Clay
Clay is a design and branding agency based in San Francisco. They build strong, modern identities for startups and large companies. Their team focuses on clean visuals and user-centered design. They create unified brand systems across websites, digital products, and marketing.
Mission Control
Mission Control is a fully remote branding agency. They mix creative thinking with AI tools to build fast, smart brand systems and websites. The team works closely with tech startups to deliver high-quality design and no-code development at speed.
COLLINS
COLLINS is a New York branding agency known for bold, idea-driven work. They use strategy, storytelling, and design to create brands that stand out in culture and the market.
Pentagram
Pentagram is the world’s largest independent design firm. Their team of partners leads every project, blending creative vision with decades of experience. They create timeless work across brand, print, and digital.
DesignStudio
DesignStudio is a global agency that helps companies shape bold identities. They combine strategy, emotion, and design to create brands that connect across platforms.
Prophet
Prophet is a global brand consultancy that blends strategy, creativity, and design. They help businesses grow through deep brand thinking, smart identity systems, and clear digital experiences. Their work is backed by research, data, and human insight.
FutureBrand
FutureBrand is a global agency that helps companies reshape their brands for the future. They mix strategy, innovation, and design to create brand identities that reflect a company’s purpose and market goals.
BBDO
BBDO is a global creative agency known for strong storytelling and campaign-driven branding. They combine strategy, identity, and communication to build emotional connections between brands and people.
Dentsu Creative
Dentsu Creative is a global agency network focused on brand, content, and digital experience. They bring together creativity, data, and tech to help brands grow and stay relevant in culture.
Wolff Olins
Wolff Olins is a global brand consultancy known for bold and transformative work. They help companies break the mold through powerful strategy and creative identity systems that scale.
Ragged Edge
Ragged Edge is a bold branding agency based in London. They help businesses take risks and stand out with fearless strategy and design. Their work challenges the usual and pushes brands to break category rules.
MetaDesign
MetaDesign is a global branding and design consultancy with deep roots in strategy and systems thinking. They help companies handle complex brand challenges through smart identity work and clear, scalable design.
Lippincott
Lippincott is a creative consultancy that blends strategy, innovation, and design to build iconic brands. With decades of experience, they create identities that drive business growth and stand the test of time.
Mekanism
Mekanism is a creative agency with a strong focus on brand storytelling. They combine strategy, culture, and digital thinking to help brands connect with people through emotional and memorable campaigns.
Our Selection Process
We carefully review each agency before adding it to our list. Here’s how we do it:
1. Reputation and Track Record
We assess each agency’s history, client portfolio, and industry recognition to ensure consistent, high-quality work.
2. Strategic and Creative Expertise
We evaluate their ability to deliver both strong brand strategy and standout design across platforms and industries.
3. Client Impact and Results
We look for real-world outcomes—measurable growth, successful brand launches, and lasting brand relevance.
4. Innovation and Adaptability
We favor agencies that stay ahead of trends, use new tools, and adapt their approach to modern markets and tech.
5. Verified Client Feedback
Whenever possible, we include direct input from clients and third-party reviews to reflect the true agency experience.
6. Global Reach and Specialization
From global networks to boutique studios, we select agencies with proven ability to scale, specialize, or localize effectively.
Top Brand Design Agencies in the World:
1. Clay
Best for: Companies that want a fresh, digital-first brand built with clear strategy and strong design.
Clients: Google, Slack, Amazon, Meta, Cisco, Zenefits
Offices: San Francisco, Belgrade
Founded: 2009
Team Size: 50–100
Budget: $50,000+
Hourly Rate: $150–$199
2. Mission Control
Best for: Startups in fintech, Web3, or B2B tech that need fast, AI-supported branding and flexible design services.
Clients: Early-stage startups and VC-backed tech companies
Offices: Remote (based in San Francisco)
Founded: 2025
Team Size: 11–50
Budget: Flexible
Hourly Rate: $150
3. COLLINS
Best for: Brands that want a big creative vision and strong identity built through bold design and storytelling.
Clients: Spotify, Dropbox, Nike, Mailchimp, Instagram, Robinhood
Offices: New York, San Francisco
Founded: 2008
Team Size: 50–100
Budget: $100,000+
Hourly Rate: $200–$300
4. Pentagram
Best for: Companies and institutions looking for classic, global brand design with deep creative roots.
Clients: Mastercard, Windows, Verizon, The New York Times, MIT Media Lab, Sundance Institute
Offices: New York, London, Austin, Berlin
Founded: 1972
Team Size: 100+
Budget: $150,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies
5. DesignStudio
Best for: Brands looking for big-picture identity work with strong stories, motion design, and global rollout.
Clients: Airbnb, Riot Games, Logitech, British Airways, Headspace, Deliveroo
Offices: London, New York, Sydney
Founded: 2009
Team Size: 100+
Budget: $75,000+
Hourly Rate: $150–$250
6. Prophet
Best for: Large companies going through change, growth, or repositioning who need full branding support from strategy to design.
Clients: T-Mobile, UBS, Samsung, GE, Marriott, Zurich Insurance
Offices: New York, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Berlin, and more
Founded: 1992
Team Size: 400+
Budget: $150,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by project
7. FutureBrand
Best for: Corporations and global brands that want to reposition, rebrand, or build a full brand system for worldwide use.
Clients: American Airlines, Nestlé, Nespresso, Mastercard, Peru (nation branding), Bentley
Offices: New York, London, Paris, Milan, Sydney, Singapore, and more
Founded: 1999
Team Size: 500+
Budget: $150,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by location and scope
8. BBDO
Best for: Global brands that want full creative support, from identity to campaigns that work across cultures and channels.
Clients: Visa, Pepsi, Snickers, Ford, GE, FedEx
Offices: 80+ worldwide, including New York, London, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai
Founded: 1891
Team Size: 6,000+
Budget: $250,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by office and scope
9. Dentsu Creative
Best for: Large businesses that want connected brand design, storytelling, and digital transformation on a global scale.
Clients: Coca-Cola, American Express, Microsoft, Heineken, Intel
Offices: Worldwide, including New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Amsterdam
Founded: 2022 (as a unified brand)
Team Size: 9,000+ in 46 markets
Budget: $200,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by market and team
10. Wolff Olins
Best for: Visionary companies that want to challenge the norm and build a future-facing brand with lasting impact.
Clients: Google, TikTok, Uber, The Met, London 2012 Olympics, USA Today
Offices: London, New York, San Francisco
Founded: 1965
Team Size: 150+
Budget: $150,000+
Hourly Rate: $200–$300
11. Ragged Edge
Best for: Challenger brands or ambitious companies that want brave, high-impact branding to shift how people see them.
Clients: Papier, Mindful Chef, Trip, Wild, BrewDog, East London Liquor Co.
Offices: London
Founded: 2007
Team Size: 40–60
Budget: $75,000+
Hourly Rate: $150–$200
12. MetaDesign
Best for: Large organizations needing a solid brand system that works across platforms, teams, and international markets.
Clients: Apple, Adobe, Volkswagen, Siemens, Deutsche Telekom, AT&T
Offices: Berlin, San Francisco, Zurich, Beijing, Lausanne, Düsseldorf
Founded: 1979
Team Size: 200+
Budget: $100,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by region and scope
13. Lippincott
Best for: Large companies going through change—like a merger, repositioning, or growth—who need brand clarity and a new direction.
Clients: Delta Air Lines, Samsung, Starbucks, Walmart, IBM, Chevron
Offices: New York, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong
Founded: 1943
Team Size: 300+
Budget: $200,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by team and engagement
14. Mekanism
Best for: Consumer brands and mission-driven companies that want to inspire, grow their audience, and shape culture through stories.
Clients: Peloton, Ben & Jerry’s, OkCupid, HBO, Alaska Airlines, White House initiatives
Offices: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle
Founded: 2003
Team Size: 200+
Budget: $100,000+
Hourly Rate: Varies by scope and service
Frequently asked questions
The best brand design agencies are known for combining strategy, creativity, and consistency to build strong, memorable identities. Leading firms include Clay, COLLINS, Pentagram, DesignStudio, Wolff Olins, and Lippincott, all of which have shaped iconic brands across industries and platforms. Others like Mission Control and Ragged Edge stand out for helping startups and challenger brands move fast and break conventions, while global consultancies like Prophet, FutureBrand, MetaDesign, and Siegel+Gale specialize in large-scale, research-driven transformations. Agencies like BBDO, Droga5, and Dentsu Creative bring brand building together with storytelling and campaign work, making them ideal for companies seeking full-spectrum creative impact. The right choice depends on your goals, size, and how bold or strategic you want to go.
A brand design agency helps you shape how your business looks and communicates. They create visual elements like logos, colors, and fonts, and they help you define your voice, tone, and messaging. Their job is to build a clear and consistent identity across all platforms.
Start by reviewing their work and seeing if their style fits your brand. Look at who they have worked with and what results they delivered. Make sure they understand your industry and can handle the size and scope of your project. A good agency feels like a true partner, not just a vendor.
A branding agency offers both strategy and design. They help you define what your brand stands for before they design anything. A design studio often focuses more on creating visuals, like logos or websites, without as much strategy or research.
Some funded startups can, especially if brand is key to standing out. Many top firms also offer smaller packages or phased projects. If budget is tight, some agencies offer brand sprints or workshops to help early-stage startups get started.
Most projects begin with research and discovery. Then the agency moves into brand strategy, visual exploration, design, and final delivery. You will give feedback at different stages. At the end, you get brand guidelines and assets to use across channels.
If your brand no longer fits your mission or market, a full rebrand might be needed. If your strategy is strong but your visuals feel outdated, a refresh may be enough. Agencies often help you decide during the first phase of the project.
A typical brand project takes six to sixteen weeks. The timeline depends on how complex the work is and how quickly decisions are made. Larger projects with more deliverables may take longer.
Top agencies work across many industries like tech, finance, retail, travel, and health. Some focus on niche markets, while others adapt to different business types. The key is finding an agency that understands your audience and can bring your story to life.
A great brand identity is clear, consistent, and flexible. It speaks to your audience, shows your personality, and works across all platforms. It should also help you stand out and grow over time.
Yes, many branding agencies offer naming services. They research your market, test ideas, and help you choose a name that fits your brand voice, values, and audience. Good names are clear, memorable, and available for legal use and domains.
A logo is only one part of your brand. A branding agency builds a full system—colors, fonts, voice, messaging, imagery, and more. If you want a brand that feels consistent and professional across all platforms, an agency can help shape the full picture.
A brand guideline (or brand book) is a document that explains how to use your brand. It includes your logo, colors, fonts, voice, tone, and rules for keeping everything consistent. Agencies give you this guide so you can use your brand correctly across platforms.
Many do. Some focus on brand identity only, while others also design websites, apps, or other digital tools. If digital presence is a big part of your business, choose an agency with experience in digital design and user experience.
Both can work. A local agency may better understand your culture or audience. A global agency might offer more experience or scale. What matters most is their fit with your brand goals, process, and team—not just their location.
A visual identity includes your logo, color palette, fonts, image style, iconography, layout rules, and how everything works together. It helps your brand look consistent and recognizable everywhere people see it.
Most agencies expect you to be involved through feedback sessions, workshops, and reviews. Your input is key to shaping a brand that feels right. A good agency will guide you through the process but also ask for your ideas and approval at each stage.
Yes, branding agencies often work with companies going through big changes like mergers or acquisitions. They help align different brand cultures, create a unified identity, and plan the rollout to customers, partners, and employees.
Contact Info
Let’s Chat
Need help choosing the right agency?