Amy Pastre and Courtney Rowson, the creative forces behind SDCO Partners, bring a wealth of design experience to the table. Before co-founding SDCO in 2009, Amy held design and art director positions at agencies where she worked with diverse clients across print, advertising, and digital platforms. Meanwhile, Courtney's pre-SDCO career included stints at nationally-renowned studios collaborating with clients ranging from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies.
Since joining forces to create SDCO Partners, Amy and Courtney have built a multi-disciplinary studio that has become a go-to for emerging and established brands seeking to reimagine their industries. With a team of writers, designers, developers, and strategists, they have crafted a reputation for creating compelling, immersive brand experiences that draw inspiration from art, history, exploration, and architecture.
You won’t want to miss my full conversation with Courtney and Amy of SDCO Partners here:
Below, I break down four of the most compelling moments from the episode:
Let’s get into it!
In an constantly shifting landscape, successful creative agencies must adapt their service offerings to better support their clients. Courtney and Amy have embraced this mindset, consistently evolving to meet the shifting demands of the market:
"As a business owner, when you're talking to so many clients about their needs, you can see the trends for how to better support them. Our service offerings have evolved along with the needs of our clients."
For example, SDCO Partners has expanded their services beyond traditional print design to include web development, recognizing the growing importance of digital platforms in their clients' marketing strategies. By actively listening to their clients and staying attuned to industry trends, they have been able to anticipate and respond to changing requirements, providing valuable solutions that contribute to the agency's growth.
Client feedback is an inevitable part of the creative process, and navigating it effectively is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and producing exceptional work. Amy and Courtney approach feedback with a balance of empathy and expertise:
"If we're getting feedback that we don't initially agree with, we take it and ask ourselves, 'How do we hear them and provide a solution that we think is smart and one that we're proud of as well?'"
Courtney mentions that when a client directly asks to see something, they usually need to show it to them because sometimes they need to demonstrate that they've explored it and explain why they don't feel it's the right solution. By hearing the client and providing a thoughtful response, SDCO Partners can navigate feedback while maintaining their creative integrity.
Amy and Courtney have cultivated a culture that embraces the unknown and sees challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation:
"We're not afraid to revisit anything and just sort of rethink something and pivot. That's been the way that we've operated for a long time – we're not afraid of what's on the other side."
This fearless approach has allowed SDCO Partners to stay nimble and adapt to the changing needs of their clients and the industry. As Amy mentions, they are not afraid to have discussions about revisiting their goals and pivoting when necessary. This willingness to embrace change and continuously iterate on their processes has been a key factor in their long-term success and ability to deliver quality, innovative solutions to their clients.
One of the key lessons from Courtney and Amy’s journey is the importance of being selective in choosing the right clients. By working with clients who align with their values, expertise, and creative vision, they can create more meaningful work and relationships built on mutual trust.
"At the end of the day, we try to choose clients we believe in, and then we believe in everybody on our team. And I really believe in Courtney. And I know she really believes in me."
SDCO Partners' selective approach to client partnerships allows them to focus their energy and resources on projects that truly inspire and motivate them. As Amy states, they sincerely believe in the people and products they work with, which contributes to the authentic relationships they build with their clients.