What Knot does

Knot Studio is a Portland, Oregon-based woman-owned design firm operating across three integrated practice areas: Environmental Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Justice. The firm serves government agencies (federal, state, and municipal), educational institutions, healthcare systems, and private developers, delivering services that span wayfinding signage, campus master planning, ecological site design, restoration, public engagement, and equity-focused spatial analysis. Underlying technical capabilities center on GIS-based spatial analysis, ecological modeling, and community engagement frameworks, with marquee federal projects including U.S. Embassy commissions in Niamey (Niger) and Guatemala City and multiple LEED Platinum-certified institutional builds. The firm carries WBE, DBE, and federal EDWOSB certifications, providing preferential access to set-aside government contracts.

The business model is project-based professional services delivered on fixed-fee engagements to enterprise clients. Pricing is custom-quoted per project scope and is not publicly disclosed, and the firm relies on industry recognition (60+ AIA and ASLA awards), LEED credentials, and relationship-based referrals within the architecture and design community to generate new commissions. Distribution is direct field/enterprise sales, with no retail or self-serve channels applicable. In 2023, the firm rebranded from Anderson Krygier to Knot Studio and merged with 2.ink Studio, bringing in Design Director Jonathan Beaver and substantially expanding the landscape architecture bench while maintaining continuity under Owner/Principal Marilee Hanks and Principals Jill Boots and Michael Yun. Operating geographies center on the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, California) with episodic international federal work.

Name

Knot

Legal name

Knot Studio

Website

https://knotstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knot Studio is a Portland-based, woman-owned design firm delivering Environmental Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Justice services to government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and private developers through fixed-fee project commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Planning Professional Services: Project-based professional service fees for design and planning engagements including environmental graphic design, landscape architecture, and environmental justice consulting services. Revenue is earned through fixed-fee project contracts with government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and private developers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Knot Studio provides project-based professional design and planning services spanning three integrated practices: Environmental Graphic Design (wayfinding, signage, branded environments, interpretive programs), Landscape Architecture (site planning, ecological restoration, sustainable site design, recreation planning, and construction administration), and Environmental Justice (spatial model development, equity-focused planning, demographic analysis, and urban ecological assessment). Services are delivered on fixed-fee contracts to government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and private developers.

Product overview

Knot Studio is a design firm offering three core service practices: Environmental Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Justice. The firm also developed Parkpulse.io, a web-based public resource for outdoor recreation information. These services work in concert across disciplines to cultivate ecological ideas and build frameworks that reveal meaning, promote equity, and inspire belonging. Environmental Graphic Design focuses on wayfinding, signage, and placemaking; Landscape Architecture covers site design from ecological and cultural contexts; Environmental Justice addresses distributive, procedural, and recognition justice issues through spatial analysis and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Graphic Design Creates memorable, persuasive, and engaging experiences at the intersection of story, site, and architecture through wayfinding signage, visitor experience analysis, storytelling, branded environments, identity design, visual communication, interpretive programs, trailside signage, donor appreciation, and code-applied signage. Delivered to government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and private developers.
• Landscape Architecture Designs landscapes from layered ecological, historical, and cultural contexts, integrating spatial analysis, research, and adaptive strategies for resilient places. Services include site assessment, public engagement, scenic resource planning, recreation planning, site planning, landscape water use planning, sustainable sites design, green roof design, irrigation design, restoration design, water feature design, inclusive playground design, and construction administration.
• Environmental Justice Research-based and ecologically informed consulting that synthesizes theory, spatial analysis, and complex technical information to create accessible decision-making tools. Services include spatial model development, demographic analysis, dasymetric population allocation, equitable engagement strategy and facilitation, equity-focused planning and design, and urban ecological assessment.
• Parkpulse.io Public web resource providing information about crowding potential, COVID-19 risk, amenities, and use restrictions for parks and natural areas in Oregon to support safe and equitable access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 national and regional AIA and ASLA awards recognizing design excellence
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 2.ink StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CMG Landscape Architecture: CMG is a San Francisco-based landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with significant public realm and open-space work on the West Coast, a regional peer to Knot's Pacific Northwest focus.
• PWP Landscape Architecture: PWP is a Berkeley-based landscape architecture firm with award-winning public, institutional, and ecological projects on the West Coast, comparable in size and design profile to Knot.
• SWA Group: SWA is one of the largest landscape architecture and urban design firms in the U.S., with deep work on university campuses, parks, waterfronts, and public realm projects that directly overlap Knot Studio's core landscape architecture practice.
• OLIN: OLIN is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio known for high-profile public realm and institutional work, making it a close peer to Knot in scope, awards profile, and integrated design approach.
• James Corner Field Operations: Field Operations is a leading landscape architecture and urban design firm behind landmark public projects (e.g., High Line). It competes for similar institutional, waterfront, and public-sector commissions as Knot Studio.
• Sasaki Associates: Sasaki is an integrated design practice spanning landscape architecture, planning, and urban design, with major university and civic clients, overlapping closely with Knot's integrated EGD + LA + EJ offering.
• LandDesign: LandDesign is a multi-disciplinary firm delivering landscape architecture, civil engineering, and planning for campuses, mixed-use, and civic clients, directly comparable to Knot's higher education and public-sector work.
• Design Workshop: Design Workshop is a landscape architecture and planning firm with deep public-sector, parks, and open-space work, closely matching Knot's portfolio of parks, regional planning, and wayfinding engagements.
• Hargreaves Associates: Hargreaves Associates is a landscape architecture and planning practice with a strong civic and waterfront portfolio, similar in scale and award profile to Knot Studio.

Broad incumbents

• Mithun: Mithun is an integrated architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design firm with major higher-education and civic clients; it overlaps with Knot's integrated design approach but at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knot-designers
• Instagraminstagram.com/knotstudio.pdx
• Xx.com/knot_designers

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Knot