chicago Archives

Rethinking Order, Beauty, and Meaning Through Asymmetry

For centuries, symmetry functioned as both aesthetic preference and worldview. From the balanced forms of Greek temples to the mirrored ideal of the Vitruvian Man, symmetry stood as a proxy for truth, order, and divine proportion. The ancients called it symmetria — a mathematical harmony that reflected the cosmos itself. By the time of the […]

Sep 28 2025 by Nancy Lerner in Brandshrink

The Language of Trees: What Botanical Systems Teach Us About Growth

In the dominant business imagination, growth is a conquest. It’s framed in the language of acceleration, scale, and competitive advantage. Brands are expected to move fast, break things, and stay “ahead of the curve.” But in the face of ecological collapse, economic precarity, and cultural burnout, this mode of thinking is beginning to show its […]

Aug 3 2025 by Nancy Lerner in Brandshrink

Branding in the Fifth Dimension: A Metaphysical Guide to Multi-Layered Meaning

At Otherwise, we’ve always been drawn to the spaces between disciplines — where metaphor becomes method, and strategy is stretched through unfamiliar dimensions. So today, we ask: What if a brand isn’t a flat identity, but a dimensional construct? It’s easy to think of a brand as a surface: a logo, a voice, a palette, […]

Jul 6 2025 by Nancy Lerner in Editorials

What does web3 have to do with museum membership?

What does web3 have to do with museum membership? Actually, everything. Across the cultural not-for-profit ecosystem, membership is a painful subject. While membership has the limitless potential to nurture (and benefit from) deep engagement with an institution’s patrons, its conventional role has been to solicit patrons for annual contributions — in exchange for often lackluster […]

Dec 12 2022 by Nancy Lerner in Editorials

“Beets are the boss” — Learning from Danie’s Natural Juice Blends

Like so many small businesses, the story behind Danie’s Natural Juice Blends is deeply personal — and one that we’re honored to help tell. What began as one woman’s wellness journey morphed into a purpose-driven cold-pressed juice business. Nearly two years after our work began together, we connected with founder Danielle Marshall to reflect and […]

Nov 2 2022 by The Otherwise Team in Editorials