12 Graphic Design Studios

Studio AHxHA

Studio AH—HA is a communication & graphic design studio established in 2011 by Carolina Cantante and Catarina Carreiras. They're Lisbon based, and create personal, tangible work and independent projects. They like unique basic shapes, minimalism, and tend not to use primary colours. They have a large, broad clientele, and the studio started as two friends who got together, travelled the world and decided to create design as one.

Hey Studios

Founded by Veronica Fuerte in 2007 and based in Barcelona. Started as an online shop selling t-shirts, and they now do branding, illustration, and signage. They like the use of bright colours and bespoke, beautiful typography. They believe in doing everything on paper first, then going digital. Only 3 designers in the studio, which allows them to create a close relationship with their clients (who are often high-profile). They believe Hey Studios has an attitude, not a style. 

Sagmeister & Walsh

Team of 4 working from New York. Founded by Stefan Sagmeister, later joined by Jessica Walsh. Very famous group with work in illustration, advertising, signage, web design print and animation. 

Hey Days 

Norwegian agency based in Oslo. Identities and solutions for wide ranging clientele. Very good UI/UX. Network of wide ranging creatives, focus on logos, web design, UI. Challenge and establish the truth, and love minimalism and Scandinavian design. 

Lust 

LUST

Studio founded in 1996. 16 employees, based in the Netherlands. Emphasis on traditional print based media, book design and abstract design. Sub studio called LUSTlab, which, according to their website: "LUSTlab researches, generates hypotheses and makes unstable media stable again. According to LUSTlab, the future of digital media lies in the design of its use. Humanizing the unhuman, bringing the internet down to earth and finding the missing link between the digital and the physical. The outcomes vary from (strategic) visions to new communication tools, man-machine installations and physical products using digital content."

Studio Dumbar

Dutch studio founded in 1977. Third most awarded design studio outfit behind Apple and Pentagram. Offices in South Korea and China, and their Dutch studio is an unused electrical facility. Focus on strategy, comms, branding, process management, abstract, geometric, complex typography, digital distortion. "Our style is that we don't have a style".

Build 

Build

Originally based in London, now based in Yorkshire with an international presence. Founded in 2001. High profile clients - branding, type orientated, simple, muted palette. Set up married couple with a love for flat design. 

Elmwood

"The world's most effective brand design consultancy". Began in Leeds - current and historical effectiveness. Won the International Design Effectiveness Awards more times than any other studio. Created their own design tools. Own tea and beer brands, have sustainable ideologies. Offices in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Leeds. Branding and packaging emphasis. 

Bleed

Offices in Oslo and Vienna. Multidisciplinary design studio - identity, art direction, company culture, created using form. Well renowned clients. 

Face

Face.

Mexican supermodernist studio. Brand production, founded in 2006 by Rick and Ricardo. 10 creatives now. "Simplicity Works". Honest branding to stand the test of time. 

Dessein 

Founded in Australia, 1987. Signage, web, packaging, illustration etc. "Effective, clean, clear, fresh, modern, colourful and contemporary". Korean designers, Italian, Indian; multiethnic. Inclusion inspires innovation. Won a lot of awards. 

Wolff Olins 

Founded by Michael Wolff and Wally Olins. Headquarters in London, offices in Dubai, San Francisco and New York. Created logos for 2012 London Olympics, EE, The National Lottery, Skype, 

COMMON TRENDS 

Small, close knit studios allow clients to feel as if they're getting more attention and have a closer connection with the designers. 16 people is the maximum number of designers in the above studios - historically, studios have had many more employees. Design identities are all relatively similar, follow trends. Full Service Agencies are now more common and tend to be more successful. Brag about awards. Showcase personal and concept projects, not just commercial ones.