Thursday, December 19, 2024

Hansen Belyea’s 2024 Wrapped: A Year of Brand-Building, Storytelling, and Creative Boundary-Pushing

By Chloe Cudaback

As the year wraps up, we’re looking back with gratitude for the partnerships and projects that made 2024 a year worth celebrating. It was defined by collaboration, creativity, and growth—our team was a part of creative moments that pushed boundaries, sparked ideas, and brought visions to life for our clients. While there’s so much we could say about this year’s accomplishments, here’s a snapshot of the highlights: 

Launching Brands and Websites That Make an Impact

This year, we had the privilege of helping several clients bring their brands to life. Each project was as unique as the organizations themselves, shaped by our rigorous research process. The result? Key messaging and visual identities combined to create brands that were true to the companies and organizations they were created for. 

+ Facet: When two local engineering firms merged, they needed more than a fresh look—they needed a unified identity to bring their teams and comprehensive service offerings together. The Facet name, visual identity, and newly launched website embody their shared values while communicating a bold vision for the future of their company and their clients’ work.

+ Furtado: With a high-impact logo and color palette, we brought Furtado’s brand vision to life. Through an incredible team effort, we also launched their sleek new website this month, a platform that amplifies their innovative values and positions them for continued growth.

+ Lochner: Already a powerhouse in the industry, Lochner turned to us to help refine their narrative during a period of transformative growth and four company acquisitions. We developed a comprehensive brand strategy, logo and visual identity, website, and a myriad of assets that work together to uphold their rich legacy and position Lochner as a dynamic, forward-thinking leader at the forefront of modern engineering innovation.

+ PSEJATC: An electrical apprenticeship organization, PSEJATC’s previous brand was holding them back in recruiting the region’s best apprentices. We delivered a brand and website that now speaks directly to their ideal audience—aspiring apprentices seeking trust, innovation, and opportunity in their training. 

Every brand we shape is grounded in a deep understanding of the organization, its people, and its aspirations. By immersing ourselves in their stories, we ensure the final result is not only visually stunning but also a true reflection of who they are and what they stand for.

Designing Events That Upskill and Connect

This year, we brought clients and communities together around a shared (albeit virtual) table, hosting five impactful webinars designed to educate, inspire, and empower. From marketing workshops to strategic planning sessions, we created spaces where businesses could think bigger, plan smarter, and refine their strategies.

Here’s a look back at the topics we tackled:

+ April: Building a Website for Recruiting – Helping businesses attract top talent with compelling digital platforms.

+ June: Brand Building Through Video – Exploring how video storytelling can elevate brand recognition and engagement.

+ August: Improve Your InDesign Workflow – Practical tips and tricks to optimize creativity and efficiency in InDesign. 

+ November: Brand Auditing for Engineering Firms – A deep dive with our client, Laura White from Lochner, into building better brands for engineering with Hansen Belyea

+ December: Nail Your 2025 Marketing Strategy (in partnership with SMPS Seattle) – Equipping marketers with the tools and insights to hit the ground running in the new year.

While many agencies wind down as the calendar year draws to a close, Hansen Belyea doubled down, delivering events and content tailored to the questions and challenges marketers are tackling right now. Our partnership with SMPS Seattle for our December event was a highlight of the year, and we’re thrilled at the opportunity to support this vibrant community.

Storytelling Through Photography and Video

Our clients and projects took us to breathtaking corners of Washington state, from Olympia’s stately landmarks to the charming streets and waterfront parks of Bellingham and Wenatchee vistas. These journeys reminded us why we do what we do: to connect people, places, and projects through photography and video storytelling.

Here are a few of our favorite behind-the-scenes shots from this year:

Above: Brianna (bottom left) and Ken (bottom right) direct Jeff from Corix as he talks about the new District Utility on the Bellingham Waterfront. Charlene (back left), also from Corix, steps in to help diffuse the harsh light on Jeff’s face.

Above: An aerial drone shot by our pilot, Ken, showcasing the Bellingham Waterfront development area and its surrounding landscape during our shoot with UMC and Corix.

Above: Ron sets up the camera to capture the view from a top-story unit in the newly completed Bryant Manor affordable housing project in the Central District during our shoot with Compass  Construction.

Above: A group of Hansen Belyea team members and our clients and friends listens to Therese Casper (center in plaid shirt), Project Manager with the City of Seattle, explain how the Pike Pine Streetscape and Bicycle Improvements project began on a walking tour this summer.

Above: On a spring day in Wenatchee, Washington, Ken captured a new roundabout in action during a shoot with Perteet.

Above: Ron stands in front of one of the many stunning murals created by community artists throughout Bryant Manor in the Central District.

Above: Roxanne Buchanan, President of First AME Housing Association—the organization behind Bryant Manor—gives an interview in the Early Learning Center, sharing the story of the new build and its significant impact on the Black community for Compass Construction.

The Road Ahead

As we look to 2025, we carry with us not just the work we’ve done but the relationships we’ve built in 2024. To our clients, partners, and supporters: you make the late nights and complex ideas worth doing. Thank you for trusting us to tell your stories, amplify your work, and bring your creative visions to life.

A special thank you to everyone who attended our events this year. Knowing that you’ve found value in the content we create means everything to our team.

Here’s to an even more vibrant 2025—let’s keep building, creating, and pushing creative boundaries together.

Until then, happy holidays and happy new year from all of us at Hansen Belyea! 

Cheers, 

Brianna, Ron, Chloë, and Georgia