2010

FRIENDS:

Aaron Welch ADVOMATIC, Sam Dorman, McArthur FREE RANGE, Dave Averill GROUNDWIRE

November2010

• Big news: We’ve been acquired! That’s right, after almost six months of plotting, planning and dreaming – Biro was purchased by Chicago-based innovation firm Maddock Douglas. The short story: it’s a deal about growth and capitalizing on an incredible opportunity to deepen our impact. You can find out more about the sale here.
• 

  Biro is a rare mix of expertise and creative brilliance – the best firm we’ve come across in this space.

  RICKEN PATEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AVAAZ

• Today we helped launch a remarkable new home for Avaaz — the world’s largest online advocacy community. Six months of work for seven million members. Couldn’t be prouder.

  

October2010

• We’re going to be profiled in the November issue of How Magazine entitled Design for the Greater Good. Blushing.

  

September2010

• Time for our annual trek to Hollyhock for Web of Change. This year we’re co-convening the conference and presenting on movement building. Good times ahead, of course.

July2010

• 
  Longtime collaborators Darren Barefoot and Julia Szabo are now officially part of the Biro team. We just got that much better.

March2010

• Just released our learnings about ‘Web Thinking’ and the choice ahead for movement-leading organizations. Read it here. Also, we’re presenting it the NTEN conference next month.
•   Biro bonspiel! The whole team is heading down to the curling club to throw some rocks. Hurry hard!

February2010

• 

  Biro helped us make sense of ourselves and gave us vision online. Where would we be without them? Goodness, I’m afraid to answer that … Biro is magic.

  JESSICA SHEARER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEALTHCARE EDUCATION PROJECT

• The Olympic torch just went past Biro HQ. Of course we had to check it out – we’re suckers for a spectacle.

  

January2010

• Just launched the new identity and website for the Yiddish Book Center – “working to tell the whole Jewish story”.

  
  

2009

FRIENDS:

Blair Enns, Christopher Roy Marketworks Media, Kevin Gottesman Gott Advertising

November2009

• 

  We searched for an agency who could pick up our vision. Biro listened, guided and got it – got it better than we did in certain ways. We wouldn’t be here without them.

  BILL MCKIBBEN, AUTHOR & 350.org CO-FOUNDER

September2009

• Once again, it’s off to Web of Change where we’re presenting on design for social change.

July2009

• The office is way too hot. We’re off to the air conditioned theatre to take in a matinee.
  THE HANGOVER—WE GAVE IT THREE AND A HALF STARS.

June2009

• The Story of Nukes? We just added a marquee interactive map to the Global Zero campaign, giving background on proliferation and implications if weapons aren’t eliminated. Frightening stuff with a ray of hope.

  

May2009

• First phase of TckTckTck is live. We’re thrilled to help break the mould with an “open source campaign” to show that the world is ready for bold action on climate change. Copenhagen here we come. Hat Tip to Jason and Communicopia.

  
  

April2009

• Our now-annual gathering with like-minded agencies has a newly unveiled name: Open Agency Network!

March2009

• 
  Excited to have Office Manager Shayna Davies on board. Welcome.

• Stumbled upon a Rock Band 2 Special Edition last night at the local video store. It was a small scramble, but Biro is now in possession of all the tools for rock n’ roll fame.

  

• What are you doing to help celebrate Earth Day? We just helped Brighter Planet launch the #earthtweet campaign for everyone to share conservation tips, environmental news, and Earth Day plans on Twitter.

  

January2009

• 
  We’ve been working with her since early Biro days, but designer Jenn Christensen is finally full time!
• 

  We need more firms like Biro; those that bring smart, strategic thinking to everything they do.

  DANIEL ATWOOD, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT, IAVA

2008

FRIENDS:

Nicco Mele ECHODITTO, David Baker

December2008

• Global Zero campaign to abolish nuclear weapons is live! We provided branding and web design, breaking from the cold-war, activist tradition. Fitting for both high-level diplomats and concerned global citizens.

  
  

July2008

• Coming back from an amazing retreat just north of Toronto with fellow digital agencies working for social change. Two days of trusting conversations that make us better firms, friends and collaborators.

June2008

• 

  Biro gave expert advice and produced great work. That’s the gold standard from a creative agency.

  NANCY LUBLIN, CEO, DO SOMETHING.org

May2008

• Launching the 350 Challenge with Brighter Planet. For the first 350 people to download this badge on their website or blog, Brighter Planet will donate 350 lbs. of carbon emissions for each blogger, the equivalent of going two full weeks without your car!

  

• The Step it Up team has asked us to help them take their movement global. Its called 350.org, referencing the “safe” cap of 350 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere. Watch for global day of action in October 2009, in the lead-up to the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

  
  

February2008

• We’re now experts in “decentralized energy” thanks to our latest design project building a 3D, interactive world for Greenpeace UK. EfficienCity points the way to a climate-friendly future.

  

• Time to christen the new Biro office at 501 – 68 Water Street. Office warming party on Februrary 1st – bring a plant!

  
  

January2008

• 
  Welcome Janet Khuu, front-end coder extraordinaire!

2007

FRIENDS:

Michael Silberman ECHODITTO, Shayna Englin Englin Consulting, Jonah Sachs Free Range Studios

September2007

• Clinton Foundation x 2! Since leaving office, Bill Clinton has been convening top thinkers and leaders to make specific commitments to address global challenges. Now, individuals all over the world, regardless of their status, can also make commitments and share them online at mycommitment.org, which we designed with EchoDitto. At the same time, we also designed a site for Clinton’s book Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. The book offers examples of both citizen and corporate activism, and in that vein, the site allows users to share their own stories of selfless, meaningful acts – and browse through stories of others doing the same.

  
  

May2007

• Greenpeace UK site just went live! Working closely with the crack team from Echo Ditto, we crafted a clean, engaging look that stayed true to Greenpeace’s time-tested brand, while focussing on their new community-building approach.

  
  

April2007

• It was a mad dash at the end, but on April 14 StepItUp convened a nation-wide movement to stop global warming, unprecedented in scale. We’re proud to have been advising the campaign since day 1.

  
  

February2007

• Apparently our video for the Canadian Federation of Students’ Day of Action to protest tuition hikes is going to be aired nationally on broadcast networks. Need to head back to the studio to make it TV-ready.

  

January2007

• 
  Superstar designer Neal Maher just joined the team. Welcome Employee #001!

2006

FRIENDS:

Phillip Djwa Agentic Digital Media, Jason Mogus Communicopia, Michael Gardiner

November2006

• Sign up for the Biro newsletter to get updates and tips. We’ve kicked things off with a look at our work with the UN Foundation’s Nothing but Nets campaign – providing free mosquito nets in Africa to prevent the spread of malaria.

  

October2006

• Just took possession of our new headquarters! We’re perched on the second floor of a character building in Vancouver’s historic Gastown. Not much furniture or decor yet, but if you’re in the area, drop by anytime. You’ll find us at #370 – 328 Water Street.

  
  

September2006

• Made a bunch of connections and learned a ton at our first Web of Change conference. Honoured to be among the foremost thinkers and do-ers in social media, technology, and social change.

July2006

• It’s official. We’re signed on to guide organic, fair trade coffee company Salt Spring Coffee through a re-branding process. Starting with the the logo. Here we go…

May2006

• Just helped James MacKinnon and Alisa Smith launch their 100 Mile Diet campaign to promote local eating. Exciting to see a kernel of an idea turn into a real, live campaign.

  

• We have business cards… and a logo! Just in time for Social Change Institute at Hollyhock.

  

April2006

• Tough to say bye to the good folks at Adbusters, but we – Brant Cheetham, Mihai Wilson, Tim Walker and Nicholas Klassen – have struck out on our own. The new shop is called Biro Creative, a “public-interest communications firm helping progressive business, non-profits, charities and political parties do the great work they do more effectively.”