What Wieden + Kennedy does

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent, full-service creative advertising agency founded in 1982 by Dan Wieden and David Kennedy in Portland, Oregon. The firm delivers brand strategy, advertising campaign development, digital content creation, experiential marketing, and brand identity work for major global brands including Nike, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, KFC, Ford, McDonald's, AB InBev, DoorDash, YETI, and Autodesk, among others. The agency's most recognized cultural contributions include Nike's "Just Do It" (1988), Old Spice's "Smell Like a Man, Man," P&G's "Thank You, Mom" Olympic platform, and KFC's brand turnaround work.

The agency's core technology stack centers on W+K Live Design, a proprietary platform developed by its W+K Lodge innovation unit that uses motion capture and object tracking to power augmented reality experiences for real-time product customization. It debuted as the engine for the Nike Makers Experience during New York Fashion Week, enabling consumers to design Nike sneakers in real time. Complementary proprietary digital products include interactive experiences such as Travel Oregon: The Game, demonstrating the agency's diversification beyond traditional advertising into experiential and interactive media.

Commercially, Wieden+Kennedy operates a professional services revenue model, charging client service fees on retainer or project-based engagements. Quote-based pricing is determined by project scope and complexity, and specific rates are not publicly disclosed. The agency is sales-led, acquiring clients through direct enterprise relationships, pitch processes, referrals, and industry reputation. It operates 10 offices globally — Portland, Amsterdam, New York, Tokyo, London, Shanghai, São Paulo, Mexico City, Sydney, and Toronto — providing multinational clients with localized cultural insight across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. The firm remains privately held with no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, and no public ticker.

Name

Wieden + Kennedy

Legal name

Wieden+Kennedy

Website

https://wk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent, full-service global creative advertising agency founded in 1982 in Portland, Oregon, serving Fortune 500 brands across sportswear, CPG, food, beverage, automotive, and technology with brand strategy, campaign development, experiential marketing, and proprietary AR technology through 10 worldwide offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Media Creative Agencies (Content & Community) (MPAAAAAE), Digital PR & Social Media Communications (MPAAADAJ)

Keywords

• Advertising services
• Creative agency
• Brand marketing
• Campaign development
• Digital experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Wieden+Kennedy generates revenue through client service fees for creative advertising campaigns, brand strategy, design work, digital content creation, and marketing services. The agency works with major global brands on retainer or project-based engagements, providing comprehensive creative services across multiple disciplines and media channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent full-service creative advertising agency that creates advertising campaigns, brand strategy, design work, digital content creation, and marketing services for major global brands. The agency also develops proprietary technology platforms such as W+K Live Design (an augmented reality product customization system using motion capture) and produces interactive digital experiences. Engagements are delivered on a project-based or retainer model across 10 global offices.

Product overview

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent creative advertising agency offering brand-building and cultural influence services across multiple offices worldwide. The agency's offering is not a unified software product but rather a portfolio of creative services, proprietary technology platforms, and campaign-based work. Key offerings include Live Design (a proprietary augmented reality customization platform), Travel Oregon: The Game (an interactive digital experience), and various advertising campaigns for major global brands including Nike, Ford, McDonald's, and others. The agency operates across sports, travel, consumer products, transportation, and sustainable energy categories, creating work spanning traditional advertising, digital experiences, brand identity systems, and interactive content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• W+K Live Design A proprietary technology platform developed by W+K Lodge that uses motion capture and object tracking to create augmented reality experiences allowing real-time product customization on physical items including shoes, shirts, and cars. Designed for brand activations and experiential marketing campaigns.
• Creative Advertising Campaign Services Full-service creative advertising including campaign development, advertising film production, copywriting, and creative concepting across TV, digital video, social, out-of-home, print, and streaming channels. Delivered on a project or retainer basis to major global brands.
• Brand Strategy and Identity Services Brand strategy, brand positioning, brand identity design (logotypes, monograms, visual identity systems), and brand architecture work for global consumer brands (e.g., Autodesk brand identity refresh, Huis Marseille museum rebrand, YETI logo rebrand).
• Interactive Digital Experience Design Design and development of interactive digital experiences and branded games for client campaigns (e.g., Travel Oregon: The Game, Nike Reactland gamified in-store trials, DoorDash All The Ads promo code challenge). Used for consumer engagement, brand activations, and cultural moments.
• Experiential and Event Marketing Services Experiential marketing and event activation services including live brand experiences, retail activations, festival and sports-event presences, and physical-world consumer engagements for major brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• $500 million in global incremental P&G sales from 'Thank You, Mom' campaign
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TripadvisorflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 May 2026Corona (AB InBev) partnered with Tripadvisor for 'Living is Calling' campaign featuring over 300,000 travel experiences. W+K Amsterdam created the campaign with QR codes on Corona packaging unlocking vouchers for real-world outdoor experiences.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 72andSunny: Independently operated creative agency with offices in LA, NY, and Amsterdam. Direct peer—similar horizontal creative-services model, comparable brand-building focus, and overlapping client categories including sportswear, tech, and entertainment.
• Mother: Independently held creative network with offices in NYC, LA, London, and Shanghai. Direct peer—similar boutique-independent positioning, comparable creative prestige, and overlapping client roster across CPG, beverage, and tech categories.
• Anomaly: Independent creative agency with offices in NYC, LA, London, Shanghai, and Toronto. Direct peer—comparable independent structure, similar brand strategy and campaign development offerings, and similar enterprise client mix (Nike-adjacent, CPG, automotive).
• Droga5: Independent creative agency known for award-winning work (now part of Accenture Song). Direct peer—premium full-service creative agency with similar blue-chip client roster, comparable revenue scale, and similar positioning around culturally resonant, award-driven campaigns.
• Pereira O'Dell: Independent creative agency with offices in San Francisco, New York, and London. Direct peer—similar boutique-independent positioning, comparable digital-first creative approach, and overlapping tech and consumer brand client base.

Broad incumbents

• BBDO Worldwide: Global creative network within Omnicom Group. Broad incumbent—competes for the same Fortune 500 creative mandates at much greater scale; offers integrated creative, media, and production capabilities that W+K lacks.
• Ogilvy: Global advertising agency within WPP. Broad incumbent—large-scale competitor for global brand campaigns; offers brand strategy, advertising, PR, and consulting under one roof, giving clients an integrated alternative to W+K's creative-only model.
• Saatchi & Saatchi: Global creative agency within Publicis Groupe. Broad incumbent—competes for the same enterprise creative accounts with network scale advantages; historically strong in CPG and consumer goods, areas where W+K also wins.

Emerging players

• GUT Agency: Fast-growing independent creative agency founded in 2018. Emerging player—rising direct competitor in the premium independent creative space with strong Cannes Lions performance and growing blue-chip client wins.

Regional players

• Wieden+Kennedy India: W+K's own India affiliate led by Santosh Padhi. Regional player—operates within the W+K network but serves India-specific clients like Zomato and leverages independent creative positioning in the South Asian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wiedenkennedy
• Xx.com/wiedenkennedy
• Facebookfacebook.com/wiedenkennedy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wieden---kennedy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wieden + Kennedy