Art On The Loose

What Art On The Loose does

Art On The Loose, Inc. is a privately held, Chicago-based African-American multidisciplinary design firm founded in 1997 by Vernon Lockhart. The company delivers project-based professional services across five core areas: exhibit design, branding, web design and development, video production, and a proprietary 'Creative Therapy' consulting methodology. Supporting service lines include mobile app development for Apple Store and Google Play, marketing campaign services, interactive map development, and print design (annual reports, brochures, multi-page layouts).

The underlying technology stack is conventional web and multimedia rather than platform-software in nature: HTML5, WordPress CMS implementations, front-end programming, responsive and accessible UI, video editing and motion design, and interactive touchscreen exhibit programming. No APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML components are disclosed. The firm operates from a single Chicago headquarters at 1740 W 99th St with 6 core team members listed on its website, and its work is delivered through direct client engagement.

The firm makes money on a project-based, quote-driven basis serving two primary verticals — museums and cultural institutions, and nonprofit organizations and foundations — alongside secondary corporate (Exelon, Nike, Whirlpool, Hyatt Regency) and educational clients (Northwestern, University of Chicago/CPOST). Customer acquisition is referral- and portfolio-driven, augmented by the founder's nonprofit Project Osmosis (reaching 400+ inner-city students annually) and AIGA community involvement. International project work has been executed in Jamaica (Peter Tosh Museum, Marcus Garvey Museum). No revenue, funding, or pricing data is publicly disclosed, and the firm is founder-owned with no external institutional investors.

Name

Art On The Loose

Legal name

Art On The Loose, Inc.

Website

https://artontheloose.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Art On The Loose is a Chicago-based, founder-owned multidisciplinary design firm delivering project-based exhibit, branding, web, and video design services primarily to museums, nonprofits, and select corporate clients with a 6-person core team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic) (MPADAFAG)

Keywords

• Exhibit design services
• Branding and identity
• Web design development
• Video production
• Museum interactive design

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Project-based professional services revenue from exhibit design, branding, web design, interactive design, and video production. Services rendered on a per-project basis for enterprise and nonprofit clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Art On The Loose is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary design firm that delivers project-based creative services including exhibit design, branding, web design and development, video production, mobile app development, and print design. The firm serves museums, cultural institutions, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and corporate clients through direct, relationship-driven engagements. Its work combines creative production with a "Creative Therapy" consulting approach that applies psychological principles to brand development.

Product overview

Art On The Loose is a Chicago-based African-American multidisciplinary design firm operating as a single unified creative services practice rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company offers a portfolio of interconnected creative services centered around five core areas: Exhibit Design Services (research, design, and installation of exhibition spaces including museums and interactive displays), Branding Services (logo design, brand strategy, and identity development using psychological principles), Web Design and Development (UI/UX design, CMS implementation with WordPress, responsive design, and front-end programming), Video Production (videography, motion design, animation, and multimedia content creation), and Creative Therapy (a consulting approach to brand enhancement). Supporting service offerings include Mobile App Development for Apple Store and Google Play, Marketing Campaign Services (social media, email, print, and signage), Interactive Map Development, and Print Design (annual reports, brochures, and multi-page layouts). The services are designed to work together to deliver comprehensive experience-driven visual and interactive design solutions primarily for nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions, and community-focused clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibit Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 inner city students annually gain access to design career opportunities through Project Osmosis
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project OsmosiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Osmosis is a not-for-profit design-based education and mentoring initiative founded by Vernon Lockhart. Art On The Loose collaborates on initiatives like the 2022 Design Thinking Challenge with Cushman & Wakefield. The organization helps over 400 inner city students annually gain access and knowledge about career opportunities in design. Vernon Lockhart serves as Executive Director.
• Vibrant Design GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner on National Urban League Centennial Empowerment exhibit. Work was featured in Speech & Communication Magazine.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Critical Mass: Large global digital experience agency headquartered in Calgary with major Chicago operations; overlapping capabilities in digital design and UX but operates at substantially greater scale.
• VSA Partners: Large Chicago-based design and branding agency serving Fortune 500 enterprise clients; broader portfolio and scale than Art On The Loose but operates in the same design and brand identity category.

Direct peers

• Luci Creative: Specialized exhibit and interpretive design firm serving museums, cultural centers, and corporate clients; directly comparable in the museum/exhibit design segment of Art On The Loose's portfolio.
• Roto Design: Museum, exhibit, and interpretive design firm producing interactive experiences and physical exhibits; directly comparable in museum and visitor-center design services.
• Span Studio: Chicago-based branding and graphic design firm offering brand identity, web design, and print work for nonprofit and corporate clients, directly comparable in scope and Midwestern client base to Art On The Loose.
• Gravity Branding: Mid-sized brand strategy and design agency; comparable in offering brand identity, web, and print design for nonprofit and corporate clients.
• Burrell Communications Group: Chicago-based African-American-owned multicultural advertising and communications agency; highly comparable as a Black-owned Chicago creative firm serving major enterprise and nonprofit clients.
• Split Rock Studios: Exhibit design and build firm producing interactive museum and visitor center experiences; comparable in museum exhibit design and interactive installation work.
• Studio 3 (Three): Chicago-based independent creative studio providing branding, design, and marketing services to enterprise clients; comparable boutique agency profile targeting similar brand-building engagements.
• John Burns (JBB): Chicago-based creative agency providing branding, web design, and digital marketing for a mix of corporate and nonprofit clients; closely comparable boutique agency profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/artontheloose
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARTONTHELOOSE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artontheloose

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Art On The Loose