitemap or homepage mockup. Start with your target clients, perceived expertise, differentiation, proof points, and the specific impression you want a managing partner/C-suite buyer to have after 30 seconds on the site. That's what separates a $15k website from a genuinely premium professional-services brand.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($20–40k, $40–75k, $75k+) and whether you want to refresh the brand as well, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview and give you the rationale for each.

I’ll look for Chicago agencies with demonstrated B2B/event-marketing experience, rather than just general web designers, and compare what they actually specialize in.

• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• C Change - 1052 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Angle180 - 141 W Jackson Blvd #4236, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 North Michigan Ave, Fl 31, Chicago, IL 60611
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• The Office of Experience, LLC - 980 N Michigan Ave Ste 1090, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• ROOT3 Marketing & Business Development - 2035 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• RSXigital | B2B Lead Generation & Performance Marketing Agency in Chicago, USA - 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

If your business is training + corporate events, I’d prioritize an agency that understands B2B buyer journeys, lead generation, event registration, and conversion—not just one that makes attractive websites.

Based on what I found, I’d put these at the top of your Chicago shortlist:

1. Solid Digital — my first call

• Downtown Chicago, at 100 N LaSalle.
• Explicitly specializes in B2B website design and digital growth, rather than primarily consumer/e-commerce work. Solid Digital
• Strong fit if you need a site that sells training programs, corporate event services, and generates qualified inquiries.
• I'd ask them specifically about event landing pages, registration funnels, CRM integration, and conversion tracking.
• C Change — particularly interesting for your niche

• Chicago B2B agency with 20+ years of experience.
• Their capabilities include website design, digital, content, branding, and event/booth work. They even cite annual-conference work among their projects. C|Change
• This could be a very good choice if your website needs to communicate expertise and credibility as much as it needs to generate leads.
• RethinkInfo — strongest strategic fit if events are central to your revenue

• This one caught my attention because they explicitly combine B2B web/digital marketing with event marketing.
• Their event specialty includes trade shows, executive events, pre-event ABM/meeting generation, landing pages, registration funnels, CRM alignment, and post-event pipeline measurement. RethinkInfo RethinkInfo
• In other words, they appear to understand that your website shouldn't simply say “here are our events”—it should help turn event interest into registrations, leads and sales conversations.
• VisualFizz — worth a pitch

• Chicago-based and explicitly B2B-focused, with web design/development plus branding and performance marketing.
• I'd consider them if positioning/brand presentation is a major part of what you're trying to improve.
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing — if you want broader B2B marketing

• Their sweet spot is complex B2B organizations, and they have specific trade-show/event marketing experience. Meyers Creative
• Probably more agency than you need if this is purely a website project, but potentially excellent if you're looking for website + demand generation + event marketing.

Who I'd contact first

I'd actually have three conversations:

RethinkInfo → Solid Digital → c|change

And I'd give all three the same brief. That makes the proposals much easier to compare.

The key question I'd ask isn't “Can you redesign our website?” It's:

“Can you build us a B2B website that turns corporate training and event demand into qualified leads and registrations, and can you show me examples where you've done that?”

Then ask them to walk you through how they'd handle:

• Corporate event inquiry funnels
• Training-course/program registration
• Event-specific landing pages
• Speaker/trainer authority pages
• SEO for people searching for corporate training/events
• LinkedIn → landing page → inquiry journeys
• CRM integration and lead attribution
• Retargeting before/after an event
• Measuring revenue/pipeline, rather than just traffic

That last point is important. A beautiful agency website isn't necessarily going to make your events business grow.

If you tell me roughly what your annual marketing budget is (e.g. <$15k, $15–30k, $30–75k, $75k+) and whether you sell mostly training, conferences/events, or both, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually interview and give you a suggested RFP/brief to send them.

Then ask them to walk you through how they'd handle:

• Corporate event inquiry funnels
• Training-course/program registration
• Event-specific landing pages
• Speaker/trainer authority pages
• SEO for people searching for corporate training/events
• LinkedIn → landing page → inquiry journeys
• CRM integration and lead attribution
• Retargeting before/after an event
• Measuring revenue/pipeline, rather than just traffic

That last point is important. A beautiful agency website isn't necessarily going to make your events business grow.

If you tell me roughly what your annual marketing budget is (e.g. <$15k, $15–30k, $30–75k, $75k+) and whether you sell mostly training, conferences/events, or both, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually interview and give you a suggested RFP/brief to send them.

• Betterday Creative - 1 E Erie St Ste 525, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Lakeside Web Design - Chicago - 332 S Michigan Ave Ste 121 #5008, Chicago, IL 60604, United States

For a solo consultant in the Loop, I’d look at small studios rather than traditional agencies. For a simple B2B site—roughly Home / Services / About / Case Studies / Contact—you probably don’t need a $10k+ engagement.

Chicago studios worth shortlisting

• Betterday Creative — Particularly relevant for consultants, coaches, and other professional services. They position themselves around trust-first websites and have a small-team feel.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Explicitly focused on small businesses and solo professionals, with WordPress, SEO, and relatively budget-oriented positioning. Choose Chicago
• Lizardo Agency — Publishes unusually clear pricing: $1,499 for up to four pages, with a $2,199 tier adding copywriting and SEO work. Their site specifically says solo businesses and consultants are a fit. Lizardo Agency
• Legible Studio — A one-person Chicago studio with a more polished/custom approach. Projects start at $1,500, and they emphasize working directly with the designer/developer rather than through account managers. Legible Studio
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — A two-person Chicago studio with published fixed pricing: $799 for a five-page starter site or $1,599 with branding and additional marketing work. They emphasize direct work with the founders and no outsourcing. Pixalpha Studio Pixalpha Studio
• JJE Digital — More of a step up in scope: custom sites start around $2,500, with SEO foundations included. Worth considering if your website is an important lead-generation asset rather than simply a credibility site. JJE Digital
• Winthrop Designs — A very small Chicago studio with published pricing of $500–$1,200 for a 4–5-page business site. This is probably the most explicitly budget-oriented option I found, although I'd inspect the portfolio carefully for the B2B visual style you want. Winthrop Designs

For your particular use case

I'd get quotes from Betterday, Legible, and PIXALPHA first if you want the site to feel like a polished professional-consulting brand rather than a generic small-business website. If keeping the budget around $1k–$1.5k is the priority, add Winthrop and Lizardo to the comparison.

A reasonable brief would be: 5 pages, sharp B2B positioning, mobile-first, CMS you can edit yourself, basic SEO, contact/booking CTA, 2–3 case studies, and no ongoing marketing retainer. That keeps the project focused and makes quotes much easier to compare.

If you tell me your rough budget ($1k, $2k, $3k+) and what kind of consulting you do, I can narrow this to 3 studios whose portfolios/style are closest to what you need.

• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607
• DS&P Digital Marketing & PR Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606
• DesignScout - 1801 W Belle Plaine Ave #201, Chicago, IL 60613
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613
• UX 4Sight - 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604

If you’re a solo B2B consultant in the Loop and want something simple, polished, and not agency-priced, I’d focus on small studios that explicitly publish small-business pricing or work directly with the owner/designer.

A few worth putting on your shortlist:

• Lizardo Agency — Chicago-based and explicitly targets solo founders and consultants. Their small-business sites start at $1,499, with no monthly retainer required. Lizardo Agency
• Intuico Digital — Chicago-based, with custom sites starting at $2,500 and managed plans from $199/month. They publish their pricing and process upfront, which is useful when you don't want a drawn-out agency sales process. Intuico Digital
• Andrea Fowler Design — A Chicago design studio focused on web design + visual identity for small businesses. This could be particularly relevant if you need the website to establish a personal consulting brand rather than just make a brochure site. Andrea Fowler Design
• Winthrop Designs — A very small Chicago operation where you work directly with the founder. Published pricing is $300+ for a starter site and $500–$1,200 for a 4–5-page business site. That's unusually inexpensive for a professional custom site. Winthrop Designs
• PIXALPHA Studio — Two-person/small-studio model with fixed pricing; their Chicago starter site is advertised from $799, with no required recurring fee. Pixalpha Studio
• JJE Digital — Chicago small-business specialist; custom sites start at $2,500, typically taking 2–4 weeks, with SEO foundation included. JJE Digital

What I'd ask for

For a solo consultant, I wouldn't commission a big "agency website." I'd ask for roughly:

5 pages: Home · Services · About · Case Studies/Insights · Contact

Plus:

• strong positioning/headline above the fold
• 2–4 polished case studies or proof points
• LinkedIn integration
• simple CMS so you can edit it
• mobile optimization
• basic SEO
• analytics
• no ongoing retainer unless you actually want one

I'd budget roughly $1,000–$3,000 for this scope. The published Chicago pricing above suggests you can get there without paying typical larger-agency prices. Pixalpha Studio Lizardo Agency Intuico Digital

If you specifically want someone physically near the Loop, Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding is at 30 N Michigan Ave, while Design B&B is on Jackson Blvd. Those are worth contacting, though I'd ask for a fixed-price quote before assuming they're in the same affordability bracket.

If you tell me your approximate budget ($1k / $2k / $3–5k) and whether you need branding/copywriting too, I can narrow this to 3 studios that fit your project and compare their portfolios, pricing, and process.

For a mid-sized River North law firm, I’d interview agencies that can handle CMS migration, information architecture, attorney/practice-area content, SEO preservation, accessibility, security, and a polished professional brand—not just visual redesign.

Shortlist:

1. Orbit Media Studios — strong fit for legal/professional services. They specifically market law firm website redesigns, CMS builds, SEO, content strategy, migrations, and training. Orbit Media Studios

Interview for: WordPress strategy, SEO migration plan, attorney bio/practice templates, analytics.

2. Hype Legal — legal-focused shop with Chicago law firm case studies and experience spanning UX, CMS implementation, SEO, migration, and support. Hype Legal

Interview for: firms wanting a legal-industry specialist and brand-forward redesign.

3. Builden Partners — focused exclusively on law firms and offers redesigns from audit through launch, including CMS and strategic marketing considerations. Builden Partners

Interview for: partner-level guidance, stakeholder management, and minimizing attorney time.

4. Americaneagle.com — larger agency option with web design, development, integrations, hosting, and support capabilities.

Interview for: complex migrations, integrations, or a larger-scale CMS environment.

5. Eastern Standard — experienced with legal organizations and CMS platforms including Drupal and WordPress, plus migrations and optimization. Eastern Standard

Interview for: firms considering Drupal or enterprise-grade CMS needs.

6. Alliance Interactive — broader Chicago agency with CMS, UX, SEO, and redesign capabilities. Alliance Interactive

Interview for: a custom digital experience beyond a standard law firm template.

My suggested interview slate

Invite 5 agencies:

• Orbit Media
• Hype Legal
• Builden Partners
• Americaneagle.com
• Eastern Standard

Ask each for:

• CMS recommendation and rationale (WordPress, Drupal, headless, etc.)
• URL migration/redirect methodology
• SEO loss-prevention plan
• accessibility approach (WCAG)
• attorney bio/practice-area content model
• examples of law firm redesigns launched in the last 2–3 years
• ongoing maintenance/security costs

For a typical mid-sized firm, I’d expect the strongest contenders to be the agencies with law-firm experience plus migration discipline, rather than a general creative studio. Orbit Media Studios Builden Partners

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Duo Consulting - 20 W Kinzie St, Ste 1510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• AttorneySync - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Market JD, Inc. - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• dNOVO Group | Law Firm Marketing Agency - 545 N McClurg Ct Ste 1808, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 3553 W Peterson Ave Ste 30, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• BSPE Legal Marketing - Chicago - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Attorney Web Design | Chicago - 233 S Wacker Dr Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• OVC Lawyer Marketing - 750 Warrenville Rd Ste 203, Lisle, IL 60532, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Forward Lawyer Marketing - 460 N Main St Unit 209, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a mid-sized Chicago law firm in River North, I’d interview a fairly tight group rather than a generic “Chicago web design” shortlist. Your project has three distinct requirements: law-firm UX/content architecture, a genuine CMS migration, and preservation of SEO/analytics equity.

Agencies I’d put on the interview list

1. Orbit Media Studios — Chicago

• Strong candidate if you want a sophisticated strategy/design partner rather than a legal-marketing-only shop.
• They explicitly offer law-firm website design, development, CMS implementation, accessibility, SEO, analytics and ongoing support. Their legal practice also says projects can include migration and a user-friendly CMS. Orbit Media Studios
• Good fit if the redesign needs to elevate the firm's brand and information architecture substantially.
• Duo Consulting — River North

• Particularly worth interviewing if Drupal is involved or you're considering Drupal.
• They're actually in River North on W. Kinzie and specialize in Drupal-based digital platforms, including building, migrating and supporting them.
• I'd make this a priority if your current CMS is Drupal, Sitecore, or another more complex platform rather than a straightforward WordPress migration.
• Great Jakes

• A very relevant specialist if you want a law-firm-specific agency rather than a general web agency.
• They say they work primarily with mid-sized and large firms, typically 50–1,500 lawyers, and handle strategy, UX, CMS development, data migration, hosting and maintenance in-house. Great Jakes Marketing Company
• Their emphasis on scalable CMS architecture is particularly relevant if you're expecting practice groups, attorneys, offices or content to expand.
• Hype Legal

• Worth including for a more boutique, legal-specialist approach.
• Their Chicago law-firm work encompasses strategy, branding, UX/UI, CMS implementation, SEO, hosting, site migration and CMS training. Hype Legal
• I'd want to see how their capabilities and project-management depth compare with the larger firms above.
• Sandstorm Design — Chicago

• This is the wildcard I'd interview if the project is technically substantial.
• They have experience with Drupal/Acquia, WordPress, Kentico and Sitecore and focus heavily on UX, engineering and scalable digital platforms.
• They're less specifically legal-focused, so I'd require them to show comparable professional-services/legal work.
• Builden Partners

• Another Chicago professional-services specialist worth a conversation.
• Their website-redesign offering emphasizes minimizing attorney/leadership involvement, managing the project against schedule and budget, and producing a structurally sound site with a long useful life. They're at 150 S. Wacker. Builden Partners
• I'd particularly investigate their experience with actual CMS migrations, rather than primarily redesign/rebrand engagements.

A couple of more specialized alternatives

• AttorneySync — Chicago, Wacker Drive. Legal-only agency with website development and conversion/SEO capabilities. I'd consider them if growth, SEO and lead generation are as important as the redesign itself.
• Market JD, Inc. — 20 N Wacker. Another legal-focused Chicago shop offering website rebuilds and SEO, particularly oriented toward small/midsized firms.
• MileMark Legal Marketing — worth adding if you want a national legal specialist. Their mid-sized-firm offering specifically discusses multi-practice architecture, attorney-level differentiation and migrations from legacy CMSs while protecting existing SEO equity. MileMark

My interview slate

If I were creating an RFP for your firm, I'd probably invite five:

That gives you a useful spread: generalist premium digital agency → legal specialist → CMS engineering specialist → boutique legal agency → technical UX agency.

The most important thing I'd test in the interviews

Don't let the agencies turn this into a beauty-contest for homepage designs.

Give each agency the same requirement:

“Show us exactly how you would migrate our existing site without losing its accumulated SEO value, analytics history, important URLs, backlinks, content, forms, integrations and internal editing workflows.”

Then ask for a proposed approach covering:

• Complete URL/content inventory
• Old-to-new URL/301 redirect mapping
• What content gets migrated, rewritten, consolidated or retired
• CMS/platform recommendation and why
• Information architecture for practices, attorneys, industries and offices
• Preservation of metadata, schema, canonicals and XML sitemaps
• Google Search Console/Analytics continuity
• Forms, CRM/intake and marketing integrations
• Accessibility and performance requirements
• Staging/QA process
• Launch-day procedure and rollback plan
• Post-launch monitoring for 30/60/90 days
• Who actually performs the migration versus subcontractors

That's important because a redesign can look excellent while quietly destroying years of accumulated search equity. Even legal-web specialists explicitly identify redirect mapping and migration as critical parts of a mid-sized firm's redesign. MileMark

One additional consideration: since you're in River North, I'd give Duo an especially close look if your existing CMS is Drupal or another enterprise-ish system; otherwise I'd start with Orbit + Great Jakes + Hype Legal as the three most useful contrasts, then add Duo/Sandstorm depending on the technical complexity.

If you tell me your current CMS, approximate attorney count, number of pages, and whether the site generates meaningful organic traffic, I can narrow this to a 3–4 agency RFP shortlist and give you a specific interview scorecard/questions for each.

“Show us exactly how you would migrate our existing site without losing its accumulated SEO value, analytics history, important URLs, backlinks, content, forms, integrations and internal editing workflows.”

Then ask for a proposed approach covering:

• Complete URL/content inventory
• Old-to-new URL/301 redirect mapping
• What content gets migrated, rewritten, consolidated or retired
• CMS/platform recommendation and why
• Information architecture for practices, attorneys, industries and offices
• Preservation of metadata, schema, canonicals and XML sitemaps
• Google Search Console/Analytics continuity
• Forms, CRM/intake and marketing integrations
• Accessibility and performance requirements
• Staging/QA process
• Launch-day procedure and rollback plan
• Post-launch monitoring for 30/60/90 days
• Who actually performs the migration versus subcontractors

That's important because a redesign can look excellent while quietly destroying years of accumulated search equity. Even legal-web specialists explicitly identify redirect mapping and migration as critical parts of a mid-sized firm's redesign.

• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP, LLC Website Design SEO Company - 1S183 Summit Ave, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, United States
• Sunlight SEO Web Design & Signs - 4501 N Cumberland Ave, Norridge, IL 60656, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a B2B manufacturing supplier in Chicago, I’d put a short list together rather than hire a generic web-design shop. The important distinction is whether the agency can translate technical capabilities into searchable pages that engineers/procurement people actually use, not just make the site look modern.

My shortlist

• LoSasso Integrated Marketing — A particularly relevant Chicago option for industrial/manufacturing B2B. They offer website/UX, technical content and SEO, and have experience with complex technical offerings.
• Marcel Digital — Stronger fit if you want a more sophisticated B2B digital/SEO operation, especially if the site will involve complex CMS, analytics, migration, or ongoing SEO. They're in River North.
• Solid Digital — Chicago B2B-focused agency with substantial web design/development and digital marketing capabilities. Worth including if brand/design quality is important alongside technical execution.
• SITE IT NOW — Actually in the West Loop/Near West Side, at 1016 W Jackson. They combine web development, SEO, integrations and ongoing support, so they're worth a local conversation.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Located on N. Laflin in 60607 and explicitly combines custom web development with technical/on-page SEO. Could be worth getting a proposal from if you're looking for a smaller shop.

One specialist I'd definitely interview

River North SEO is unusually specialized: they work exclusively with precision CNC shops and contract manufacturers and build sites around capability, material, equipment, certification and process pages. Their stated website projects run roughly $6,500–$10,000 with 4–6 week scopes. River North SEO River North SEO

If you're a machine shop, fabricator, precision manufacturer, contract manufacturer, etc., I'd put them on the shortlist even though they're more SEO/website-specialist than traditional creative agency.

Another manufacturing-specific option is Pixerts, which says it works exclusively with B2B manufacturing and combines website development with industrial SEO/AEO. Pixerts

What I'd ask each agency

Don't just ask "Can you build us a website?" Give them a technical brief and see how they respond:

1. Show us 2–3 manufacturing websites you've built.
2. Show us the information architecture before design. I'd expect to see separate pages for capabilities/processes, materials, industries/applications, certifications, equipment and technical resources where appropriate.
3. Who writes the technical content? Your engineers should supply facts, but the agency should be able to turn them into useful search content.
4. What happens to SEO during the migration? Ask specifically about redirects, canonicalization, XML sitemaps, indexing, structured data, Core Web Vitals and Search Console.
5. How will you measure RFQs? Rankings and traffic aren't enough; you want to know which organic landing pages generate qualified quote requests.
6. Who owns the site and accounts? Make sure you retain the domain, CMS, analytics, Search Console, source code and content.
7. Can you show us a proposed page architecture based on our actual capabilities?

If you tell me roughly what you manufacture (e.g. CNC machining, metal fabrication, injection molding, industrial components, packaging, etc.) and your approximate website budget, I can narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies I'd put into an RFP, with estimated fit, likely project size, and what I'd ask each one to propose.

What I'd ask each agency

Don't just ask "Can you build us a website?" Give them a technical brief and see how they respond: