DESIGN THAT
RULES.
We are an independent design studio in Petaluma, CA. We build identities, campaigns, and digital products for companies that want to look like they mean business.
Six things we do exceptionally well.
We take on fewer projects than most studios so we can do more on each one. These are the six areas where we work.
An independent studio with no interest in being average.
We started empireofdesign in 2012. The studio has always been small on purpose. Not because we could not grow, but because the work we are proudest of came from close, direct involvement rather than from managing a large team at a distance from the actual work.
Over 12 years we have worked across most major industries: consumer goods, technology, financial services, food and hospitality, healthcare, professional services. Each one has been different. What does not change is the level of thinking we bring before anything gets made.
Work we are proud to put our name on.
An artisan distillery entering competitive premium retail. We built an identity that read as heritage without feeling dusty, and packaging that held its own next to brands with 30-year head starts.
A construction tech SaaS with a product that worked well and looked like it was built overnight. Complete UI redesign, design system, and brand refresh turned a functional tool into something people actually wanted to open.
A single-location coffee bar ready to franchise. We built the identity, campaign system, and social template library that let them open three new locations with brand consistency on day one.
Four stages. One consistent standard.
Every engagement follows the same structure. Not because it is efficient, but because it works.
We spend the first stage doing nothing but listening and asking uncomfortable questions. What does success actually look like? Who do you need to convince? What has failed before? The brief we write at the end of this stage drives every decision that follows.
Before we design anything, we agree on the creative direction in writing. This includes positioning, visual reference, mood, and tone. It is not a mood board for inspiration. It is a documented decision that protects both sides when the project gets complicated.
We present work in stages, not as a single reveal. You see the logic before the execution. You give feedback on concepts before we refine. By the time you see final work, it reflects a conversation you have been part of, not a guess we made about your preferences.
Final delivery includes organised, labelled files in every format you will actually use. We do not hand over a folder of unnamed exports and disappear. We walk you through what everything is, what it is for, and what to do if something needs adjusting after the project closes.
What people say when the project is done.
Three packages. Defined scope. No surprises.
Every package is a fixed-scope project. You know exactly what you are getting before we start.
- Primary logo + 2 variations
- Colour palette (4 colours)
- Typography system
- 1-page brand guide
- Business card design
- 3 revision rounds
Timeline: 14 business days
Get started- Everything in Foundation
- Extended logo suite
- Full brand identity system
- Brand guideline document (30+ pages)
- Social media template kit
- Stationery design set
- 5 revision rounds
Timeline: 28 business days
Get started- Everything in Momentum
- Campaign art direction
- Website design (up to 10 pages)
- Packaging design system
- Photography art direction
- Motion identity guidelines
- Unlimited revisions
Timeline: 56 business days
Get startedDirect answers to the questions we hear most.
READY TO BUILD SOMETHING WORTH BUILDING?
Every good project starts with a conversation. Ours are free.