11 creative studios to check out in Milton Keynes and Bedford
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 the most northerly county in South East England - Buckinghamshire - to check out the vibrant Milton Keynes!
Milton Keynes is a relatively new city but has a rich history stretching back to the Middle Ages. With a population that's grown from 50,000 before the city's creation to almost 300,000 people now, 27.4% of the inhabitants are under the age of 19!
Milton Keynes is thus home to a vibrant and young cultural scene with an array of historical landmarks and attractions - from Stadium MK and the newly-designed MK Gallery, to their ten-day International Festival that has taken place bi-annually since 2010 and has attracted over 90,000 visitors each year.
An increasing number of creative studios are also thriving across various disciplines, from graphic design and advertising to digital media and publishing. Here, we’ve compiled 11 of them for you to check out – keep reading to explore them all!
1. TFA
Specialism: Marketing
Company Size: 11-50 employees
TFA is a multi-award-winning brand, digital, and marketing agency. They specialise in helping clients elevate their brand communications through sound strategic foundations and innovative, creative delivery.
2. Stratos
Specialism: Branding, Creative, Digital
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Stratos is a strategic brand, creative and digital agency. Focussing on brand and customers, they combine insight, strategy, people and creativity to achieve memorable experiences, behaviours and beliefs at the right time, to the people that matter. They work with like-minded brands and businesses to build credibility and position your business with proven, data-led creative and digital strategies.
3. Syrup (Formerly MK21)
Specialism: Advertising
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Syrup is a creative and advertising agency for hungry food and drink brands. They plan, produce and run campaigns worth conversation for category-defining brands. By delivering creative and advertising under one roof, Syrup works directly with your thinkers, makers and doers.
4. One Design Agency
Specialism: Design, Advertising, Brand, Communications
Company Size: 11-50 employees
One Design is a design agency for lifestyle brands. Founded in 2000 and trusted by global brands and start ups alike, they use insights, research, brand activations and communications to amplify performance. They are also committed to environmentally-friendly practice as their environmental policy.
Read more about One Design Agency here or check out their LinkedIn
5. Eat With Your Eyes
Specialism: Branding
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Eat With Your Eyes is a creative design and marketing agency specialising in food retail.
As an agency with four hands-on directors and a studio of artists and creatives, their services encompass all communication solutions – from concept development, marketing and research to menu systems, art direction and packaging.
Read more about Eat With Your Eyes here or check out their LinkedIn
6. Omne Agency
7. Nutshell Creative
Specialism: Design, Marketing
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Nutshell Creative is an award-winning full service design and marketing agency. Combining creativity, strategy, talent and technology to create engaging campaigns that deliver strong brand experiences spanning creative, digital, print and events.
Read more about Nutshell Creative here or check out their LinkedIn
8. Balcony
Specialism: Creative Design, Strategy, Branding
Company Size: 2-10 employees
Balcony is an ambitious, independent creative studio molding meaningful art and design solutions which elevate brands, connect people and inspire action. They help people to communicate better and evolve, through strategic creative thinking and a considered, design-led approach.
9. WHP Creative
Specialism: Graphic Design, Communications, Strategy
Company Size: 2-10 employees
WHP is a multidisciplinary design studio that creates impact through brand, graphics, communications and narrative, all framed in sustainability. In their words, they blend strategy with intuition, technology with the tactile, function with beauty, and longevity with relevance.
10. Headlines Communications Agency
Specialism: Editorial, Design, Print, Content
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Headlines started life in 1995 as a one-man band operating from a spare bedroom, creating communications that were honest, attractive, interesting and relevant. Today, they are a team of writers, designers, content experts and strategists creating original and innovative content across print and digital for brands such as Amazon, Nike, Shell, Currys PC World, Argos and Nestlé.
11. Cygnus
Specialism: Design, Digital Strategy, Animation, Video
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Cygnus is an award-winning, independent creative and digital agency keeping brands ahead. Their services span branding, strategy and video, defined by culture and curiosity. They have an array of partners – from Papa Johns and Popeyes to Volkswagen and Etex. They are also committed to social impact, partnering with MK Snap, a charity based in Milton Keynes who help transform the lives of adults with learning difficulties.
To browse more creative companies across the UK, click on the button below to explore our Company Listings page, a growing directory of creative companies across the UK:
Read interviews with creatives from, based or working in the Milton Keynes region
Written by Creative Lives in Progress
