Colossus Named 2024 AdAge Small Agency of the Year
Colossus takes big swings in its design department
Colossus might be a small agency, but it recently tacked on some big design power.
In 2022, the Boston agency merged with design studio A&Co, naming Allison Waters Doherty general manager of Colossus Design in the process. Before A&Co, Doherty worked at major design powerhouses including Tiffany & Co.
So it’s no surprise Colossus last year saw a major jump in its design work. The capability drove 1,000% year-over-year revenue growth, according to the agency. This year, Colossus spearheaded a global rebrand for CyberArk, packaging projects for Gillette and identity assignments for Amazon. The shop also undertook what it referred to as its most ambitious design project yet: rebranding the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its four sub-brands.
To create the new identity for the 143-year-old music institution that has hosted musicians including Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and The Who, Colossus focused on modernizing the brand. Specifically, the agency wanted to dispel the notion that the symphony was exclusive, elitist and inaccessible to younger audiences while honoring its history.
The color palette the agency chose for the rebrand was derived from the historical lineage of the brand, alongside modern influences. The fonts are optimized for maximum readability and understated elegance.
To further drive home the update, Colossus helped create fresh programming schedules to match. That included commissioning new works from composers such as Tania León and newly announced Composer Chair Carlos Simon, and offering culturally relevant programming (such as Pride Night concerts featuring drag musicians and Día de Muertos concerts).
With 32 employees total, Colossus is proudly 38% people of color, 25% first-generation American and 58% female, according to the agency. This year, as part of its benefits package, the shop began helping its employees pay off their student loans by covering a percentage of each payment.