• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, March 19, 2020

Chicago-based independent creative agency 50,000feet is now open for  business in New York City. The shop’s NYC outpost located in Manhattan’s Flatiron District opened its doors at the start of the year. 

The agency has New York-based clients and part of the reason for opening the new office is to expand that roster, which currently includes brands in financial, professional services, architecture and design, and other categories. 

The opening of the new office dovetails with a strategic alliance 50,000feet struck with the Carbone Smolan Agency, the well-known New York-based brand design firm. Under the agreement 50,000feet acquires exclusive access to CSA’s book of business and the right to leverage the firm’s reputation. Some but not all of CSA’s employees are joining 50,000feet’s New York office. CSA’s two founders Ken Carbone and Leslie Smolan have agreed to advise the agency as needed but will not be involved on a day-to-day basis. 

CSA has done branding and graphics work for a number of top New York Museums as well as the Louvre in Paris. More recently it has worked with clients like Lincoln Financial, Cravath Swaine & Moore and Cerberus Capital Management. It also oversaw a rebranding of the Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. 

Jim Misener, Principal and President of 50,000feet said that the new office and alliance “adds to our ability to broaden and deepen our expertise in disciplines and industries that are critical to our clients.” He added that the expansion provides the agency greater access to “one of the biggest and brightest creative communities in the world."  

Carbone, recently back from a trip to Rome cut short by the pandemic, said 50,0000feet was one of several agencies with which his firm had serious alliance talks. “In the end, it’s a people business and we just really felt good about Jim and company,” which he called a “top-tier group” with a “low ego culture.” The alliance, he added, “is a clear benefit for our former and future partners.” 

His future, he added, will be largely taken up with drawing, traveling and playing the guitar.