A strategy and design agency built for today’s world.
Buckle up.
It’s time for a different approach.
The sales funnel has collapsed thanks to modern media. Awareness, consideration and conversion are the simple vital signs of a brand’s health, not a path for growth. We need different objectives and methods.
In order to grow in today’s market, brands must live in three dimensions at once: authenticity, design and agility. These are universal to every sector of the economy.
Authenticity is how your brand lives. Design is what your brand wears. And agility is how it moves in the market. Your brand’s story plays out in these three dimensions.
Our strategy work is essentially an exercise in change management — nudging belief and/or behavior so they align. If this sounds Jungian to you eggheads out there, you wouldn’t be wrong.
In order to deliver on these imperatives, we needed to build a different kind of agency. So we did. At 79seconds, a group of experienced people create. AI does everything else.
TLDR:
The sales funnel has collapsed. Brands need to be designed, feel real and move fast.
We engage in many ways at four levels.
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Sparkler : four days
Typically point of view, hot take, second opinions, short-form content, essay, speech, video script, etc. Always and only four days. $10k
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Lantern : two weeks
Typical projects: messaging strategy, analysis, desk research, audit, white paper, naming, user experience, pitch decks, etc. Always and only a fortnight. $25k
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Lighthouse : four weeks
Typical projects: campaigns, identity systems, product launches, event branding, fielding research, space design, short-form video, etc. Always and only four weeks. $60k
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Solar : eight weeks
Typically combinations of multiple projects, product development, long-from video, book writing, etc. Can be booked in non-consecutive sprints at strategic times. $130k+
Here’s to new growth
A NEW MODEL
The influence of traditional agency networks was shrinking. Their response was to get bigger through mergers and acquisitions. Apparently so they could have more less influence. Creative talent was migrating to clients and startups. The old model was broken, with conflicts of interest baked in. So we made 79 Seconds independent.
Design firms are more relevant than ever. But they often move at the speed of a sloth taking it easy. The biggest difference maker in business today is speed. Speed to market and speed to pivot. So we made 79 Seconds fast.
A NEW FOCUS
Perhaps the biggest difference is our one-thing-at-a-time method. Rather than juggling multiple deliverables for several clients—our teams can focus and make a lot of progress by working on one project for one client at a time. Don’t worry, we’ll fit you into the schedule.
Because of this focus, we don’t do speculative work in response to RFPs. Frankly, we believe it’s unfair to current paying clients when their agency turns their attention to someone new and works for free. You’ll thank us once you hire us.
A NEW STRUCTURE
We figured modular core teams of three people — strategist/writer, designer, builder/manager — could rapidly prototype and scale up if needed. This means operates without traditional account services. So we made 79 Seconds efficient.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it showed us how vital in-person working relationships are. It also revealed the value of non-working time. So we made 79 Seconds operate on a work week of four longer, more productive days. Besides, 4:3 is much closer to the golden ratio.
A NEW AGE
Everyone is throwing AI at everything. Off-the-shelf models are being white-labeled as proprietary magic for sale. For the moment, human insight and empathy are required for human connections. But we saw how AI could augment internal functions. So we made 79 Seconds for people, but with AI jet packs.
In the winter of 1963, the Mona Lisa visited America for the first time. The lines in New York City wrapped around the Met, down several blocks and deep into Central Park.
With just a few days to go, the organizers realized that at the current rate, thousands of people in line would not get see the Mona Lisa before she had to leave.
They took into account how much time was left, how many people were showing up each day. And from that point on, everyone was given 79 seconds with the painting.
Science and art. Creative problem solving. Equitable access for all. The power of a good story. These are the big ideas we stand for at a small independent agency in Minneapolis.
Why 79 seconds?
Curious about working with us?
We’re always looking for trusted partners and talented people. Give us just enough to go on, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
