Column Five


Column Five Media is a B2B marketing agency that specializes in brand and content marketing for SaaS companies, as well as content marketing, branding, strategy, data visualization, and multimedia production services. The company ranked #291 on the Inc. 500 2013 list of the fastest-growing media companies in the U.S. The agency has also earned various accolades for its work, including awards from the Content Marketing Institute and Webby Awards, and is notable for creating and producing the viral video "Child of the 90s" on behalf of Internet Explorer. In 2023, Column Five also launched the Best Story Wins podcast, where they interview marketing industry leaders about how they build world-class brands.

History

Column Five was founded by Ross Crooks, Josh Ritchie, and Jason Lankow in 2009 in Orange County, California. The company gained early recognition as pioneers in the infographic marketing space, creating infographic and data visualization designs for Bay Area startups, including Mint.com and publications such as Forbes and Time, before expanding its services into content marketing, branding, strategy, and multimedia production.

Clients

Column Five has worked with a diverse range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, across various industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, and education. Notable clients include Instacart, Dropbox, Uber, Coinbase, JP Morgan Payments, SentinelOne, Netflix, Microsoft, Intuit, Metlife, and Roblox. Column Five has also worked with nonprofits such as Teach for America, International Rescue Committee, and Girls Who Code.

Works

Column Five has received several industry accolades for excellence in design, storytelling, and digital marketing. One of Column Five's most notable projects is the "Child of the 90s" ad produced for Internet Explorer's "Browser You Loved to Hate" campaign. The viral video amassed 50 million views, ranked #3 on AdWeek Top 10 Viral Ads of 2013, won a Gold award in the Best Film category for Ads of the World January 2013, and received nominations for both the Webby Awards and Mashie Awards. "Child of the 90s" also received significant media coverage in publications such as Time.
In 2019, their “Searching for Salai” podcast series for SAP won the Content Marketing Institute's Content Marketing Award for Best Podcast/Audio Series and Content Marketing Project of the Year. The organization's work has also been featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, and The Atlantic.

Educational Contributions

In 2011, the co-founders were invited to teach the Visualization of Information graduate course on data design at Columbia University. In 2012, Crooks, Ritchie, and Lankow published the book Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling. In 2023, they launched the Best Story Wins podcast, where they interview marketing industry experts and thought leaders about how they win customers’ hearts, minds, and marketshare. The founders also continue to conduct workshops, keynote presentations, and webinars to share content marketing strategies on data visualization and storytelling.
YearAwarded ByClientCategoryRef.
2024Anthem AwardsMozillaBronze: Responsible Technology, Special Projects, and Awareness Categories
2024Collision AwardMozillaGold: Marketing & Communications, Campaign Science & Technology;
Silver: Marketing & Communications, Campaign Non-Profit
2023Telly AwardsThorfiBronze: Non-Broadcast Craft-3D Graphics/Animation ; Silver: Non-Broadcast Craft-Use of 3D Animation; Silver: Non-Broadcast Craft-Fully Animated piece
2020AwwwardsVideoAmpHonorable Mention
2020Webby AwardsDialpadBranded Entertainment, Scripted Video Honoree
2019Content Marketing InstituteSAPBest Podcast/Audio Series, Content Marketing Project of the Year
2018One ShowColumn FiveMerit Award
2018Applied Arts MagazineColumn FiveArtist/Design Firm Promotions - Series
2017GraphisColumn FivePoster Annual — Silver Award ; Design Annual — Silver Award
2016One ShowColumn FiveMerit Award
2014AwwwardsA24 FilmsHonorable Mention
2013Webby AwardsMicrosoftAdvertising, Media, & PR Viral Marketing Honoree