16 creative studios in Birmingham to have on your radar
Deciding on which part of the industry you’d like to work in is one thing, but knowing where to find relevant and inspiring workplaces is another. And with so many creative companies across the UK, expanding your knowledge of who’s out there can certainly give you a leg up. So every few weeks, we’ll be helping you discover new studios, agencies and more by highlighting a range of them up and down the British isles. This week, we’re heading to the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham!
Historically known as the City of a Thousand Trades, Birmingham has carried this name through to today, as it enters something of an entrepreneurial transformation.
Named the youngest city in Europe, with more than 40% of its residents under the age of 25 and one of the highest graduation rates in Europe, Birmingham also boasts a rapidly expanding business side. More than 40,000 companies – many of them start-ups – call the city home, and the career opportunities for young talent are only increasing as more investment is poured into the city’s emerging creative scene.
The recent reopening of former factory The Bond in Digbeth as a self-styled ‘creative content hub’ affirms this. The £18 million facility is at the centre of screen and digital talent in the Midlands, creating a burgeoning creative community whilst providing a space for content producers to work alongside creatives, companies and freelancers.
On the tech side of things, Birmingham is also the launchpad for more companies across digital transformation, gaming, immersive tech and software development than any other UK region. It’s safe to say that the tech and digital scene in Birmingham is alive and very well. And to help you discover some of them, here, we’re highlighting 16 digitally-focused practices to check out. Scroll down to explore them all!
RBH Creative Communications
Campaign for electrical trade industry body Niceic
Identity for proposed development Martineau Galleries
Brand positioning for online fashion retailer Young British Designers
Brand refresh for Bishop Simeon Trust
Specialism: Creative
Company Size: 51-200
RBH Creative Communications is an independent creative agency founded on three principles: care, creativity and can-do. Offering a range of services – from planning, PR and digital, to campaign activation and CRM, the agency has worked with clients such as national charity Nerve Tumours UK, Birmingham Airport and the NHS.
Read more about RBH Creative Communications here or check out their Instagram
Adaptable
Digital product for affordable art retailer RoomFifty’s MakeRoom
UI design for technology enterprise PM Connect
Work for furniture brand Boss at Home
Website for audio branding company PHMG
Specialism: Digital Product Design
Company Size: 2-10
Specialising in digital products and experiences, Adaptable is a studio offering services such as digital product development and strategy, website design and prototyping. Clients include audio branding company PHMG, charity Leukaemia UK and National Express.
Say Nothing
Content for The Grand Hotel’s guide Telegram
Poster design for online platform They Did I Can Too
Website design for The University of Oxford Women in Computer Science Society
Website design for e-commerce platform We Are Thriftin’
Specialism: Design, Digital
Company Size: 2-10
Say Nothing is an independent creative studio focusing on design and digital. With a mission to create compelling brands for modern businesses of all sizes, the studio offers services ranging from brand identity, content creation, digital design and video production. Clients include Harvey Nichols, Nike and Grand Hotel.
Read more about Say Nothing here or check out their Instagram
Notepad
Brand identity for whiskey maker Glenmorangie
Brand identity for IT and cloud computing company iomart
Brand identity for engineering firm CPW
Brand identity for engineering firm CPW
Specialism: Brand Identity, Strategy, Web Design
Company Size: 11-50
Notepad is a branding and creative studio aiming to help clients re-think what’s possible. Their subdivision, Amplify, offers services including content creation, motion graphics, print and packaging design. The studio’s clients include whiskey maker Glenmorangie, engineering firm CPW and IT and cloud computing company iomart.
Nonfacture
Branding for Sandwell and West Midlands NHS Trust
Branding for Japanese restaurant Yatai
Branding for restaurant Burger Nation
Packaging for restaurant Eat Good
Specialism: Design
Company Size: 2-10
Nonfacture is a multidisciplinary design studio seeking to provide creative and digital marketing solutions to regional and international clients. Offering services such as AR advertising, packaging, exhibition design and event branding, the studio’s clients include Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, Japanese restaurant Yatai and music festival Godiva.
Read more about Nonfacture here or check out their Instagram
Orb.
Work for online fashion brand I Saw It First
Work for recruitment company People Solutions
Work for architectural firm Associated Architects
Work for specialist residential developer Court Collaboration
Specialism: Branding
Company Size: 11-50
Orb. is a performance-driven branding agency offering a broad range of services, including brand research and building, marketing, digital, campaigns, PR and events. Clients include architectural firm Associated Architects, Hawkes Cider and online fashion brand I Saw It First.
HDY Agency
Brand guidelines for rugby union team Wasps Rugby
Campaign for multi-sport event Birmingham 2022‘s Queen‘s Baton Relay
Conversation campaign for fuel card solutions business Allstar
Paid social for snack brand The Protein Ball Co.
Specialism: Content Marketing
Company Size: 11-50
HDY is an independent brand, performance and content agency with a data-driven and channel-first approach. Crafting content to build digital experiences, their offerings span strategy, planning and creative. The agency’s roster of clients include rugby union team Wasps Rugby, Birmingham City Council and fuel card solutions business Allstar.
Read more about HDY Agency here or check out their Instagram
Cake
Work for body care brand Tweakit
Identity for eBay retailer Go Thrift
Work for online clothing brand P&Co
Design sprint for Wine Freedom
Specialism: E-commerce Consulting
Company Size: 11-50
Founded by retailers for retailers, Cake is an e-commerce agency advising businesses of all sizes on how they can evolve their online proposition and digital strategy. Clients include Birmingham Museums, online clothing brand P&Co and luggage brand It Luggage.
Keane
Work for pub company Stonegate
Work for Hilton‘s estate-wide summer campaign
Branding for restaurant Inca
Branding for Hilton‘s Conrad London St James
Specialism: Strategy, Design
Company Size: 51-200
Keane is a strategy and design agency specialising in defining and delivering lifestyle experiences. With services including brand strategy and design, interior design and experience visioning, the agency’s roster of clients include hospitality firm MNKY HSE, mixer brand Fever-Tree and hospitality company Hilton.
Common Curiosity
Rebrand for chef Brad Carter
Rebrand for interior architectural studio and workshop Sculpt
Brand identity for e-magazine I Choose Birmingham
Book design for publisher D&B Books
Specialism: Brand Identity, Print, Environmental Design
Company Size: 2-10
Based in Birmingham and London, Common Curiosity is a creative design studio primarily working across brand identity, print and environmental design. The studio works with businesses of all sizes, including individuals – and counts interior architectural studio and workshop Sculpt, chef Brad Carter and D&AD New Blood Awards as clients.
Read more about Common Curiosity here or check out their Instagram
Paperock Creative
Campaign for restaurant Burger & Sauce
Logo design for music recording studio Son of Mars Studios
Work for Back to the Retrowave
Business cards for motorbike insurance company Devitt Insurance
Specialism: Design
Company Size: 2-10
Paperock Creative is a design agency offering services from logo design, photography and banners, to website design and brand guidelines. The agency’s roster of clients include Birmingham Festival 23, Birmingham City Council and motorbike insurance company Devitt Insurance.
Read more about Paperock Creative here or check out their Instagram
One Black Bear
Marketing for developer Oval Real Estate
Campaign for Plastic Bag Free World and Plastic Bag Free Day
Campaign for The West Midlands Combined Authority
Work for immune support vitamin brand MyVybe
Specialism: Multidisciplinary
Company Size: 11-50
Born in 2003 with the aim to create great ideas that solve problems, One Black Bear is a full-service agency offering a range of services – from advertising, design, branding, PR and social, to research, digital and web. The agency’s roster of clients include the NHS, National Express and charity Age UK.
Read more about One Black Bear here or check out their Instagram
Cogent
Campaign for pregnancy and baby loss charity Tommy’s
Campaign for Bacofoil
Campaign for car brand Vauxhall
Work for kitchen manufacturer Omega Plc
Specialism: Marketing
Company Size: 51-200
Cogent is an integrated marketing agency that generates ideas through its ethos of togetherness. Offering a variety of services including strategy, creative, content, social and PR, the agency has worked with clients such as Bacofoil, art supply company Crayola and coffee product company Melitta.
Coal
Social media advertising campaign for the Department For Education
Promotional for Rhythm 108’s vegan chocolate range
Work for WWF
Campaign for food chain Eat.
Specialism: Digital Marketing, Video, Web Design, Advertising
Company Size: 11-50
Coal is a digital marketing, video, web design and advertising agency whose services include social media, video and motion graphics, digital design and influencer marketing. With offices in Birmingham, London and Hong Kong, clients include TikTok, Facebook and furniture brand Boss Design.
Glue
Work for clothing brand Missguided
Work for telecommunications service provider Three
Work for insurance provider Hastings Direct
Work for clothing retailer Uniqlo
Specialism: Digital Product, Experience Design
Company Size: 2-10
Glue is a digital product and experience design studio whose aim is to help its clients look beyond traditional business models and rethink digital solutions. Delivering end-to-end digital solutions, the studio‘s clients include clothing brand Missguided, Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo and telecommunications service provider Three.
Read more about Glue here
Substrakt
Website design for concert hall Bristol Beacon
Digital passes for museum Crystal Bridges and contemporary art space The Momentary
Website colour experimentation for concert hall Bristol Beacon
Website design for visual arts charity Henry Moore Foundation
Specialism: Web and Digital Product Design
Company Size: 11-50
Partnering with cultural organisations around the world to create digital experiences, Substrakt is a digital agency that designs and builds websites and digital products. Also providing services such as strategic consultancy, training and support, the agency’s roster of clients include Battersea Arts Centre, concert hall Bristol Beacon and the National Theatre.
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