Site Visit: EBD

Meeting with Ellen and Ken of EBD was a morning of really great and insightful communication. Intentionally situated as a boutique agency, Ellen and Ken were clearly very passionate about their work and their clients. While EBD is just down the street from Matter and in a building that is very architecturally similar, the inside and practices could not be more different. Ellen is the creative director and also oversees the business. Because of previous experience in a large agency where she felt too far away from clients, Ellen has intentionally kept the agency small. Sometimes that has meant turning down large clients. She began making posters for rock and roll – an industry that was not very friendly to women at the time. She began freelancing and eventually had enough clients to hire a part time book keeper. 

Ellen very clearly the heart of EBD. Many of her practices and philosophies are pretty old school and her roots in rock and roll feel evident. EBD has a team of 10-12, with Fridays as a remote day. Besides Ellen and Ken, there is fairly frequent turnover in the rest of the creative team. EBD loves to handle all aspects of a client’s brand presence, including strategy, branding, digital, and even environmental design. Ellen went so far as to choose all of the fabrics used in one of the hotels. This approach enables Ellen to control brand consistency from the ground up, ensuring cohesive design rather than simply “slapping a logo on a bunch of things.” Her perfectionist approach has broadened the agency’s scope over time, to the point where she and her team recently learned to create detailed sign schedules to expand brand experience across all touchpoints.

Ken manages the design team. In highschool, he loved illustration. He went to Colorado Institute of Art and from there discovered graphic design as a way an artist could creatively make a living. He came into design just when computers were beginning to become a tool used in design. His freelance work provided foundational experience that he likens to internships, where he learned the importance of building honest relationships with clients—a value he believes builds trust and creates opportunities. Ken emphasized that potential, attitude, and a desire to learn are the most important skills for early career designers trying to break into the industry. 

I was impressed by EBD’s work, dedication, and passion.