Eric Hungerford
Behind The Lore Builder
Greetings, traveller! My name is Eric,
founder of Lore Design Studio.
I got my start in design through curiosity: “How can I use words and visuals to better connect with people?”
How can you communicate so that your prospects think, “This is for me,” or, “They get me?”
When My Story
Took a turn
One fateful day, while designing at a creative agency, a client handed us a solitary scroll. I’ll call it a “brand map.”
It wasn’t just paper. It was clarity.
The brand map contained the organization’s mission, values, voice, audience, brand promise, and more. Suddenly, every design decision felt inevitable, like following a map already charted.
But for me, this discovery wasn’t about one client; it was about every client from then on.
So, I reverse-engineered that brand map and made a questionnaire.
How We Learned what
“Branding” Really Was
The years that followed that moment doubled our creative agency’s revenue for six consecutive years and helped us deliver alignment and compelling design for the many organizations we served.
I knew then: the real quest was never about mere pretty graphics, but about crafting a compelling story that makes your customers want your product in their life.
That’s “branding:” using written and visual communication to influence what people think and feel about what you do.
Through the years, we refined our questionnaire and services, helping our many clients avoid drowning their marketing in a forgotten “sea of sameness.”
What’s different
about Lore
I’ve trimmed the rigmarole of creative agency work to focus on what moves you toward your goals.
How? By working with one client at a time on “sprint-style” intensives.
Here’s what Lore Intensives do for you:
With no extra projects in the queue,
You get work done fast.With a streamlined system,
we minimize meetings.“One-at-a-time” dedication means
quality every time.
When you and I work together, I give you the same gift I received when I discovered the brand map—you become empowered with focus as you embark on the next chapter of your story.
How it Works
1.
Fit Call
Not every founder needs branding right now.
15 minutes on the phone reveals whether your goals align with the Lore process.
2.
Lore BrandMap
If you want to move forward with a Lore BrandMap, we will schedule a 2-hour interview to uncover insights for your brand.
3.
Lore Intensive
Once your Lore BrandMap is complete and you have your document in hand, you can determine if a Lore Intensive is right for you.
Career Notes
Industries Served
B2B
B2C
Real Estate
Banking
Nonprofit
Food & Beverage
And More
90+ Clients Served, Including
Education
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, B.F.A. in Illustration
Google: Foundations of User Experience Design
Google: Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
So many books
Job Positions Held
Senior Art Director
Branding Director
Creative Director
Senior Copywriter
Highlights
Supported startup agency growth through coaching & team development for a senior copywriter, art directors, and graphic designers. Led the core productized service that helped bring a 618% annual revenue increase over six years.
Leveraged UX “Design Thinking” leadership to deliver over 75 brand identity systems, including long-form brand guidelines documents for B2C, B2B, and nonprofit clients.
Awards
First Place in Missouri’s First Congressional District for the Congressional Art Competition
First Place: St. Louis Artist Guild Scholarship Award of Excellence
Grand Prize Scholarship Winner: “Art of Sportsmanship” NCAA Contest Sponsored by Coca-Cola
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 2/3 Scholarship (merit)