About me.

Credit union brand strategy, built from the inside out.

I’m a credit union brand strategist and creative director who helps leaders turn organizational ambition into clear strategy, distinctive identity, and brands their people understand, believe in, and confidently carry forward.

Jon Eslinger, credit union brand strategist and creative director

Experience that understands responsibility.

For more than fifteen years, I’ve worked inside credit unions and alongside the leaders responsible for shaping what comes next. That experience gives me a perspective few brand partners can offer: a deep understanding of the industry, the organizational realities behind major brand decisions, and the creative judgment required to turn strategy into something distinctive and meaningful.

In addition, I bring more than 30 years of experience in the creative industry as an internationally recognized, award-winning designer, art director, and creative director. My work has been featured in Communication Arts, LogoLounge, and PRINT Magazine. Over the years, I have earned nearly 60 American Advertising Federation ADDY® Awards across multiple regions and districts, including a National ADDY® Award. I have also received several America’s Credit Union Diamond Awards, reflecting a commitment to excellence in credit union branding and design.

My work spans brand strategy, positioning, naming, identity, mergers, launches, and long-term creative direction. I’ve partnered with executive teams, boards, marketing leaders, employees, and industry organizations to navigate complex moments of growth and change, helping turn competing perspectives into clear direction and ambitious ideas into brands people can understand and believe in.

What sets my work apart is the ability to connect organizational strategy with exceptional creative expression. I understand how credit unions operate, how their leaders make decisions, and how members experience the brand. That combination allows me to move comfortably between the boardroom and the design process, bringing strategic rigor, creative judgment, and practical industry experience to every engagement.

Select partnerships:

What I bring to the work.

Strong brand work needs more than a point of view. It needs judgment, participation, and a clear way forward.

Clarity

Turns competing perspectives into shared understanding.

Conviction

Builds organizational ownership without sacrificing strategic clarity.

Expression

Makes strategy visible through distinctive, believable identity.