Small But Mighty

2024 Impact Report

Focus on the impact
you can deliver

2024 was a humbling year, but as always the team rose to the occasion.

We turned 10 as a business, and we started with very grand ambitions and a plan to emulate what we accomplished as a team in the previous year. In reality it was a turbulent year in the Design Industry and for small businesses. We continued to lean into our values as a company. Year-on-year we were less prolific (in volume) but what we able to accomplished had huge meaning to us.

We intentionally put our focus into a few key areas rather than spreading ourselves too broadly. We continued to host interns, we supported values aligned organizations, and committed 1% of our annual revenue back into the community.

Thank you again to everyone that contributed this year. We are a small, people-powered studio and without you all there would be no impact to share.

Love,

Paul, Christian, and Chris

can we add a heart scribble / and shrink down the “xoxo”

xoxo

why do images break beyond boarders, this is the only time we use this formatting / hard edge?

2024 Highlights

Donated 1% of our annual revenue to Charitable causes

Updated Evolve policies using equitable framework

Maintained our commitment to internships in a tough year

Worked with MESA and Tilly Jane

2024

Launched our “Thinky Makey”
Club

Hosted mutliple events in our community space

Revisiting our 2024 Goals

How we work

Better Practice

Goal

Audit and develop Evolve’s existing tools and practices to ensure equity – we will identify opportunities for DEI integrated training and ways to implement better methods during 2024 (e.g. allyship in research moderation).

How did we do?

Updated our recruitment and screening practices and language on all projects (implemented this approach across all of our clients)
Updated language in our intern application process and onboarding

Long term tracking - to 2030

Working with the amazing WorkPlace Change [link]

How we operate

More equity

Goal

Launch our updated internal DEI commitments – we will roll out our 2023 updates (e.g. employee handbook using more equitable language, publish our inaugural impact report, and refine and build our preferred vendors list).

How did we do?

We collaborated with our amazing partner WorkPlace Change to update language and policy using an equitable framework.
We published our new employee handbook in amore accessible digital format
We completed training with all staff on new policy and access

Long term tracking - to 2030

Stay ahead - refresh, renew and update policy that continues to create a safe and inspiring environment where talent can thrive.

How we mentor

Better Access

Goal

Continue to expand our internship program to attract applications from new schools – we will create channels that lead to interviewing a more diverse field of candidates (e.g. “internship info session” webinars for each semester of applicants).

How did we do?

We expanded our reach to new schools, by continuing to develop direct relationships as well as targeted advertising for our “now accepting internships” adverts
We ran a series of webinars (internship info sessions) before we kicked off our application process to increase awareness and help interns prepare their applications and know what we are looking for.

Long term tracking - to 2030

75 completed internships
Pulling from 20 Schools in the US

How we show up

more involvement

Goal

Engage with the B Corp community more deeply – we will start to form more relationships with other mission driven organizations (e.g. increased B Local [Portland’s B CorpTM Chapter] involvement, including participation in events like the ‘Day of Service’, and hosting B CorpTM tours).

How did we do?

Participated in B Corp Events (Champions Retreat in Vancouver, BLD Conference in Portland, joined B Local events in Protland)
Opened our doors for events for Portland Design Week and MESA.
Donated our event space to local community groups

Long term tracking - to 2030

Donate our event space to one local values aligned organization per month

Evolve Initiatives

Our primary commitment to giving back is our charitable giving scheme - a combination of revenue and donations in kind to values aligned organizations. On top of this each month we carve out time for Team Members to collaborate on internal initiatives or volunteering. This time can be dedicated to educational, environmental, or social equity matters. The majority of our efforts are put into developing future talent in Design by working with local highschools and investing in our graduate internships, but we have a number of initiatives in flight.

Donated to

nine

Organizations

education+

Development

Environmentalism

Healthcare

How we spent our time