Word on the Street

The Street Level Studio team is excited to welcome another member! Brian Fuller recently joined us as our new Digital Services Director, and he’s already been busy meeting the crew, jumping into meetings, and sharing new ideas.

By Kent Brubaker, Web and Interactive Developer at Street Level Studio
All photos credited to Kent Brubaker, Michelle Mason, and Lourdes Masis

Since I have lived in the extremely flat, abundantly corn-filled environment of Illinois my entire life, visiting Peru with my wife and friends was truly astounding. In our trip from Lima to Cusco, through the Sacred Valley, and on to Machu Picchu, we were allowed to spend time seeing wonders we had never seen before. For a short time, we stepped into another world.

More than eight years ago, Joe Davis, founder of Street Level Studio, noticed that after two decades of abandonment, an old former motel building in Highwood was being taken down to make room for a new condo building. He particularly noticed that the beautiful, vintage “MOTEL” sign from the 1940s was still intact.

We recently raved about the fabulous restaurants that surround our marketing and design studio in Highwood, IL. While the allurement of great cuisine is appreciable, Highwood also offers a diverse culture and great sense of community.

It’s that time of year when adventure-seekers are gearing up to take summer vacations. Destination vacations are some of the most pleasurable vacations to go on, and that’s why when I, designer Jennie Dembowski at Street Level Studio, was given the opportunity to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks last summer, I jumped at the chance.

You never know where you might stumble across a giant cheeseburger. For SLS Graphic Designer Laura Schaeffer, this happened just a few weeks ago at the craft and art fair Show of Hands in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. To call Show of Hands simply a “craft show” is a wild understatement; it’s more akin to an Etsy enthusiast’s bazaar dropped in the middle of a haunted house.

During its thirty-year history, Street Level Studio has resided in several locations, but none can compare to the present place we've called home for the last 17 years. The name, Street Level Studio, was born from a philosophy of being down-to-earth and working hard to help clients achieve their goals. Our location for many years was well above ground in multi-story office buildings, but when we spotted this poor, run-down little storefront building in Highwood, IL, everything changed.

A Blissful Foodie Destination

Located about 25 miles north of Chicago, Highwood is a quaint little city, and we’re proud to call it home to Street Level Studio. Not only is Highwood full of great culture, people, and businesses—but also a five-minute walk can take you to a beautiful view of Lake Michigan.

The Highwood Bocce Club is an institution in the little town of Highwood on the North Shore of Chicago. Famous for hosting International Bocce Tournaments, this “private” club is open to public play most days of the week. And with both indoor and outdoor courts, it's a perfect environment for serious and amateur players. In fact, Street Level Studio has held several events at the club, and we’ve had a blast every time.

As reported in the Highwood Gazette, March 24, 2015.

Entire Street Level Studio Staff Unicycles to Work

HIGHWOOD, IL — Local graphic design and marketing agency Street Level Studio has seized the first days of spring with an innovative approach to commuting. Inspired by their fearless web developer, Zach Wenner, who unicycles to work daily, the Street Level Studio staff have challenged themselves to join him. “Zach made it look so easy, we all wanted to get in on the fun,” commented Creative Director Joe Davis.