Case Study

The Philadelphia Transit Authority

Transit in the Philadelphia region has long faced systemic gaps—“transit deserts” where meaningful rail or frequent service is missing, legacy plans that were never built because of world wars or politics, and corridors that could benefit from modern layering of heavy rail, light rail, and regional service. One such example: multiple proposals to extend the Broad Street Line to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard still face cost and funding challenges. Inquirer.com+1 The opportunity here: imagine what a future-ready transit system for Philadelphia could look like, designed from the ground up, informed by history, geography, equity and possible service models.
Project snapshot
Delivered

Overview

Transit in the Philadelphia region has long faced systemic gaps—“transit deserts” where meaningful rail or frequent service is missing, legacy plans t…
Transit in the Philadelphia region has long faced systemic gaps—“transit deserts” where meaningful rail or frequent service is missing, legacy plans that were never built because of world wars or politics, and corridors that could benefit from modern layering of heavy rail, light rail, and regional service. One such example: multiple proposals to extend the Broad Street Line to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard still face cost and funding challenges. Inquirer.com+1 The opportunity here: imagine what a future-ready transit system for Philadelphia could look like, designed from the ground up, informed by history, geography, equity and possible service models.
Client — The Philadelphia Transit Authority

What We Did

Therum treated this as a research-driven passion project: we designed a full conceptual transit system for the region, layering rail modes (local, exp…
Therum treated this as a research-driven passion project: we designed a full conceptual transit system for the region, layering rail modes (local, express, super‐express), reworked regional lines, and provided a visual, systemic representation of what modern transit could be. We built the entire map, service logic (local vs express vs super express), signage and even game-based simulation assets (in games like NIMBY Rails and Subway Builder) to test engagement.

The Outcome

While this is a conceptual project (not yet implemented in real infrastructure), the outcome is significant: it showcases how transit redesign can add…
While this is a conceptual project (not yet implemented in real infrastructure), the outcome is significant: it showcases how transit redesign can address equity, connectivity and future mobility. It provides a tool for conversation—urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders can use this system as a reference for what’s possible. It reframes transit investment not just as “more lines,” but as smarter, layered service for today and tomorrow.
↓ See the work
Project Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Duration
Kickoff
TBD
Delivered
Impact Metrics
01. The Ask

Lead creative and visual direction for Chase’s brand assets across digital and physical customer touchpoints.

Therum led creative direction for JP Morgan Chase to unify and elevate brand touchpoints across digital and physical platforms. From email flows and social content to ATM screens, web modules, and printed mailers, we developed a cohesive visual system designed for clarity, consistency, and scale.

Project snapshot

Overview

Therum led creative direction for JP Morgan Chase to unify and elevate brand touchpoints across digital and physical platforms. From email flows and social content to ATM screens, web modules, and printed mailers, we developed a cohesive visual system designed for clarity, consistency, and scale.

What We Did

Therum led the complete brand creation process, acting as both creative partner and strategic guide. From naming explorations to customer research and visual design, our role was to develop a brand that could live confidently on the Macy’s floor and resonate with its core shoppers. We helped Macy’s define who this brand was, what it stood for, and how it should look and feel across every touchpoint.

The Outcome

Our work helped bring consistency and clarity to one of the most visible financial brands in the world. By aligning creative across digital, print, and in-branch experiences, we made it easier for internal teams to execute and for customers to engage. The visual systems we built are still in use across campaigns, everyday communications, and ongoing platform updates — proving that good design doesn’t just look better, it works harder.

Project year
2024
02. Our Role

Creative lead for a multi-channel brand refresh across digital, print, and public environments

Therum led the complete brand creation process, acting as both creative partner and strategic guide. From naming explorations to customer research and visual design, our role was to develop a brand that could live confidently on the Macy’s floor and resonate with its core shoppers. We helped Macy’s define who this brand was, what it stood for, and how it should look and feel across every touchpoint.

03. Our Approach

Creative cohesion through insight, structure, and modern design systems

We began with a thorough audit of Chase’s digital ecosystem, assessing how the brand showed up across email, web, and product surfaces. As an external creative partner, our role was to elevate and unify the brand’s visual language while honoring the systems already in place. We explored modern, human-first visual directions that could serve both campaign and evergreen needs, balancing consistency with flexibility. The result was a refreshed design system built on clean typography, intuitive hierarchy, and bold CTAs, supported by adaptable templates that enhanced clarity, accessibility, and long-term usability.

04. Key Outputs

A flexible system of branded assets for digital and physical environments

We delivered a full suite of visual assets designed to align and expand Chase’s refreshed identity across its ecosystem. This included:

Art direction across digital and print

Email and web design frameworks

Social and paid media templates

ATM screen treatments

In-branch signage and collateral

Print mailers and direct marketing assets

Presentation design for internal and external use

Scalable creative systems for future campaigns

05. The outcome

Creative systems that elevated Chase’s presence across every touchpoint

Our work helped bring consistency and clarity to one of the most visible financial brands in the world. By aligning creative across digital, print, and in-branch experiences, we made it easier for internal teams to execute and for customers to engage. The visual systems we built are still in use across campaigns, everyday communications, and ongoing platform updates — proving that good design doesn’t just look better, it works harder.

Ready to create something amazing?