Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 the Blue Daring team was honored to join its client RTA and partner HNTB to receive the APA Best Practice Award for its work on the RTA Traveler Information Action Plan. Veronica led the user testing and Riley designed the communications that resulted in key rider insights that according to jurors made the plan stand out.
Creative Lead Shuky selected our most recent We’re Doing Good recipient—Slowfire Arts Foundation. Based in Oak Park, this collective of artists is committed to expanding access to art classes to everyone, offering classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and more! Slowfire Arts Foundation will use the funds to offer free classes to senior citizens and purchase art supplies.
Veronica and Vanessa recently teamed up for their round of We’re Doing Good, directing their giving to Broke Bestie, a local indoor play area for children ages 1–5 in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood. Broke Bestie will use the funds to support basic day-to-day operations and to purchase new toys to help kids as they continue to discover and learn.
Our fearless leader Melissa recently made an appearance on Telemundo’s ongoing series “Faces of Chicago,” which showcases the success stories of immigrants in Chicago. Watch the full interview to learn more about what inspired Melissa to found Blue Daring, and what keeps her going after more than two decades in the business.
Blue Daring recently welcomed copywriter + storyteller Drew Sottardi and creative intern Hong Lee Loo. Drew comes to the team with over 15 years of experience in journalism, having written for the Chicago Tribune, Loyola University Chicago and JP Morgan Chase. Hong recently graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in Design and Visual Communications. We couldn’t be happier to have them join us!
We’ve brought together our knack for experiential branding and design with long-time partner inQUEST Consulting’s expertise developing engaging and transformative panels to offer our customers start-to-finish event experience design services. From theme development and experiential activation to panel speaker coaching, we got you covered. Reach out to learn more.
Our 2025 Holiday Kit and LION TotalCare’s Customer Onboarding Kit both won Graphic Design USA Package Design Awards. Our work on the kits placed in the top 10% of over 2,600 submissions and is featured in GDUSA’s annual print and online showcase. This is the second year that our holiday kit has been recognized by GDUSA.
Blue Daring recently won the Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Award for our work on Michael Reese Health Trust’s website. The site was redesigned to better reflect the foundation’s unique approach to creating a healthier future for all Chicagoans and to amplify stories of its growing impact. Blue Daring was among the top 10% of over 2,250 submissions nationwide.
Riley and Valentina also chose to partner on We’re Doing Good, directing their giving to Chicago Community Jail Support, a project that supports people released from Cook County Jail. CCJS will use the funds to provide essential support, including warm clothing, meals, PPE, transportation and emergency housing.
Designers Kyle and Pete teamed up for We’re Doing Good to double their giving—and it’s only fitting the two chose an art-focused organization! The WasteShed collects reusable art and school supplies that otherwise would be thrown away, providing them to teachers and artists at low or no cost.
