WHO WE ARE

A leading branding and product innovation design studio in Chicago.

SO Dsgn elevates technology and lifestyle brands through story-driven design. We partner with clients to design premium brand identities, innovative products, custom packaging, and user experiences that are visually impactful, tell compelling stories, and drive results. Our tailored approach ensures that we meet the specific needs and goals of every client.

OUR WHY

To provide world class creative partnership.

We believe that behind 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 VALUES

What defines us

01

We believe the best brands and products are born out of partnership and collaboration.

02

We place equal value both brand design and product design.

03

We strongly trust in our creative process and proudly share it.

MEET OUR OWNERS

Candace & Rotimi Solola are the husband and wife duo behind SO Dsgn

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.

OUR STORY

How 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.

Read Our Full Story