What Design Hub does

Design Hub is a privately-held, founder-owned editorial content platform founded by Sam McCraw and based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. The company publishes beginner-friendly reviews, tutorials, and resource lists for online design software spanning YouTube graphics, Twitch/streaming, print-on-demand mockups, and logo creation. Its audience consists primarily of non-designer content creators and small-business owners seeking guidance on accessible tools such as Canva, Adobe Express, Kittl, and Placeit.

The underlying technology is a WordPress-based website with no proprietary platform disclosed; the company has built a small set of free web-based utilities (Instagram Grid Maker, Instagram Profile Mockup Generator, Instagram Grid Planner) alongside a large library of editorial articles and curated free mockup resources. The business operates with 1-10 employees and an established cross-channel social presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube, supplemented by an email newsletter.

Design Hub monetizes through two streams: affiliate commissions on outbound clicks to partner design tools (including discount-code arrangements such as a 15% Placeit offer) and programmatic advertising served through Mediavine. The go-to-market is purely content-led and SEO-driven, with no direct sales motion and no paid acquisition infrastructure disclosed.

Name

Design Hub

Legal name

Design Hub

Website

https://designhub.co

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Design Hub is a founder-owned editorial platform based in Edinburgh that publishes beginner-friendly reviews, guides, and free design utilities for YouTubers, streamers, print-on-demand sellers, and logo seekers, monetizing through affiliate commissions and Mediavine programmatic advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design Software Reviews & Resources

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Content & Creative Studio for Creators (Concepting/Production) (MPAAAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD), Creator Tools & Production (Overlays, Alerts, Encoding, Editing, Audio) (MPAFAEAC)

Keywords

• Design software reviews
• Graphic design guides
• Logo maker resources
• Mockup templates
• Streaming graphics guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Affiliate commissions: Design Hub earns commissions when users click affiliate links and make purchases on partner design tool websites. This is disclosed in the website footer as a standard affiliate disclosure.
2. Programmatic advertising: The website displays contextual and behavioral advertising through Mediavine's programmatic advertising program, earning revenue from ad impressions and clicks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Design Hub operates an editorial content website that publishes beginner-friendly reviews, tutorials, and comparison guides for online design software such as Canva, Adobe Express, Kittl, and Placeit. The platform also offers a small set of free proprietary web-based tools (Instagram Grid Maker, Instagram Profile Mockup Generator, Instagram Grid Planner) and curated mockup template resources for content creators.

Product overview

Design Hub is a content-based review and resource platform that provides beginner-friendly guides, tutorials, and comparisons for online design tools. The offering consists of proprietary free web-based tools (Instagram Grid Maker, Instagram Profile Mockup Generator, Instagram Grid Planner) alongside extensive editorial content including design software reviews (Canva, Adobe Express, Kittl, Placeit), mockup template resources, YouTube graphics guides, streaming overlays and emotes resources, and logo creation tutorials. The company monetizes through affiliate partnerships with featured design platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Instagram Grid Maker

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MediavinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMediavine is Design Hub's advertising partner managing programmatic advertising on the website. They serve content and advertisements using first and third-party cookies, implementing interest-based advertising across the site. Mediavine collects data including IP addresses, operating system information, device types, and browsing behavior to deliver targeted advertisements.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Envato Tuts+: Tutorial and educational platform from Envato (owner of Placeit, one of Design Hub's key affiliate partners). Comparable through its creator-focused tutorial content and design tool reviews, though it operates at much larger scale and is partially a vendor.
• G2: Software review and comparison marketplace that monetizes vendor relationships and affiliate traffic. Comparable as a third-party review site influencing purchasing decisions, though primarily a B2B SaaS platform rather than a creator tool affiliate site.
• Wirecutter (NYT): A flagship example of an editorial review site monetized primarily through affiliate commissions. Comparable business mechanics, though operating at much larger scale and across broad consumer categories rather than design tools specifically.
• Capterra: Software review and lead-gen platform owned by Gartner. Similar affiliate-style monetization and SEO-driven content model, but focused on B2B SaaS rather than creator/DIY design tools.
• HubSpot Marketing Blog: Content-marketing-driven SMB education site that monetizes through software affiliate relationships and lead generation. Comparable GTM/affiliate mechanic, though operating at much larger scale and across a broader B2B SMB audience.
• NerdWallet: Content and affiliate monetization business that has built a multi-hundred-million-dollar platform around SEO-driven comparison content. Comparable GTM/affiliate architecture, albeit at a vastly larger scale and in financial services rather than design tools.

Others

• Placeit by Envato: Mockup and design tool platform that is itself one of Design Hub's top affiliate partners. An OTHERS classification because it is both a partner and a vendor — comparable to Design Hub's audience but sits on the supply side of the affiliate relationship.

Direct peers

• Creative Bloq: A long-running design industry content site publishing tutorials, tool reviews, and creator-focused articles. Directly comparable to Design Hub as both monetize design software/media audiences through affiliate links and advertising, with overlapping content verticals.
• Smashing Magazine: Editorial site for web/design professionals publishing tutorials, tool reviews, and resources. Comparable business model (content + affiliate + ads) and audience overlap with Design Hub's designer and creator readership.
• Design Shack: Design-focused blog covering inspiration, tutorials, and tools. Comparable to Design Hub through its SEO-driven editorial model targeting the same beginner-creator and SMB designer audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DesignHubCo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWeNsyPkgPTQfokCXyo9KlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/designhub3
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/designhub-co
• Instagraminstagram.com/designhub.co
• Pinterestuk.pinterest.com/designhub_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Design Hub