strategic vision + brand + storytelling for people (and places) natural to the urban environment
our modest size
may surprise you.
especially when you see how
many firms (and civic players)
we’ve helped make a
successful strategic move.
and when it comes to
brand story + bring-it-to-life actions,
we’re big on finding
the game changer.
the power of make + do.
it’s a beautiful thing.
at fish to water, we help people move forward with organizational visioning, project positioning, brand development, storytelling, copywriting, new media and graphic design.
we work with people who love urban energy and the environment—people as dedicated to maximizing project potential as they are to giving back.
we also partner with civic players looking to make new friends by all creative means possible as complex projects take shape.
in all ways, clarity trumps jargon.
strategic services (and essential creative chutzpah).
strategic
Organizational visioning
Brand visioning
Pre-project investment positioning
Proposal + competition positioning
Competitive analysis
brand strategy
Client + brand audit
Brand platform
Naming
Creative direction
Storytelling + messaging
Script development
brand implementation
Graphic design
Print collateral
Web design
Branded environments
Wayfinding + signage
new + social media strategy
Content strategy
Community building
Reporting + analytics
community connections
Tactical urbanism + pop-ups
Event design + production
Participatory engagement
Public involvement process
Media strategy + outreach
Facilitation
specific-to-project
collaborative services
Assemble + lead consulting teams
Market analysis
Photography
Public + social practice art
Exhibition design
built environment + urban design advisory services
green urbanism
Policy development
Sustainability strategies
Rating systems +
performance criteria
Expert review + testimony
transit communities
Station area planning
Transit oriented development
Expert review + testimony
development advisory
Private/public partnerships
Mixed-income redevelopment
Community + government affairs
Entitlement strategies
Expert review + testimony
specific-to-project
collaborative services
Assemble + lead consultant teams
Market + feasibility studies
Highest + best use studies
Architectural illustration
Universal access (ADA)
GIS + geospatial analysis + visualization
strategic + creative services
built environment
Opus · Intracorp · NBBJ · Unico · PCC Natural Markets · Weinstein A+U · Realogics Sotheby’s · Hewitt Architects · Rowley Properties · The Justen Company · Era Living · Kinzer Real Estate Services · Lake Union Partners · MUSE Development · Apollo Development · BireM · Krei Architecture · Street-Works · Teutsch Partners · Citrone · Prestige Residential Construction · Blumen Consulting · BERK · CA Stanford Associates · CBRE · CH2M Hill · GVA Kidder Mathews · CF International · Makers · Mithun · Olson Kundig Architects · OTAK · Sellen Sustainability · Tarragon Development · Urban Visions · Wilson Meany Sullivan
real estate + retail
Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue · Live Historic · Wards Cove · Aljoya · Era Living · 81 Vine Street · Waterfront Landings · Ellington · The Vine Building · Portsmouth · Marin (Blaine) · Vela (New York) · Pacifica Bay (Mexico) · Sweetwater (Sun Valley) · Four Seasons (California) · Tully’s Coffee · Glassybaby · Bellevue Square · City Centre (Seattle) · Holland America · Cinerama · Kimpton Hotels · Mission Hill Family Estate · Sleeping Lady Resort · Zed
corporate + healthcare
Boeing · Chevron · Microsoft · Pacific Gas & Electric · Safeco · Balanced Body · Aventail Digital Music Express (DMX) · Gallery Player · VFZoom Workplace Technology · Apollo Healthcare · Airlift Northwest · Evergreen Medical Group · Kitsap Physicians Service · Overlake Hospital · Physicians Insurance · Ascendancy Healthcare
civic + public agency
City of Seattle Mayor’s Office · City of Seattle Planning and Development · City of Seattle Office of Sustainability · City of Seattle Office of Economic Development · Seattle Public Utilities · Seattle Parks and Recreation · Seattle Department of Transportation · Community Power Works · Washington Department of Health · Washington Developmental Disabilities Council · Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction · US Department of Education · Portland Bureau of Planning · Portland Development Commission · Seattle Housing Authority · Port of Seattle · Sound Transit · King County Metro Transit · Clackamas County Housing Authority · City of Chicago · Denver Housing Authority · Fremont (CA) Economic Development · Helena Housing Authority · Bellevue Parks and Recreation · City of Issaquah Major Development Review Team · Kirkland Parks and Recreation · Lynnwood Community Development · Renton Community and Economic Development · Renton Housing Authority · Port of Bremerton
non profit + philanthropy
Urban Land Institute · CityLab7 · Seattle Center Foundation · Reconnecting America · KCTS · RSF Social Finance · Sightline Institute · Portland Sustainability Institute · Bellevue College · Black Rock Arts Foundation · Gallaudet University · Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance · Seattle Central Community College · University of Washington Community Connections · Global Green Lower 9th Ward · Babes Network · Chief Sealth High School · University Heights School Acquisition · Garfield High School · MS Society · Storefront Olson Kundig · Pacific Northwest Ballet · Sustainable Connections
our national, regional and start-up client friends.
victoria medgyesi
Victoria Medgyesi is a highly experienced strategic visioning, brand, storytelling professional who gets her kicks helping people get where they want to go. Medgyesi uses her anthropological perspective, journalistic experience, and facilitation skills to shape strategic conversations that make the most of each opportunity. Her talent for questioning assumptions and crafting an authentic brand story is exceptional.
learned along the way: just because you don’t know something’s happening doesn’t mean it isn’t.
joy rubin
Art director + graphic designer Joy Rubin has great strategic brand instincts—a fact that’s reflected in her expansive portfolio and the many creative kudos that have come her way. Her expertise in brand-focused applications includes brand development, print and on-line marketing campaigns, website design, signage, and exhibit design. Rubin has worked extensively with built-environment and hospitality clients.
Learned along the way: never pander.
victoria oestreich
Victoria Oestreich wears several hats: she’s a social media outreach whiz, a disciplined project organizer, and a senior at the University of Washington (with a special interest in social psychology within organizations). Oestreich came to Fish through a new media internship, and never left. She’s also an executive council member of Sigma Kappa, a service-based sorority at the UW.
Learned along the way: if what you're looking for is perfection, take a step back.
We’re quite the professional mashup when it comes to expertise.
