Best Brand Agencies and Studios in Berlin
Finding the right agency for your branding project can be tough. This article will give you a quick outline and tell you what you should be looking for, how you prepare your project before assessing agencies and of course: We are listing the top 5 design companies for you.
How to choose the best brand agency for your project
Freelancer, Agency or Studio?
Depending on your project size and scope, you should decide on whether you want to work with a small or big team. Smaller projects can usually be handled by freelance designers, who can be embedded in the team and managed directly. Big agencies often come with a project management that you pay for and give you a much more professional, corporate setting. If you look for a personal, human touch, but also a good structure, a mid-size design studio might be the right choice for you: You will get professional project management for your creative project, but you also get to talk to the designers directly if you wish.
Look at their references
A design agency should have a visual portfolio with lots of screenshots, animations and design process visualisations of the projects they have been working on. Pay attention to the markets and the scope of work they have been involved in: A design company that might have created a social media campaign for a big brand like Adidas might not be the right choice if you are looking for someone who can create a brand like Adidas. Always keep an eye out for the type of work and industries – great portfolios might even let you filter the work.
Ask the right questions
When approaching an agency, make sure they understand your industry. If you run a games company, ask them if they employ actual gamers and what their favorite games are. Great designs come from designers who are willing to engage with your company, your industry and your audience – so make sure to screen for that in your first meeting.
What you should do before picking out brand agencies
Have a creative brief ready
It’s much easier to approach an agency with a brief at hand. You can use this template to prepare a quick briefing within minutes.
Look at reference brands
A great way is to assess brands that do what you want to achieve, even in different spaces. Create a moodboard or a collection of things that you like to share with the designer.
Define a timeline and budget
Be prepared for two questions: How much do you want to invest and when should it be ready by? Deadlines can be defined by external factors like conferences or events that require you to present your brand. A budget however can be defined by many factors – the most important one being the value that you are planning on getting from the brand in return.
Top agencies
With hundreds of niche agencies, here is a biased list of our favourite agencies for branding in Berlin:
Pentagram Design
Founded in 1972 in New York City, Pentagram Design has grown into a global collective of 25 partners in New York, San Francisco, London, Austin and Berlin. The agency is known for design legends like Paula Scheer or Michael Beirut, having been an inspiration for generations of designers. Aside from branding work, Pentagram is famous for environmental and wayfinding design. Pentagrams clients include tech companies like Slack or Reddit, but also big corporations like IBM, Nike and Coca Cola.
| Website: | https://www.pentagram.com/ |
| Clients: | Nike, IBM, Coca-Cola |
| Founded: | 1972 |
Human Deluxe
Founded in 2018 by Designers Johannes Ippen and Nico Engelhardt, Human Deluxe has always put a focus on Human Experience Design. With a strong affinity for digital brands, the studio has worked with dozens of startups and tech companies, bringing their digital brands to life. Past clients include gaming companies like Zynga, PlayStation and Playtika, but also organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme or the German Federal Government.
| Website: | https://humandeluxe.com/ |
| Clients: | SAP, Zynga, United Nations, PlayStation |
| Founded: | 2018 |
Diesdas Digital
Diesdas Digital is a small design company located in Kreuzberg, Berlin. Being a digital company at heart, Diesdas (German for: This & That) combines strategy, design and technology to cut through the noise and launch experiences «people will tell their friends about». The true strength of DIesdas Digital is in creating experimental digital products that have a strong strategic background. With their own development team inhouse, they can execute what they come up with.
| Website: | https://www.diesdas.digital/de |
| Clients: | Miele, Zeit Online, Clark, Wefox |
| Founded: | 2015 |
Hy.am
Hy.am is rooted in the fashion industry – creating campaigns and brands for companies like Hugo Boss, Adidas or vegan makeup brand Gitti. Founded by Oliver Bronner and Mischa Bitten, the agency operates at the intersection of culture, communication, and technology, aiming to bring a global perspective to crafting brands and experiences that resonate deeply with audiences.
| Website: | https://www.hyam.de/en |
| Clients: | Adidas, Hugo Boss, Bumble, Gitti |
| Founded: | 2020 |
Edenspiekermann
Edenspiekermann was founded by German typography legend Erik Spiekermann in 2001. Having been around for a while now, Edenspiekermann was involved in creating some of the coolest brands in the world – like the corporate design for the city of Amsterdam or the local supermarket chain «teGut». Being famous for strong typography and adapting an agile process, Edenspiekermann has definitely had an influence on the German design landscape.
| Website: | https://www.edenspiekermann.com/eu/ |
| Clients: | Deutsche Bahn, Bosch, Hermann Miller, Messe Frankfurt |
| Founded: | 2001 |