ArtVersion is one of four Chicago agencies among ten firms selected nationally, with Principal and Creative Director Goran Paun also highlighted as a “Founder to Watch in 2026.”
Chicago has long been a creative capital with a deep bench. From the Society of Typographic Arts, founded here in 1927 and still Chicago’s oldest professional design association, to the New Bauhaus, founded a decade later and eventually becoming what is now Illinois Tech’s Institute of Design, to Leo Burnett building one of advertising’s most recognizable agencies and Unimark International helping define modern corporate identity, the city has played an outsized role in American creative culture.
That pipeline continues through strong creative education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and UIC School of Design, feeding new generations of designers and creative talent into the industry.
That legacy continues across a mix of large agency networks, independent shops, specialized studios, and multidisciplinary teams working across advertising, branding, design, and digital.
That depth shows up clearly in Digital Reference’s new Best Visual Design Consulting Services in the USA list, independently compiled by Ryan Stevens. Of the ten firms selected nationally, four are based in Chicago: ArtVersion, Span, Someoddpilot, and One Design Company, giving Chicago more representation than any other city on the list.
Chicago has always had an unusually strong concentration of creative talent, and it is good to see that reflected in a national selection, especially across shops with very different points of view and areas of expertise. It is also great to see peers from NYC and Boston represented. Alfalfa Studio, led by influential designer Rafael Esquer, and Stoltze Design Group, founded by Clif Stoltze more than 40 years ago and still independent today, have both produced memorable work in the industry.
More Than the Visual Layer
One thing we appreciate about Digital Reference’s approach is the methodology it used. Rather than looking only at the finished work, it also considers research-driven practices, established ways of working, and how firms engage with their local communities. ArtVersion’s work sits naturally within that broader context, where visual design intersects with UX, accessibility, strategy, content, and technology. That is increasingly how agency work comes together today, with those disciplines overlapping within the same experience and visual decisions shaping everything from hierarchy and comprehension to interaction and usability.
Founder to Watch in 2026
As part of the same editorial series, Digital Reference also highlighted ArtVersion Principal and Creative Director Goran Paun as a “Founder to Watch in 2026.”
The feature looks at more than two decades of work across brand identity, UX, and digital innovation, including the role of accessibility, inclusive communication, and research-backed design decisions.
That recognition connects naturally to the larger agency story. ArtVersion has grown alongside the digital industry itself, from a period when websites were largely standalone communications to an environment where digital experiences touch nearly every part of how an organization presents itself, communicates, and builds relationships with its audiences.
The tools continue to change, and AI is accelerating that change again, but many of the fundamentals remain the same: understand the problem, make informed decisions, communicate clearly, and create something that works for the people using it.
Four Chicago Agencies
There is also something fitting about where the four Chicago firms are based. ArtVersion is in the Loop, Chicago’s central business district; Span is in the West Loop, an area shaped by its industrial roots; One Design Company is in River North, long associated with Chicago’s gallery and design community; and Someoddpilot is headquartered in Wicker Park, a neighborhood closely connected to the city’s independent art, music, and creative culture. Different neighborhoods, different practices, and different creative cultures, but all part of the same Chicago design community.
That mix says something about the city itself. Chicago’s creative scene has always been spread across different parts of the city, with each neighborhood developing its own mix of agencies, studios, and independent creative work. From downtown business corridors to former industrial areas, gallery districts, and more independent creative communities, each has contributed something different to the larger culture.
Seeing four Chicago firms make up 40 percent of this national list is a nice reminder of how much strong work continues to come out of that ecosystem.
Thanks to Ryan Stevens and Digital Reference for the thoughtful write-up and the recognition. Digital accessibility is something we care deeply about, so it was especially meaningful to see it included as part of the conversation around the work.
Congratulations to everyone on the list. There are a lot of strong shops and creative leaders represented here, and we’re happy to be in the mix.
About Digital Reference
Digital Reference is a professional reputation platform built around verified expertise, authentic references, and greater transparency in how professionals present themselves online. Founded by entrepreneur Ryan Stevens, the platform enables professionals to document accomplishments and collect verified video references. Digital Reference also publishes editorial guides and professional features across industries, highlighting practitioners and firms through research, demonstrated experience, and third-party validation.