Best for: Ambitious global brands at defining moments — IPOs, rebrands, category creation, or cultural pivots — that need bold creative work across brand, campaign, experience, and production under one roof.
Further (formerly DesignStudio) has a portfolio that spans Airbnb, Eurostar, Xbox, and UFC — the kind of high-profile rebrands that require both creative ambition and the operational discipline to roll out across global touchpoints. The caveat is that the recent rebrand from DesignStudio to Further signals a studio still defining its next chapter, and it’ll be worth watching how the work evolves under the new identity.
Reviewed by Chelsea Greene
The Full Read
Further is the new name for DesignStudio — one of the most recognised brand agencies to emerge from London in the last two decades. DesignStudio was founded in 2009. In May 2024 it merged with Analog (an award-winning VFX and real-time studio) and Pixel Artworks (an immersive experience studio) to form Further Group. The rebrand to “Further” completed the transition from a pure brand identity shop to a full creative group spanning brand, campaign, digital, experience, and production.
The centrepiece of the agency’s reputation is the 2013 Airbnb rebrand. Working directly with Brian Chesky and the Airbnb team, DesignStudio created the Bélo symbol, defined the “Belong Anywhere” strategic platform, and opened a San Francisco studio to embed with Airbnb’s design organisation. Chesky’s reaction — “When I look at this brand, I suddenly realize everything I’ve been trying to say. Now we have a way to express it” — became one of the most-cited client quotes in the industry. Airbnb went public in December 2020 at a $47 billion valuation. That provenance is unusual in branding.
The work since then confirms that 2013 wasn’t an outlier. TUI’s global rebrand produced 12.1% year-on-year revenue growth in 2024 alongside 23.8% EBITDA growth. EA Sports is now a multi-year, multi-project relationship: the EA SPORTS app, EA FC PRO, and EA SPORTS F1 25 all carry Further’s creative direction. The sports and entertainment category runs deep — Eurostar, Borussia Dortmund, UFC, Xbox, HSBC SVNS (rugby), the Royal Ballet & Opera.
Five Capabilities
The Production practice is what changed most in the 2024 merger. Further, Analog, and Pixel Artworks together can take a brand from identity system through to immersive VFX production — a broader capability stack than any other agency on this list.
Brand
Research and insights, brand strategy, brand architecture, visual and verbal identity, naming, sonic identity, motion identity. The foundation.
Campaign
Campaign strategy and development, copywriting and art direction, rollout, channel and media planning. Brand-defining moments at scale.
Experience
Experiential strategy, immersive experience design, interactive development, integrated production and technology, location and activation management.
Digital
Product strategy, UX design, digital product design, web design, e-commerce design, design systems.
Production
VFX, 2D and 3D animation, post-production, virtual production, immersive storytelling, realtime, motion design, worldbuilding.
Selected Work
A snapshot of recent named projects. Full case studies on the agency’s site.
Airbnb
Brand · Travel & Hospitality
Creating the world’s first community-driven superbrand for the global home-sharing platform.
Eurostar
Brand · Travel & Hospitality
Merging two rail giants under one bold identity following the Eurostar and Thalys union.
EA Sports
Brand · Gaming Shifting
EA Sports from game publisher to full entertainment platform with a new brand direction.
UFC
Experience · Leisure & Entertainment
Fusing live sport with cinematic storytelling to elevate the UFC fan experience globally.
Borussia Dortmund
Brand · Sports & Fitness
Evolving one of the world’s most iconic football clubs for a new generation of fans.
Depop
Brand · Fashion
Building a brand identity around the community of unconventional buyers and sellers driving the resale economy.
Deliveroo
Brand · Food & Drink
Delivering a food icon’s brand into new markets with a refreshed global identity.
Royal Ballet & Opera
Brand · Leisure & Entertainment
A new era identity for one of the world’s great cultural institutions.
Hire Further If You Need…
- A brand agency with a proven track record through IPOs and high-stakes category moments
- Creative work across brand, campaign, digital, and immersive experience without managing separate studios
- Strong sports, entertainment, gaming, and travel category expertise
- A London-origin studio with global reach (London, New York, Dubai)
Skip Further If…
- You need extensive independent review verification before committing — the public evidence trail is limited
- Your brief is primarily strategy-led business transformation rather than creative execution
- You’re below the $75K minimum or need the low-budget entry flexibility of Ragged Edge or Mission Control
If Further Isn’t the Right Fit
COLLINS
For consumer brands where cultural ambition and brand system rigour matter together. Stronger track record in CPG, retail, and consumer tech.
Ragged Edge
For challenger brands at a lower entry point. Bolder creative risk-taking, transparent business outcomes, B Corp certified.
Wolff Olins
If the brief extends into culture, organisational transformation, and brand strategy together. Better for enterprise-level transformation mandates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Further is the new name for DesignStudio. In May 2024, DesignStudio merged with Analog (a VFX and real-time studio) and Pixel Artworks (an immersive experience studio) to create Further Group. The agency rebranded to “Further” — the tagline “DesignStudio is now Further” still appears on the homepage. The founding year of 2009 refers to DesignStudio’s original founding.
The 2013 Airbnb rebrand — creation of the Bélo symbol and “Belong Anywhere” strategic platform. Brian Chesky’s quote at launch became one of the most-cited creative endorsements in modern brand history. Airbnb’s $47 billion IPO in 2020 is the most visible commercial outcome in the portfolio.
Analog is an award-winning VFX, AI, and real-time studio for commercials and original content. Pixel Artworks specialises in immersive experiences and large-scale installations. The merger means Further can deliver from brand identity through to VFX production and immersive spatial experiences — without subcontracting.
Yes — independently owned with no holding company affiliation. One of six independent agencies on this list alongside Clay Global, Mission Control, COLLINS, Ragged Edge, and Prophet.
Ready to see if Further fits your project?
Visit the agency’s site to view their full portfolio, or compare them against the rest of our top picks.