Imprint Projects is closing 😮
I have some big news to share: my partners, David and Nina, and I have decided to close Imprint Projects.
Amidst a swirl of emotion, there are three main reasons for this decision:
When we started this company 12 years ago, we had little experience in advertising or marketing. We came from art, non-profits, books and education, and we imagined a kind of post-advertising agency that would enrich corporate clients by building brand communities, sharing valuable resources, and creating spaces for connection and exploration.
Our mission has always been to replace advertising with cultural production and dialogue. Over the years, we made some incredible experiences, partnered with our favorite creatives, and helped grow the world’s most influential brands. We proved, over and over, that investing in community is good for business.
Today, we face a very different world than a decade ago. Business leaders have universally adopted a rhetoric of purpose, and brands are increasingly leveraging community-oriented marketing approaches. One doesn’t have to look far to see that our mission has been adopted by many. We no longer have to educate clients on the value of collaboration and community; there are entire departments dedicated to this work! We celebrate other marketers as they rewire an outmoded, one-way communication logic and invest in campaigns that spark equitable dialogue, values-driven platforms, and participatory experiences. We don’t claim responsibility for this evolution, or even some privileged perspective within the industry, but this shift has made our mission less urgent and our offering seem commonplace.
Now, we are excited to try something new.
We made this decision in early September because we had the relative luxury to plan a transition through the end of the year. We have been able to support our own team with advance notice, and a thoughtful package for each employee that includes severance and health insurance. In these last few months, we have gathered recruiters, coaches, and an extended network of professional contacts to help equip our people for their next role. Change like this is hard, and it pains me to break up such a dedicated and talented team. But, with luck, people will remember that we ended things as we always ran things: with clarity, care, and a spirit of generosity.
Our work was always a collective effort, and we are humbled by the constellation of people who shared in this journey as employees, clients and collaborators. So many of those who touch Imprint Projects remain committed to ambitious creative work, with echoes of the spirit we cultivated together. I hope that this community of purpose will be our legacy.
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We are incredibly proud of all we accomplished: certainly the work we put out in the world, but also the business that we built, grew, and refined over the years. In an effort to support other independent organizations that might be starting or growing, we spent the last few weeks collecting company documents to share as inspiration and resource. Along with an archive of all our past projects, these will be shared publicly on our website, in perpetuity – please check it out.
Lastly, gratitude! To you for reading this letter, and for caring deeply about this business, our people, and our mission. Thank you to all those who worked for us or with us – especially those of you who were able to hire us! A special shout to all past Imprint Projects partners, Dina Pugh , Anna S. , Lien Nguyen , and former President Justin Kerr . Deep respect for our most senior leader Philip Reynolds , and our department heads, Magali Charmot , Mary Fagot , Jessica McCarthy and Lani P. .
Endless love and appreciation for my always and forever partners, David Jacob Kramer , Nina Sers – I always had your trust and support, and that is everything.
As for what’s next? I am open to the universe!
With love, Adam and your friends at Imprint Projects
For those of you who have memories of Imprint Projects, please share in comments below.