Photo: Olen Amelia
Ben Deter Studio, located in Chicago, IL, is the art and design studio of Ben Deter—a seasoned entrepreneur and an acclaimed, multidisciplinary designer. Dedicated to crafting connections between objects, spaces, and people, Ben creates meaningful experiences for a diverse clientele including brands, artists, start-ups, and institutions.
With 15+ years of expertise in branding, environmental design, and user experience, Ben brings an extensive skill set to create innovative solutions for diverse clients. From startups to international brands, he delivers thoughtful, original, and meticulously crafted designs that embody the aspirational identities envisioned by his collaborators.
Regardless of industry, Ben consistently delivers thoughtful, original, and precise design work. His portfolio spans diverse sectors, showcasing his ability to meet unique client needs. Whether working independently or as part of an in-house team, Ben's wealth of experience and adaptable approach result in visually stunning work that aligns seamlessly with client objectives, and resonating profoundly with target audiences.
Experience
Minum Selections
Minum Selections, based in Chicago, Illinois, stands as an importer and distributor specializing in natural wine and botanical spirits. Founded by Ben and his wife, Olen Amelia, this venture began as a portfolio company with a distinctive mission—to distribute sustainably produced wines and spirits from the US, Australia, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy exclusively within the state of Illinois. The essence of Minum Selections lies in presenting wines that evoke a profound connection to time and place, fostering an intimate link between consumers and the natural elements, as well as the compelling narratives of the dedicated winemakers behind each product.
The inception of Minum Selections in 2018 marked the commencement of a remarkable journey. Starting with just two producers in their portfolio, they successfully navigated the complex landscape of the wine and spirits industry. By the time they sold the company in 2023, Minum Selections had grown exponentially, boasting over 70 producers. Their reach extended to servicing hundreds of retail and restaurant accounts in Illinois. This growth trajectory was particularly notable given the challenges created by imposed tariffs and the disruptions introduced by the global pandemic within the logistics industry.
From 2018 to 2023, despite these obstacles, they managed to double their sales each year. Operating as a two-person company, they were not just distributors; they were the driving force behind every facet of the business. Their responsibilities spanned from initial business planning, LLC formation, and state and federal licensing to accounting, sales, state compliance, city and county taxes, inventory management, purchasing, growth planning, staff training, logistics, and marketing. Their hands-on approach encompassed all aspects, creating a narrative of resilience, innovation, and success in the competitive world of wine and spirits distribution.
Uptake
Ben took the lead in managing multiple design teams, fostering collaboration with product owners, UX researchers, and engineers across various lines of business. His role involved spearheading the development of new features and ensuring the delivery of consistent, user-centered products to customers. Ben played a pivotal role in delivering a comprehensive UX vision, accompanied by a plan for evolutionary, iterative updates, to gradually actualize the larger vision over time.
His adept communication skills were evident in efficiently conveying goals and design direction to stakeholders and leadership. In the realm of project management, Ben skillfully managed the design process, guided decision-making, tracked issues, and contributed to estimating resource needs and schedules. Furthermore, he took a proactive approach by setting goals and conducting performance evaluations with designers, actively fostering their skills and career development.
MNML
MNML is a 360° product development and brand incubation agency that has been the collaborative creative force and instigator behind many of today’s most disruptive and game-changing products and experiences. They are a top collective of cross-disciplinary design risk-takers and doers infused with entrepreneurial drive.
Ben lead design on MNML’s new CBD venture with Cresco Labs, WellBeings, to maximize the powerful benefits of CBD and bring an elevated, considered experience to this emerging category.
The Post Family
The Post Family is an extra-curricular, collaborative effort that aims at supporting the creative community through education, workshops, lectures and curation of gallery events and exhibits. Ben was a member from 2015–2019 and curated gallery events and lectured at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
ShopRunner
ShopRunner, an e-commerce membership service, provides shoppers with a diverse array of exclusive benefits. Members of ShopRunner enjoy seamless shopping experiences for their preferred products, ranging from clothing and shoes to beauty, skincare, and beyond.
Ben spearheaded the design of ShopRunner's comprehensive design system with the aim of enhancing the integration between the external-facing shopping experience and the multitude of backend tools. This initiative aimed to create a more cohesive and streamlined experience for retailers, connecting various disparate elements to provide an integrated and efficient platform.
Ogilvy
Ogilvy inspires brands and people to impact the world. They have been creating iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas for clients since David Ogilvy founded the company in 1948. They continue building on that rich legacy through our borderless creativity—operating, innovating, and creating at the intersection of talent and capabilities. Their experts in Advertising, Experience, Media, Public Relations, Social, Influence, Health and Consulting work fluidly across 131 offices in 93 countries to bring forth world-class creative solutions for our clients.
Working in a cross-functional environment for numerous Fortune 500 clients, he played a crucial role in articulating and presenting new ideas and designs. His collaborative approach fostered an atmosphere of creativity and shared innovation. With a keen eye for visual aesthetics and a penchant for innovation, Ben's contributions to the creation of web and mobile products were not just effective but also characterized by a commitment to making them visually engaging and cutting-edge.
Beyond digital realms, Ben showcased his versatile talents by actively participating in the development and design of brand identities and graphic language. His creative prowess wasn't confined to a singular medium; rather, it extended to various facets of brand communication. From meticulously crafting print collateral to conceptualizing compelling advertisements, and from designing packaging that stands out on the shelves to creating captivating in-store and out-of-store materials, Ben's impact was truly all-encompassing. His ability to seamlessly transition between these diverse areas demonstrated a holistic approach to design and branding that went beyond the immediate project requirements, contributing to the establishment and reinforcement of cohesive brand narratives across multiple touchpoints.
Faust
Ben engaged in collaborative efforts with a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the execution of identity systems, brand campaigns, and interactive and spatial experiences. Within this collaborative environment, he played a pivotal role in delineating project scope and defining deliverables, ensuring clarity and alignment in project objectives. Ben demonstrated adept project management skills by overseeing multiple projects at various stages of development, effectively managing client expectations and maintaining project progression.
In addition to his managerial responsibilities, Ben assumed a mentoring role, guiding interns in their professional development and sharing his expertise to nurture their growth. Furthermore, he exercised hands-on supervision, taking charge of print production, overseeing web development initiatives, and art directing photoshoots. Ben's multifaceted involvement in these diverse aspects of the creative process underscored his comprehensive approach to project execution and team leadership.
Awards & Recognition
Awards
AIGA Chicago Snapshot
Collegiate Advertising Gold Award
Communication Arts Design Annual
Communication Arts Typography Annual
Educational Advertising Award
STA Chicago Design Archive
Print Magazine Design Annual
Under Consideration FPO Award
U360 Best of Show
Exhibitions
CHGO DSGN, Chicago
Our Road: An Intervention on Bicycle Safety, Chicago
International Festival of Design in Lodz, Poland
Pop Art Design, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Lectures
Pop Art Design, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Recognition
AIGA
Art of the Menu
Bon Appetit
Communication Arts
Creative Review
Denver Post
Design Bureau
Design Charts
Design Licks
Fold Factory
Fonts in Use
FPO
From the Desk Of
HiFructose
How Design Magazine
Modern in Denver
Print Magazine
Quipsologies
Rawr Denim
Rogue Territory
Site Inspire
SwissMiss