Relentlessly focused on delivering.
WHY US
We won’t settle for the way it’s always been done. We dig deep, challenge assumptions, and bring a fresh perspective to every piece of your marketing.
Through more than a decade of steady growth, we’ve dreamed big, planned carefully, and fiercely championed our clients’ success.
That experience shapes how we work today at Deep Varnish, partnering with organizations in Pittsburgh and beyond to create and execute marketing strategies that move their work forward.
Why teams choose Deep Varnish
OUR DIFFERENCE
We’re not the biggest agency and that’s the point. Our clients work with us because we go deeper where it matters most.
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Diving Deep
Everything starts with understanding. We uncover what really matters to your audience before we ever talk tactics.
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Strategy + Action
We think like a CMO and work like a hands-on partner. The same person who sets the strategy has run the campaigns, so the plan is built to actually ship.
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Small by Design
When you work with Deep Varnish, you work directly with founder Shawn Graham. No handoffs or wasted motion.
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Impact Over Output
We measure success by what moves people, not how much content gets produced.
MEET SHAWN
Who you’ll actually work with
I’m Shawn Graham, founder of Deep Varnish.
After nearly twenty years driving brand strategy and creative direction, the problem I keep running into is the same one. No true north to measure against or clear picture of what highly effective marketing should look like for this company, at this stage.
I led strategy and creative direction for a global organization, as the outside person holding the strategic thread for nearly seven years. That meant building the true north first. Understanding the value proposition, identifying the right channels, and creating a standard the whole program could be held against. When their internal marketing team turned over, the transition was seamless. When someone new came on board, I had the context to get them up to speed fast.
I'm a published author and keynote speaker. Earlier in my career I served as one of Fast Company's first expert bloggers, interviewing senior leaders from Shopify, HubSpot, Andreessen Horowitz, and others.
I'm based in Pittsburgh, where I serve on the board of AMA Pittsburgh as Vice President of Membership and Retention, and previously served on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh, including as chair of the marketing committee.
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Branding | Website Design | Creative Strategy
John Mahood brings more than 20 years of experience leading design and content strategy for websites that do more than look good. They perform. His work helps organizations connect creative vision with clear business objectives.
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Nonprofit Fundraising | Advancement | Board Development
Jen Ivy brings more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit and higher education fundraising. Specialties include board development, major and planned giving, grant writing and oversight, and campaign strategy.
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Capacity Building | Organizational Transformation
Diane Walter brings 20+ years of experience across iconic brands and high-impact nonprofits. She is an expert in organizational transformation, data-driven marketing systems, and building meaningful human connections.
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Digital Marketing | SEO | Google Ads
For more than 15 years, Justin Mastrangelo has helped create, implement, and optimize hundreds of results-driven digital marketing campaigns spanning multiple platforms and industries. Previously, Justin was nominated to serve as the President of the American Marketing Association Pittsburgh Chapter.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Marketing that goes below the surface.
Deep Varnish exists to help organizations create marketing that’s meaningful, focused, and effective.
We dig below the noise, past tactics and buzzwords, to find what makes your brand worth paying attention to. When people understand what you do and why it matters, they act.
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We listen deeply to uncover what’s really holding your marketing back.
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We sharpen your message and strategy so every piece of marketing connects.
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We help you bring it to life through focused execution and measurable results.
What’s in a name?
Varnish /’vär-nish
To enhance, clarify and finish.
Deep /dēp
Marketing that goes below the surface.
Curious about working together?
If you’d like to get in touch about strategic and/or creative opportunities, or just to say ‘Hi’, please contact us.