A strong name can make your brand easier to remember, recognize, and trust. DesignRush ranks the best naming agencies that create distinctive brand names built to stand out and connect with the right audience. Filter them by expertise, reviews, team size, and rates to find the right partner.
Catchword: DesignRush’s Featured Naming Agency
Since 1998, Catchword has established itself as a pioneer naming agency, offering bespoke creative solutions and full-service naming services for various clients, ranging from startups to industry titans. Specializing as a verbal and visual agency, it identifies creative opportunities to ensure name candidates will seamlessly integrate into the brand’s identity.
Catchword’s key naming services include name architecture, legal and linguistic screening, and domain brokering. The naming agency prioritizes high impact handles that help improve customer awareness and brand recall, as reflected in its:
Catchword Has Been Entrusted for Its Naming Services by the Following Clients:
What a Naming Agency Can Do for Your Business
A naming agency specializes in crafting brand names that resonate with your target audience and effectively communicate your brand’s identity. It helps businesses stand out in the market, create a strong brand reputation, and foster customer loyalty and engagement to increase revenue and achieve business goals. Key benefits include:
Name development improves recall and positive awareness from its target market
Brand identity development creates a cohesive experience for all your business touchpoints
Linguistic analysis uncovers the language patterns that evoke desired action from your target audience
Consistent branding builds trust and encourages customer loyalty
With an expert naming agency like Catchword, you can achieve higher engagement rates with your customers, while a poor consideration of linguistic nuances during name development may negatively affect audience perception of the brand and limit the business from expanding into new markets.
Why Choose Catchword for Your Next Naming Project
Catchword is known for:
Its industry reputation as the #1 naming and branding agency across various online directories
Its award-winning name development services that top corporations trust
Its creative versatility and global network of linguists and name experts who ensure culturally appropriate and positive-sounding names for any language or country
Catchword Might Not Be the Best Fit For
While Catchword is a well-regarded naming agency, it might not be the best fit for:
Small businesses with limited budgets
Business looking for generic and off-the-bat name development services
Companies looking for agencies with a strong focus on consumer research
Company naming Catchword crafts enduring and timeless names that truly capture the core values and mission of a business. By understanding the client’s unique value proposition and target audience, Catchword crafts names that positions the company for long-term success.
Product and service naming The agency also develops compelling names that highlight the unique benefits and features of a product or service. These names are designed to drive consumer interest and sales by clearly communicating the product’s reason-to-believe (RTB) and create a strong brand identity.
Linguistic analysis Catchword’s team of veteran creatives and branding experts analyze language nuances and cultural sensitivities to ensure your name is globally relevant and impactful. By examining word choice, sound, and meaning, the naming agency ensures its name candidates resonate with the target market.
Trademark pre-screening To protect brand integrity, Catchword conducts thorough trademark searches. They scrutinize extensive databases to identify potential conflicts, assess risks, and implement preventive measures. This ensures legal compliance and safeguards the name’s usability in the future.
Naming architecture The company’s naming architecture service helps businesses create a clear and consistent naming system for their diverse product lines or services. It establishes a clear brand hierarchy and maintains a consistent brand voice. Catchword also ensures that consumers can easily recognize the brand recognition and loyalty and facilitates future brand extensions.
Brand positioning By defining a unique selling proposition and aligning it with the target audience’s needs, Catchword empowers businesses to build strong, sustainable identities and creative handles that drive growth and success.
Domain naming Catchword helps clients secure domain names that align with their brand identity and enhance their online presence. It can assist in selecting and registering domain names that are memorable, relevant, and available, ensuring a strong online foundation for a client’s business.
Taglines Drawing on the agency’s expertise in linguistic understanding and consumer behavior, Catchword develops striking and impactful taglines that embody a brand’s messaging. These taglines can be used across various marketing materials to reinforce the brand messaging and increase brand recall.
Catchword Has Made Its Mark in Different Industries
Catchword has successfully applied its naming expertise across various industries. The agency’s global linguistic experience has enabled it to deliver high-impact names and creative handles tailored to a brand’s positioning and values.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable results the naming agency has achieved for its clients from various verticals:
B2B tech
Award-winning brand positioning and company naming services for Lumerate
Rebranding efforts and strategies enabled more brand visibility for Levata
Company renaming and comprehensive linguistic analysis contributed to increased users for Upwork
Non-profit and Education
Over 70 law schools consider adapting LawReady’s pilot program
Multiple relevant media pickups and 2 industry awards for rebranding and naming services for PaperPie
Health and Biotech
Well-received branding and naming campaign for Catalyx
Industrial and Energy
Multi-awarded brand naming and identity services for Fullsight
Food and Beverage
Successful name development increased product adaptability by major grocery stores achieved for Nature’s Promise
Transportation
Comprehensive car naming and cultural research services for Volkswagen’s latest 7-seater SUV
See Why Businesses Choose Catchword for Exceptional Naming Services
1. Name Development and Strategy for a Global Communications Firm
"We have chosen Catchword as our go-to partner for naming related work in healthcare. We have engaged Catchword several times and our clients are always thrilled with their naming strategy counsel and actual name candidates. We've even brought them in to help with complex naming strategy issues regarding portfolio naming, including name development in the diagnostics space. Catchword is highly professional and dependable and produces high-quality work."
Camille DeSantis, EVP, US Lead, Health Brand Development at Edelman
2. Timely Delivery of Name Candidates for a Software as a Service Company
"Catchword completed this work in a timely and efficient manner, and they provided us with the crucial creative we needed for what we believe will be a revolutionary product. While we are still finalizing the name choice, we are confident that we have what we need to go to market."
Angela DeRusha, Director of Global Marketing at IDEXX Laboratories
3. Successful Rebranding for a Financial Technology Platform
"In just three months, they delivered a brand name that made us very happy. Overall, it was a successful project. Their process and expertise were outstanding. They were masters of their space."
Fritz Lauer, Head of Marketing at Denim
Awards and Recognitions:
FAQs About Catchword
Q1: Why do businesses choose Catchword for naming needs?
A1: Businesses choose Catchword for their naming needs because of its proven track record, extensive expertise, strategic approach, and a global perspective in its name development processes. The naming agency has a team of experts that ensures its naming strategies are aligned with brand goals. Catchword’s capability to balance creativity with practicality in deriving brand handles helps businesses create memorable names that drive brand success.
Q2: What makes Catchword different from other naming agencies?
A2: Catchword emerges as a standout from other naming agencies because its leaders have professional and academic expertise in linguistics. The naming agency goes beyond creating catchy handles as it factors in cultural sensitivity and consumer insights. Catchword also implements a comprehensive research process to ensure that every name it proposed is tailored and relevant to the specific needs of its clients.
Q3: How does Catchword measure success?
A3: Catchword measures success by evaluating the impact of a name on a brand’s overall performance. It looks into factors, such as brand recognition, consumer preference, market share, and long-term brand equity. The naming agency also evaluates the name’s adaptability to various marketing channels, its potential for global adaptability, and its longevity.
Q4: What is Catchword’s process for completing naming projects?
A4: Catchword’s process begins with an initial consultation to assess your naming needs. The steps to the entire process are the following:
The agency meets with the client to understand their specific project needs
It then collaborates with the client and guides them through numerous rounds of name development
After the client has chosen from the list of generated handles, the naming agency will do a legal screening to ensure its trademark availability
Beyond naming, the agency can also cascade the chosen name into a full branding strategy to better establish the client’s identity
Throughout the campaign, Catchword fosters a collaborative work relationship with its clients and accommodates feedback with open arms.
Q5: What is Catchword’s average hourly rate and minimum budget?
A5: Catchword’s average hourly rate is $250; however, its minimum budget is available only upon request considering its bespoke services.
To showcase the success that Catchword has achieved as a naming agency, our team of experts handpicked the following case studies. Each of them highlights unique challenges in various industries and the innovative name and branding solutions Catchword used to overcome them.
We chose these success stories because they demonstrate key performance metrics like term usage consistency, term accuracy, time to market, user adoption rate, user satisfaction rate, and brand guidelines adherence.
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive view of Catchword’s ability to deliver high-value names for various industries and businesses, helping you understand how similar strategies might benefit your brand.
Explore these four case studies to see the measurable success Catchword has brought to its clients:
1. Gordon Desserts’ Rebrand to Mochidoki Led to an Award-Winning Verbal Identity
Source: [Catchword]
Challenge: Gordon Desserts, a premium food company, introduced a new line of premium mochi desserts. It needed help in rebranding its name to something that captures the playful and indulgent nature of the product, while also hinting at its Asian heritage.
Solution: Catchword developed the name “Mochidoki,” a combination of “mochi” and “okay-dokey.” The naming agency ensured that the name has brand recall and gives off positive association to the product, as well as to speak much about its Asian heritage.
Results: The dessert company’s rebranding to Mochidoki resulted in business growth, with its product line being served at high-end restaurants, such as Nobu, Tao, and Wynn Resorts. It has also opened its first retail location, demonstrating the strength of the brand and the impact of the naming strategy, which also won a Sliver Award for Verbal Identity at London Internation Awards.
2. Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter Redefined Audience Media Scoring
Source: [Catchword]
Challenge: Rotten Tomatoes, a popular film and television review site, needed a partner to create a more engaging name for its Audience Score. It needed fresh perspectives in ideating a handle that would reflect the overall enthusiasm of everyday viewers and connect with its professional critic scale, “Tomatometer.”
Solution: A few hundred word pairings later, Catchword proposed the name “Popcornmeter,” directly connecting to the audience experience of watching movies and its tag-along snack, popcorn. The name also aligns seamlessly and intuitively with the existing Tomatometer, which made marketing unnecessary.
Results: The “Popcornmeter” branding successfully launched in August 2024, receiving positive media coverage. It has also inspired the introduction of a new verified ratings system, spanning from Hot to Stale, which further enhanced the user experience of Rotten Tomatoes.
3.TikTok’s ‘In the Mix’ Set the Trend as a Well-Recognized Cultural Experience
Source: [Catchword]
Challenge: TikTok aimed to create a first-of-its-kind music event through its platform’s Live feature. It needed a name that would be memorable, easy to understand, and align with TikTok’s DNA of creativity and innovation.
Solution: Having produced previous TikTok handles before, Catchword is already familiar with what works with the channel’s varied audience. After 2,000 generated event titles, the naming agency proposed “In the Mix,” conveying the idea of a live, dynamic music experience, where different artists and genres come together. It also ensured that the name resonates with the concept of being part of a community while positioning TikTok as a top discovery platform for emerging music.
Results: The first “TikTok In the Mix” event was announced in October 2023, featuring a star-studded lineup and global live streaming. The event received significant media attention and positive feedback from fans, successfully launching a new chapter for TikTok’s real-world music experiences.
4. The North Face’s ‘Circaloft’ Branded as Sustainable Puffer Jacket of the Year
Source: [Catchword]
Challenge: The North Face developed a new line of sustainable, high-performance insulated apparel. It wanted a naming agency partner that could name the clothing line while properly communicating the product’s unique properties, sustainability, and innovation.
Solution: Catchword proposed the name “Circaloft.” It combines “circa,” referencing the circular economy and the product’s lifecycle, with “loft,” suggesting lightweight insulation, garments that float back into shape after compression, and aspiration toward a more sustainable future.
Results: The North Face received positive reviews from consumers and the media, with Travel and Leisure naming Circaloft as the Best Sustainable Puffer Jacket of the year. The name effectively conveyed the product’s unique qualities and aligned with The North Face's commitment to sustainability.
Beyond expertise, understanding the vision and values of a naming agency’s founders offers a glimpse into its culture and approach. At DesignRush, we try to understand how their beliefs and mindsets have shaped their work ethic, client relationships, and overall philosophy.
We also identify shared values among the founders and key team members, as these commonalities provide valuable insights into the agency’s unique ways of working and established best practices.
Catchword has grown from a concept idea of four linguist partners into a full-scale agency that provides bespoke naming development services. With Maria Cypher and Mark Skoultchi in the lead, Catchword’s team has been renowned for its team of naming veterans committed to providing creative handles that shape cultures and contribute to brand growth.
Maria Cypher
Role: Principal & Creative Lead
Source: [Catchword]
With a strong marketing background from Stanford GSB and previous experience as a magazine editor, Maria co-founded Catchword in the mid-90s. The company has since grown into one of the top 100 women-owned businesses in the Bay Area and a leading naming and full-service branding firm in the industry.
Maria’s passion for language, coupled with her curiosity and meticulous nature, drives her work. She is also dedicated to mentoring aspiring namers, many of whom have become industry leaders.
Outside of work, Maria is the lead singer of the popular local cover band, Highway 13, and enjoys spending time with her three talented daughters.
Mark Skoultchi
Role: Principal & Project Lead
Source: [Catchword]
Mark Skoultchi is a seasoned naming and branding expert with nearly 30 years of experience building global brands. His expertise spans various aspects of brand development, including portfolio strategy, positioning, name development, and design. Mark has worked with numerous industry leaders, such as The Home Depot, Stryker, Volkswagen, Sub-Zero, Time Warner, Starbucks, Boston Scientific, and The North Face.
With a passion for branding, Mark often tackles complex branding challenges. He is more likely to discuss emerging theories on brand positioning than sports. When he's not immersed in the world of branding, Mark enjoys playing guitar, rowing, and designing merchandise for Catchword.
Under Maria and Mark’s leadership, Catchword has established itself as a leading naming agency, helping businesses to improve their branding and mutually achieve business growth.
Our team at DesignRush conducted a thorough assessment of leading naming agencies. Catchword stood out due to its strategic approach, creative expertise, and client-centric focus.
Key Reasons:
Strategic approach: Catchword uses data-driven insights and a deep understanding of brand strategy to develop effective naming solutions.
Creative expertise: With a team of creative experts and veterans, Catchword generates innovative and memorable names, considering cultural nuances and linguistic considerations.
Client-centric focus: Catchword prioritizes client collaboration, maintaining open and effective communication throughout the naming process.
Legal and trademark expertise: Catchword has strong legal and trademark expertise, ensuring that names are original and legally protected.
DesignRush Seal of Approval
At DesignRush, we carefully review agencies to ensure they meet our high standards, and we found that Catchword is a proven top performer.
Our team was impressed by the agency’s creativity, strong industry reputation, and commitment to client success, which set them apart. For us, Catchword is a 5-star agency that consistently exceeds expectations.
We believe partnering with a top-tier naming agency like Catchword can make a real difference in making your brand standout with a memorable name and identity, and we’re excited to help you take the next step.
Our Tips on How to Move Forward:
1. Contact the agency to schedule a meeting
Reach out to Catchword to book an initial consultation. Take this as an opportunity to get to know its team and discuss your business goals and expectations.
2. Prepare key questions to ask during the meeting
To ensure that Catchword is the best fit for your business, consider asking the following in-depth questions:
Name development and ideation
What is your approach to naming development?
Why ask this? Knowing the internal workflow of a naming agency emphasizes whether it aligns with yours.
Industry experience and creativity
Can you share examples of successful naming projects you've completed?
Why ask this? Successful case studies demonstrate the agency’s capabilities and the quality of their work. Look for examples relevant to your industry or target audience.
Brand strategy and positioning
How do you handle naming projects with multiple target audiences or geographic regions?
Why ask this? If your brand operates across diverse markets, it’s important to consider that the naming agency has the linguistic expertise to ideate a name that is catchy, understandable, and has strong brand recall across your differing target markets.
Legal and trademark expertise
How do you conduct trademark searches to ensure the name is legally available?
Why ask this? A reputable agency will conduct thorough trademark searches and provide legal advice to ensure your brand name is future-proofed.
Feedback and revision process
How do you handle feedback and revisions?
Why ask this? An agency should be receptive to feedback and willing to adjust as needed to ensure that the ideated name will reach the right audience.
Client collaboration and project management
How do you involve clients in the naming process?
Why ask this? The naming process should be a two-way process. Look into how Catchword’s collaboration practices consider your inputs to ensure the final name reflects your brand vision and goals.
1,044 Companies-Rankings updated: September 04, 2026
Every branding agency featured on DesignRush is evaluated for branding expertise, service quality, and verified client feedback. Some featured placements may be paid.
We are a B2B agency that combines human creativity and technology to turn ideas into results
We are specialists in branding, design, advertasing, communication and digital marketing, creating and managing online and offline brands for hundreds of companies in Brazil and Portugal...
Market to the World, and the World will be your Market.
CAYK Marketing has been a leading force in marketing for nearly thirty years, specializing in website design, SEO, advertising management, and strategic planning. With a focus on your organization's success, CAYK offers decades of proven experience, whether you require a technical audit or comprehensive...
Bob's Your Uncle is a Toronto-based independent branding and creative agency helping challenger brands become category leaders. We specialize in brand strategy, positioning, design, and integrated creative for food & beverage and CPG brands...
Artful branding and design out of Denver, Colorado. Be the brand they remember.
Vicarel Studios is an artful branding and design studio based in Denver, Colorado. We provide bespoke creative services spanning brand identity and packaging design, illustration, murals, lettering, typeface design, and creative retainer partnerships. Strategy first, executed with craft...
Wise Key Solutions offers comprehensive Digital Marketing and IT Solutions Globally. Our services include Branding, Digital Marketing, Web and Mobile App Design, Video Animation, SEO, and more. With a focus on delivering outstanding end-to-end services, our experienced team caters to client's needs with...
WordPress designer | SEO Specialist | GA4 Professional
Experienced Freelance WordPress design Specialist. Offering development for sites of a value between £5k and £15k. A best-in-class approach to content, UI/UX & design, additionally, advice is provided on CRM integration and site features that boost performance and engagement as well as conversions...
As a creative brand identity agency in Montreal, we're your partner in crafting unforgettable brands. We design a wide range of creative assets from logos and websites that convert to visuals that pop all tailored to make your business stand out. We use the latest design trends and techniques to ensure your...
Beast Creative Agency helps brands grow through AI-enhanced digital marketing, bold creative strategy, and data-driven campaigns built to generate measurable results...
Phase 3 Marketing and Communications is an integrated marketing services company providing solutions from ideation to execution. Our mission is to simplify life for marketers by delivering the most-needed marketing services in-house, under one roof...
We Partner With Ambitious Changemakers to Transform Businesses Into Brands
At TRCREATIVE, we collaborate with visionary changemakers to turn businesses into brands using strategic branding, intelligent websites, and impactful marketing. We believe that purpose-driven ideas can reshape the business landscape, improve lives, and transform our world one project at a time...
DigitalParc is an uniquely experienced and results-driven team of digital marketing experts ready to assist in your business being transformed online. We specialize in designing beautiful websites that have the potential to convert, researching and executing optimized content strategies to acquire new traffic...
At Sonder, we believe in the unwavering commitment to excellence in all endeavors. When you embark on a journey with us, expect nothing less than our steadfast dedication to achieving the highest standards in every aspect of our work...
A dynamic and innovative media agency dedicated to delivering exceptional results for our clients
At The Media Precinct, we're more than just a full-service agency we're dedicated to crafting compelling audience engagement strategies rooted in genuine human insights. With a focus on authenticity and understanding, we leverage these truths to create impactful campaigns that resonate deeply with our...
Ridge Marketing builds memorable brands, engaging digital experiences, and lead-gen campaigns to help companies of all sizes attract buyers and drive growth...
Brand Studio Raj specialises in brand strategy, naming, design and launch-services for businesses ready to build standout identities and market momentum...
Marketing partner for growth-focused brands. Access an entire marketing department's expertise, on-demand, with our digital marketing subscription service...
Welcome to GrowthBX, your trusted partner for growth-focused branding and marketing solutions. Our array of services, ranging from branding and website design to e-commerce, PPC management, SEO, and growth marketing, are tailored to cater to businesses at all stages...
Your Partner in Branding & Communication Strategy.
Encore Branding & Communication Agency comprises a compact yet proficient and dedicated team adept at handling intricate projects with integrity and professionalism, steering each client towards success. Leveraging an extensive network of associates, we craft comprehensive marketing and advertising campaigns...
Sadja WebSolutions is a digital agency focused on creating custom websites, mobile apps and digital marketing to grow brands online. We help companies around the world increase their online presence and ROI through design, development and online marketing...
We are Agenda. An independent brand agency that blends strategy, creativity and craft to help brands flourish and businesses grow. With equal dedication to crafting extraordinary brands and amplifying their impact in the world, we partner with clients such as Abbott, BlackRock, Boeing, Guardian, LexisNexis...
Here at Elegant Image Studios (EIS), we believe that your website is an essential component of marketing your company or practice in today's business environment. EIS located in Atlanta, GA can design and develop a captivating, eye-catching website that will take your business to the next level...
A Global Consultancy That Helps Clients Find Uncommon Growth in the Face of Disruption.
At Prophet we help our clients grow by harnessing the collaborative power of design to bring ideas to life. Our team believes great design is the result of a multidisciplinary approach; where business strategy influences brand expression & where customer needs define new & engaging brand experiences...
We're a digital agency based in Ukraine, specializing in WordPress solutions. Our team has In-depth expertise in WordPress development and optimization, and we offer a full range of services to help our clients achieve their goals.
Whether you need help with consulting, development, or ongoing maintenance...
Portuguese Full Service 360º Marketing Creative Agency.
ADTRICK is a diverse team of talented individuals united by our commitment to crafting unique strategies. Our approach is to devise innovative solutions that elevate the significance of your brand...
Damos voz y forma a tus ideas, pensamientos y proyectos. Redactamos textos genuinos, creativos y convincentes. Realizamos páginas web y gestionamos redes sociales. Explicamos historias que emocionan. Comunicamos y conectamos...
We empower companies, discover your soul through a LoveMark sensorial experience.
JHT Design Agency has more than 14 years of experience in the market. The agency was created to positively impact our surroundings, through innovation and creativity. We are sure that ideas change the world and that is why our focus has always been based on consultancy and design in Branding 360, because we...
Wizy is a Web Development & Design Agency based in Athens, Greece offering high-end, tailored web development, e-Commerce development, support and digital marketing services to businesses. We are motivated to build elegant and functional digital products that solve complex problems...
Branding, Websites + Email Marketing to Make Your One-of-a-Kind Local Business the Stuff of Legend
We're Pair of Ducks, a digital-first micro studio using design and story-craft superpowers for the good of brand kind. Branding, messaging, websites, email marketing we've got you, Southwest Michigan!...
Collaborating with startups, we strive to cultivate the brands of the future. Our startup branding mission is to create brands that challenge conventional norms, surpass formidable competition, and redefine the very fabric of how we live, work, and engage in recreational activities...
Jackson Wynne, crafts meaningful experiences. From planning to execution, we elevate your brand with clarity and purpose, ensuring it stands out where it matters most...
Super Graphic is a boutique creative studio based in the UK. We deliver creative visual experiences that are underpinned by insight, strategy, and love for design. But above all, we ensure that they are all supported with great stories that engage, inspire, provoke, connect, and amaze...
Motto® is a strategic branding and digital agency that helps global brands and daring startups scale, disrupt, and lead. From strategy to identity, we build bold, standout brands that win hearts and markets...
MadeSouthern Marketing is a boutique marketing agency that provides creative, modern solutions for small business owners through marketing strategy, brand strategy & identity, custom website design, content creation & strategy, creative design services, and social media marketing and management...
Professional Packaging Design and Brand Development Visionaries
Design to Brand is a dynamic force in the world of branding and design, providing brands with bold and impactful graphic design, stunningly realistic 3D renders, dynamic web design, captivating animations, and expert in-house printing. With our creative excellence, we empower brands to reach new heights and...
Maaketto is a Dubai-based branding, events & AI marketing agency. Founded in France in 2018, now leading our Middle East practice from the UAE. 143+ projects across 16 countries. Bilingual delivery in English and Arabic...
Empowering brands with bold design, custom websites, strategic marketing.
Foreman Creative doesn't just design-we build solutions that empower your company, strengthen your brand, and drive measurable growth. From bold branding and custom websites to strategic marketing and digital innovation, every project is crafted with a clear purpose: to position your business for long-term...
Making Marketing Simple with Websites & Digital Strategies that Help Your Business Stand Out
Stand-Up.Marketing helps businesses grow through high-performing websites and bundled digital marketing solutions. We specialize in designing user-friendly, SEO-optimized websites combined with targeted services like PPC, email marketing, and local SEO. Whether youre a startup or established business, we...
We might not be for everyone, but we are perfect for anyone whose hope is to inspire change, become a thought leader and contribute to the world. We are fuel for the innovators and the wise risk-takers. Tribu is a digital marketing and design agency in San Antonio, TX with a focus on building powerful brands...
Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.
We Maximize Your Organization Reputation And Engagement
We're a branding agency that prides itself on service and inter-personal long term relationships with our clients for a cohesive ongoing design service across print/digital and physical applications...
-content.jpg)
-content.jpg)
-content.jpg)
Proposals