Living Our Unwritten Values

For the past 16 years at Rhyme & Reason, we haven’t just talked about our values—we’ve lived them. They’re not just words on a website or slogans that get tossed around; they are the heart of our work, fueling the creativity behind the projects we take on. These values serve as our guideposts, but there’s another layer that shapes our culture: our unwritten values.

These unwritten values have helped us Be, Create and Do awesome and have shaped us into the creative company you know and love. So, what exactly are these values? Let us take you through them!

Scarlett: Resilience

As a small, women-owned business, you don’t make it to 16 years without being resilient. From starting during an economic downturn to surviving a pandemic, Karen and I haven’t simply weathered storms, we’ve found ways to solidify our foundation, to maintain our relevance and to stay true to our values. And let me be honest, it hasn’t always been rainbows and unicorns. But then again, things that are worth doing take work. So, resilience isn’t a written value, it’s a lived one. And every good, bad and ugly day we’ve made the choice to build a safe, compassionate environment where kindness is thrown like confetti and smart ideas lead to beautiful designs.

Karen: Fight for the Fun

Once upon a time, fun was a Rhyme & Reason core value, and I have to admit, I still miss it. But the world changed, as did our company and work environment (hello hybrid/mostly remote!), and with it came some realistic adjustments to our core values. We swapped “Make Time for Fun” to “Make Time for Life” a couple years back, but that doesn’t mean the fun’s all gone! It’s still an important ingredient in the work we produce, whether it’s a dancing hot dog or punny headline, and it sure does make the workday that much more enjoyable. So I’ll keep fighting for it with a little more laughter during our morning huddles, a silly costume on Halloween, more swag and a lot more unicorns and rainbows.

Lauren: Stay Sparkly

At R&R, we’re all about staying sparkly and creating our own magic through strategic whimsy. For us, it’s the perfect balance of purpose and play—a way to tackle meaningful work without ever taking ourselves too seriously. Even in tough times, we find moments of levity, knowing that a good laugh or a fresh perspective can make all the difference. By bringing intention and joy into everything we do, we don’t just brighten our own days—we inspire those around us to find their own magic, too.

Lizzy: Trust, Respect, Communication

Everything we do begins and ends with trust, respect and communication. Okay, technically it’s three values, but I consider them as a whole because one can’t exist without the other. The beautiful designs we create and the smart ideas we dream up just wouldn’t be half as good without them. To be creative is to be vulnerable after all, and to get there you must trust in yourself and those around you. We trust one another, ourselves and our clients to do the best work possible and we respect the process of getting there, even if it’s different from our own. We give the benefit of the doubt and turn mix-ups into happy accidents. We communicate, plan ahead and hold retrospectives, all in the name of building greater trust and respect.

Crystal: Inclusivity

One of the things I love most about R&R is that inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword we throw around – it’s the foundation for how we operate each day. Everyone on our team is intentional about actively listening, lifting each other up and celebrating our unique voices and perspectives. We believe in creating a space where people feel safe to show up and be themselves, no matter who that might be, and that goes for both our team and our clients. We know that creativity thrives on seeing things from multiple points of view and that real magic only happens when people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to the table. After all, if we were all the same, that would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it?

Lexi: Curiosity

Staying curious and being willing to learn new things is essential for professional and personal growth. Our world is constantly evolving, and staying curious allows me to keep up with new trends, tools and techniques. But it’s not just about staying up to date on what’s current; it’s also about caring enough to seek out new ideas and then actually apply them. When we stop learning or cease to do things that challenge us, we risk stifling creativity and becoming too comfortable with what we know. When we stay curious and explore a bit of the unknown, we open ourselves to fresh perspectives to spark smart new ideas and endless creativity!

Rosie: Authenticity

Can I get woo-woo for a second? I believe that when you feel secure in being yourself, unreservedly, the harmony between your internal and external self is powerful. Being able to show up to R&R, wholly myself, is powerful. Much of our work is about harnessing that power for others. It’s no small feat to create visuals and language around who our clients are, and give them the tools to communicate that to the world. When brand identity is inauthentic, you can smell it from a mile away. I’d invite you to have a chat with anyone at R&R and see for yourself—we each show up as our genuine selves, and we’re proud to help others do the same. Bona fide.

Our unwritten values are essential to who we are and will continue to guide how we think and collaborate, inspiring us to create smart ideas and beautiful designs together through 2025 and beyond.