409 13th Street, Oakland, California 94612, United States
Catchword Overview
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
Inquire
Average Hourly Rate
$250/hr
Year Founded
1998
Catchword is a naming and branding firm that has been helping industry-leading brands since 1998. From our offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Denver we help clients of every size and sector express who, what, and why they are. Well-known brands such as TikTok, Intel, Allergan, Boston Scientific, Starbucks, HBO, and VW look to us for naming and branding creativity and strategic insights.
Our client engagements range from quick-turnaround projects with startups to retainer relationships with multiple Fortune 500 clients. Whether you’re just getting off the ground or going through a full relaunch, our goal is always the same: to develop a timeless brand that resonates fully and authentically with your target audiences. We believe brands should be distinctive and memorable, but not different just for the sake of being different. The huge creative diversity of our portfolio reflects the many different cultures and business objectives of our clientele, versus a need to impose one creative style or philosophy on all.
Catchword has received more awards for naming work than any other agency, including Top Honors at the London International Awards (LIA), 1 Platinum Hermes Creative Award, 4 Gold Hermes Creative Awards, 3 Transform Awards, 3 Gold MarCom Awards, 2 Gold MUSE Creative Awards, and 3 Silver MUSE Creative Awards.
Our client engagements range from quick-turnaround projects with startups to retainer relationships with multiple Fortune 500 clients. Whether you’re just getting off the ground or going through a full relaunch, our goal is always the same: to develop a timeless brand that resonates fully and authentically with your target audiences. We believe brands should be distinctive and memorable, but not different just for the sake of being different. The huge creative diversity of our portfolio reflects the many different cultures and business objectives of our clientele, versus a need to impose one creative style or philosophy on all.
Catchword has received more awards for naming work than any other agency, including Top Honors at the London International Awards (LIA), 1 Platinum Hermes Creative Award, 4 Gold Hermes Creative Awards, 3 Transform Awards, 3 Gold MarCom Awards, 2 Gold MUSE Creative Awards, and 3 Silver MUSE Creative Awards.
Catchword Services
Catchword Portfolio
- BrandingCar naming for Volkswagen
- BrandingRebranding a financial solutions company
- BrandingNaming Intel’s revolutionary technology
- BrandingCompany & product platform naming
- BrandingNaming wearable fitness trackers for Fitbit
- BrandingRebranding an educational publishing division of EDC
- BrandingCompany naming for Elance & oDesk
- BrandingBeverage platform naming for Starbucks
- BrandingTechnology naming for Corning
- BrandingRetail naming for Gymboree
- BrandingRebranding a leader in commercial insurance solutions
- BrandingNaming a premium confectionary product
- BrandingLeading cyber-security company renaming
- BrandingNaming a blended beverage line for Peet’s Coffee
- BrandingNaming a self-powered blockchain company
- BrandingSoftware naming for Adobe
- BrandingNaming innovative retail technology for HP
- BrandingFinancial naming for Wells Fargo
- BrandingNaming a new health insurance company
- BrandingNaming personal insurance products
- BrandingEducational game naming for LeapFrog
- BrandingProduct line naming for Dreyer’s
- BrandingPrivate-label beverage naming for Ahold
- BrandingPharmaceutical glass naming for Corning
- BrandingOngoing naming strategy and architecture
- BrandingNaming a new company for Hitachi
- BrandingGlobal health nonprofit naming and strategy
- BrandingNaming an innovative healthcare app
- BrandingNaming a home-grown American beer
- BrandingLifestyle product naming and strategy
- BrandingConsumer tech company and product naming
Catchword Team Bios
- Maria CypherPartner & Executive Creative DirectorFounder and Executive Creative Director of Catchword, Maria oversees all creative work at Catchword. She has created names for Starbucks, Fitbit, Wells Fargo, Unilever, Intel, and hundreds of other clients.
- Mark SkoultchiPartner & Senior Account DirectorHead of Catchword's East Coast operations, Mark leads all projects on the right coast, including projects for Volkswagen, McDonald's, PwC, BIC, Unilever, and countless others.
- Laurel SuttonSenior Strategist & LinguistLinguist, strategist, and co-founder of Catchword, Laurel oversees the agency's naming strategy and architecture work and global linguistic screening practice. She has managed projects for Cisco, Plantronics, Corning, and many others.
- Erin MilnesCreative DirectorErin has overseen creative development and contributed to strategy on countless projects for Catchword, including work for Walgreens, HP, Michelin, BIC, Intel, and The Home Depot.
- Leena MehtaAccount DirectorLeena spent many years in brand management at Estee Lauder and Bare Escentuals before joining Catchword almost a decade ago. Whether it's naming initiatives or strategy and architecture projects, she brings her CPG marketing experience to clients like Corning, Chobani, and Johnson & Johnson.
- Stevie BelchakSenior Naming ManagerA brand strategist for the last 10 years, Stevie has laid the steady foundation and necessary groundwork for companies large and small, working with the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, AT&T, and more.
- Helen GouldSenior StrategistThere are few, if any, naming professionals with as much naming strategy experience as Helen. With a linguistics degree from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford, she has led verbal branding departments for two global branding agencies and in-house at eBay and PayPal.
- Chuck GuestCopy BossChuck started at Hal Riney & Partners on the account side, if only to justify his marketing degree from Santa Clara University. Creative was a better fit, and he went on to develop award-winning work at Chiat\Day and Young & Rubicam for well-known brands such as Gallo, Clorox, and Chevron.
Catchword Clients
- Intel
- Starbucks
- Fitbit
- Dunkin'
- The Home Depot
- PwC
- General Motors
- Uber
- Corning
- NBCUniversal
- Unilever
- Aetna
- Amazon
- Volkswagen
- Hitachi
- HP
- Allergan
- GE Healthcare
- Michelin
- AT&T
Catchword Awards
Catchword Reviews
Submit a review- Lumerate - umbrella company namingProject Type: BrandingReview Date: 29 November, 2022A Canadian company specializing in business and industry intelligence tools engaged Catchword to develop an umbrella company brand. After a detailed exploration of the company's business, culture and industry. Catchword guided the client through two rounds of name development followed by visual identity design. The client noted that Catchword routinely went the extra mile, including the development of brand exhibits to help with brand launch and is delighted with the company’s new name and look.Rating:
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A Canadian company specializing in business and industry intelligence tools engaged Catchword to develop an umbrella company brand. After a detailed exploration of the company's business, culture and industry. Catchword guided the client through two rounds of name development followed by visual identity design. The client noted that Catchword routinely went the extra mile, including the development of brand exhibits to help with brand launch and is delighted with the company’s new name and look. - Work Quality:
- Witsby - naming a digital content delivery platformProject Type: NamingReview Date: 18 August, 2022Leading education organization ASCD engaged Catchword to name its new digital content delivery platform for K-12 professional learning and credentialing. The client wanted to be sure that the new name would stand out in a crowded market while communicating the benefits of the platform and personality of the brand. The client was delighted with the outcome as well as the process, particularly the step-by-step guidance and high level of communication.Rating:
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Leading education organization ASCD engaged Catchword to name its new digital content delivery platform for K-12 professional learning and credentialing. The client wanted to be sure that the new name would stand out in a crowded market while communicating the benefits of the platform and personality of the brand. The client was delighted with the outcome as well as the process, particularly the step-by-step guidance and high level of communication. - Work Quality:
- Tivly - company rebrandingProject Type: BrandingReview Date: 16 August, 2022CINET (Commercial Insurance.Net, one of the industry's best lead generators for businesses looking for insurance) engaged Catchword to develop a new company brand to express its growth beyond insurance. Catchword created new brand positioning, name, and visual identity. The client was delighted with how Tivly (positively, actively) speaks directly to the “Yaysayers” culture of the company and impressed by the proactive project management and clear and engaging presentations.Rating:
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CINET (Commercial Insurance.Net, one of the industry's best lead generators for businesses looking for insurance) engaged Catchword to develop a new company brand to express its growth beyond insurance. Catchword created new brand positioning, name, and visual identity. The client was delighted with how Tivly (positively, actively) speaks directly to the “Yaysayers” culture of the company and impressed by the proactive project management and clear and engaging presentations. - Work Quality: