Go beyond storytelling.

In order to launch new ideas, companies and products, we engage the power of messaging—impactful, motivating, and relevant. Messages are more complex than simply written words or moving pictures. When properly aligned with a key audience group, many things affect the potency of a message. Language, tone, values, qualities, placement and method of delivery all matter.

Put simply, there are two elements of message development:

1. Strategy behind what to say and how to say it.

2. Delivering the message to the right audience at the right time the way they want it.

WHO IS DREW FORCE?

Some say I forgive too easily but I don’t see it that way. You see, I’m an optimistic character, so I’d rather spend my energy focused on the good stuff—new ideas, exploring new ways and places, time with friends and family. I also don’t dwell on mistakes. I learn from them and move forward.

I pride myself on living curiously, having broad perspective and being balanced. Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with clients ranging in size across nearly every vertical market and, as a result, have worked with pretty much every type of end-customer. I’ve also traveled extensively, which helps with problem solving and exposure to different, (sometimes very) unexpected situations.

While I feel super lucky to love what I do for work everyday, my greatest blessing is my family. They’re awesome. There is nothing like the joy of being a dad and husband! I love spending time with them.

A great challenge is to find new ways to do something that’s been done a million times. I’m always open to new ideas and try to learn each day (another thing that happens with young kids around!).

Circling back to what I do everyday… The foundation of my business practice is messaging. People use buzz words—”storytelling” is a popular one these days (I used it earlier on the page…)—but understanding brand positioning and building messaging platforms for all types of clients is more than simply telling a story. When done right, it’s rewarding and fun—and I’m good at it. While I’m a classically trained graphic designer, I spent nearly 20 years owning and running Riley Weiss, a brand consulting and design firm based in Portland, Oregon. (We also had an office in New York for a few years.) These days, I live in Oregon Wine Country about 50 minutes from downtown Portland. I can easily get to meetings or to the airport when I need to.

If you want to know more, trust me, I could go on and on about life and stories but we can talk about that stuff over an iced tea or beer sometime…

Who I’ve worked with

Over the past 30 years, I have worked with big and small brands in different phases of their path. Some brands include:

About our logo

On two separate occasions, I have been in the African bush—much of the time observing elephants. In my opinion, they are the most incredible beasts on earth. Elephants are a living dichotomy. It’s a creature that is absolutely immense, yet can move silently. It’s awkward looking but extremely intelligent. Culturally, elephants represent strength and good fortune as well as health and happiness. Elephants are incredibly loyal to their families. My family loves elephants and we honor them by representing their likeness as our core brand element.

A brand is a promise®.

Strategy | Messaging | Naming | Brand Identity | Film & Video | Web | Collateral | Environments

Photo credits:
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana, Drew Force, Copyright 2007
Drew Force, portrait, Lars Topelmann, Copyright 2020