In 2024, we officially launched We’re Doing Good, Blue Daring’s charitable giving initiative that empowers each team member to direct company funds to a local cause of their choice. Genevieve and David were the first team members to make their donations, choosing a local food pantry and a cat rescue program. Follow along throughout 2025 to see the other amazing organizations we support!
Just ahead of the holiday season, Melissa attended the ribbon cutting for Gallery ORD, our new luxury travel shop in Terminal 5 of O’Hare International Airport. The new store expands Blue Daring’s decade-long partnership with O’Hare. Check out the article in Negocios Now to hear what Melissa had to say about the store’s grand opening.
Our final team wrapped up the 2nd Blue Daring Creative Challenge earlier this year with a conceptual film highlighting eight essential design elements as discovered throughout Chicago. Made in collaboration with a local videographer and composer, this unique exploration and original soundtrack celebrate both our value of World-Class Creativity and the world-class city we call home. Learn more or click below to watch the video.
Our team grew by two earlier this year! Valentina Perez Botero, a former journalist and conference producer, knows how to develop compelling messaging on behalf of clients and juggle multiple priorities in high-pressure situations. Shijing (Laura) Li is a former Creative Team intern, now with an MFA from the School of the Art Institute, who brings a conceptual aptitude and diverse experiences to our customers and partners.
Vanessa joined PwC last month for its “Latinx in Leadership” panel to share her journey with Blue Daring. Hosted by the company as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, the panel brought together leaders and changemakers in consulting, finance and philanthropy to discuss how their Latino identities influence their professional lives.
Our 2023 Holiday Kit, with its theme of celebrating and making memories, won a Graphic Design USA 60th anniversary Inhouse Design Award in August, placing it in the top 10% among 5,000 entries. An annual collaborative project that draws on the talents of both our creative and strategy team members, the Kit is featured in GD USA’s annual print and online showcase.
Since June 1, 2003, we’ve helped bring visionary ideas to life and built a team culture of caring deeply for people — all while holding steadfast to the values that ground us. On this milestone anniversary, Melissa thanks those who’ve helped us grow and reflects on how staying “True Blue” to our values continues to guide and inspire us each day. ¡Salud!
This Fall, we visited 1871—Chicago’s premier incubator and start-up ecosystem—to showcase See it to Life™. Vanessa and Chris met with local entrepreneurs and start-ups to talk about how the ideation toolkit can be used to spark and advance new ideas.
As part of Q Talks: Live!, an event series of Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business, this Spring Melissa spoke to what’s at the Heart of Change. Reflecting on almost two decades as a business owner and strategist, the dynamic, 15-minute talk explored how to balance and respond to the need to stay relevant while never wavering on the fundamental principles that help you stand the test of time.
