We deliver world-class creative partnership through design.
We partner with ambitious, passion driven brands, small businesses and scaling startups to help them realize their vision, tell their story through design, and drive impactful results and growth.
OUR WHYBehind every great vision is an even greater partnership — someone who gets you, who is right there building with you, who upholds your vision as if it were their own, and who will stop at nothing to ensure your success.
Because when you win, we win.
OUR VALUESWhat defines us
01
We believe the best work is born out of partnership and collaboration.
02
We place equal value both brand and product design.
03
We strongly trust in our process and proudly share it.
Meet Candace & Rotimi Solola, the husband and wife duo behind SO Dsgn.
OUR STORYHow we got our start
Rotimi and Candace met back in 2015 as two designers early in their careers (Rotimi an Industrial Designer and Candace a Graphic Designer). What they didn’t know at the time was that they both had their own separate visions of owning a design studio one day. After years of pursuing their own career paths, in 2019 SO Dsgn was born. The studio officially got it’s start as an Industrial Design focused practice founded and led by Rotimi.
In 2022, just before the two tied the knot, Candace joined SO Dsgn full time to expand the studio’s capabilities and add Brand Design as an equal studio function. That exact same year SO Dsgn doubled in revenue, solidifying the Brand offering as an equal and integral part of the business and demonstrating the power of partnership.
Rotimi and Candace’s combined experiences have helped to expand SO Dsgn into the dynamic, multi-disciplined consulting practice that it is today. Together, Rotimi & Candace are dedicated to bringing new perspectives, delivering meaningful creative partnership through design, and contributing to the Chicago design community and beyond.
Today, SO Dsgn’s studio is located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and is home to their growing design team.
Rotimi Solola
Rotimi Solola is an award-winning industrial designer and the founding partner of SO Dsgn. In addition, Solola is an educator, having taught at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago he values mentorship, community, and design education.
Prior to his current roles, Rotimi worked as a member of Motorola’s Consumer Experience Design team where he acquired much of his knowledge of bringing products to market. Solola stays involved with the design community by giving public lectures, judging design competitions, and mentoring students, and young professionals.
Candace Solola
Candace Solola is an award-winning brand designer and she leads the Brand Design practice at SO Dsgn. Her background as Design Director at Landor & Fitch has earned her extensive brand building experience and expertise that spans across industries. She has worked on several global brands including Microsoft, Kimberly Clark, and PepsiCo, to name a few.
In her role as a partner, she is committed to guiding the creative direction of the company and working with clients to develop innovative and impactful branding solutions. Candace is looking forward to helping the company grow and thrive.
Studio Accolades
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTSAIGA – Design Discourse Series, 2024
Neocon x Fast Company – How Generative AI is Changing Design, Panelist, 2024
Brand New Conference, 2023
Chicago Design Archive, 20th Anniversary, 2023
IDSA – Chicago Designers Panel, 2023
Square One Conference, 2022
Advanced Design Revision Conference, 2019
FEATURES & JUDGINGDieline Awards Judge, 2024
Chicago Design Club Podcast Feature, 2024
Cannes Lions Festival Feature – Microsoft, 2023-2024
Core 77 Design Awards Jury Captain, 2023
Dieline Article Feature – Studio Feature, 2023
IDEA Awards Jury, 2019
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONGraphis Award 2023, Silver – Microsoft Teams Backgrounds
IF Design Award 2023, Shortlist – Microsoft Teams Backgrounds
IDEA 2021, Shortlist – STRYD
IDSA Merit Award Winning Team 2015, 2022, 2023
Interested in learning more or collaborating together?