We explain why equity matters here on our website as well as individual communication with current and prospective clients. For example, we make sure clear inclusion language is presented along with our explanation of our studio. We also include DEI integration and vetting as part of our proposals to clients. This happens when our team is not native to the project we are working on, ensuring that the visual language is as authentic as possible.

We have directly offered resources for our clients to do this work in their own companies, and continue to use Instagram and our email list to break down issues of oppression and offer solutions or share the mic with activists and organizations who are. 

We have revised our contracts (both client and contractor) to include diversity, inclusion and accessibility language to ensure we are actively furthering anti-racism work and dismantling white supremacy.

Since 2020 we have been donating 5% of our agency fee to organizations that provide opportunities and support for marginalized communities.

• $2,300.93 to Everytown

• $75.00 to The Lower Eastside Girls Club

• $1,224.57 to SisterSong

• $1,395.05 to Equality Florida

• $515.83 to The Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund

• $515.83 to Black Futures Lab

• $515.83 to Hike Clerb

• $1,040.12 to African Health Now

• $1,131.00 to the Good+ Foundation

• $358.58 to The Black School

We will put effort behind supporting marginalized-owned businesses. This includes where we as a business spend our money — thanks you flowers, gifts, merch, catering, etc.

BEST’s is currently a team of all-remote, mostly white-passing, female, cis-gendered creatives without disabilities. We recognize that this is not representative of the world, and we are actively working to add more people of color, as well as people from other diverse backgrounds, to our team (maybe you? email Alison here).

This includes expanding the talent we work with and inspiration we draw from. We will encourage the vendors we hire and the creatives we partner with to do the same.

We periodically offer pro-bono work for marginalized-owned businesses. In 2021 we launched The BEST Assist — free design and marketing support over a one month period. Recipients will be chosen by us and our valued DEI partner, Backstory Consulting.

• marketing materials + social support for LAW Beauty Essentials

• see branding and social support for Farm Fête

Leadership will check-in with BEST’s core team suggested activism steps, updates on the studio’s allyship, and opportunities to get involved. We’ve had the honor of listening to these friends share their lived experiences:

• Nic Annette Miller of Slow Factory

• Sharifa Murdock of KITH, Liberty Fairs, and EVSN

• Justin Bridges of Freelance Kills

• Laura Rosenbaum of Novel Swim

We are also investing in providing resources to our team. We recently completed a multi-workshop series on accessibility and ADA compliance hosted by our friends at Constellation Collective. We are in the process of making sure all of our work is as accessible as possible.

BEST also recognizes that accountability stretches beyond humans to our environment. Together with the Germantown Laundromat (who we also branded ;), we launched a monthly newsletter, Climate Class, to educate our community and ourselves on harm reduction and planetary healing. See the scope here.

We will continue to ask for and be open to feedback on ways to enact change (email Alison here). We will continue to encourage and support our audience, clients and partners to do the same.