Hello Design

What Hello Design does

Hello Design is a privately held digital-first creative agency headquartered in Culver City, United States, founded in 1999. The firm operates as a technology-led brand, product, and marketing agency that integrates strategy, creative, and technology disciplines under one roof, and is led by CEO and Creative Director David Lai. The company's offering is organized into three core service lines: Brand Services (brand strategy, identity, and experience design), Marketing Services (multi-channel campaign design and execution), and Product Services (UX/UI design, product strategy, and digital product development). Underlying capability is the multi-disciplinary team model rather than any proprietary software, platform, or patents; no products are listed on app stores and no public API or SDK is offered.

Revenue is generated through professional services on a project-based, quote-driven engagement model sold via direct enterprise field sales — pricing is not publicly disclosed. The customer base consists of approximately 20+ named enterprise and Fortune 500 clients across technology (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Stripe, PayPal), entertainment and streaming (Netflix, Spotify, EA, NBA), consumer and retail (Nike, Patagonia, Levi's, Sephora, Nordstrom, Marriott, Sonos, Oura), and social/mobility (Instagram, Pinterest, Uber). Geographic scope is described as global with no disclosed operating restrictions. Go-to-market is supported by a content marketing footprint that includes a website blog, a quarterly newsletter ('Liner Notes') distributed on LinkedIn, and active organic social channels on Instagram and Twitter. Recent industry recognition includes Campaign US Design Studio Agency of the Year 2026, Anthem Awards 2025, and honors across The Drum, Webby, Shorty, Fast Company, Awwwards, Indigo, B2, and W3. No funding rounds, investors, parent company, acquisitions, or subsidiaries are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Hello Design

Legal name

Instrument

Website

https://hellodesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hello Design is a digital-first creative agency founded in 1999 in Culver City, offering integrated brand, product, and marketing design services to enterprise clients including Nike, Google, Netflix, and Spotify.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI), Visual Identity & Brand Design Systems (BPAFAEAC)

Keywords

• Brand design services
• Product design services
• Marketing design services
• Digital experience design
• Creative agency services

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Marketing Services: Instrument generates revenue through providing integrated brand, product, and marketing design services to enterprise clients. The agency model involves project-based engagements covering brand strategy, product design, and marketing campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hello Design is a digital-first creative agency that provides integrated brand, product, and marketing design services to enterprise clients. The agency combines strategy, creative, and technology disciplines to deliver cohesive brand experiences across multiple touchpoints, including brand identity development, end-to-end product design, and multi-channel marketing campaign execution.

Product overview

Instrument is a digital-first design agency offering three integrated service lines: Brand Services (strategic brand identity and experience), Marketing Services (campaign design and execution), and Product Services (end-to-end product design and development). The agency takes a multi-disciplinary approach, seamlessly integrating strategy, creative, and technology to deliver cohesive brand experiences across all touchpoints.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Services
• Marketing Services Marketing campaign design and execution spanning digital marketing, content strategy, and multi-channel campaign management for enterprise clients.
• Product Services End-to-end product design and development services including UX/UI design, product strategy, and technical implementation for websites and digital products.

Named customers21 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ustwo (studio): Ustwo is a digital product studio delivering app, web, and experience design for enterprise and consumer brands (Google, Ford, HSBC). Comparable in digital product design and integrated studio model.
• R/GA: R/GA is a digital-first creative agency combining brand, product, and marketing work for Fortune 500 enterprise clients — a direct analogue in scope, multi-disciplinary model, and enterprise client profile.
• Code and Theory: Code and Theory is a digital-first agency combining brand, product, and marketing services for enterprise clients (Microsoft-adjacent, NFL, Pfizer). Directly comparable in integrated digital model and enterprise positioning.
• Huge: Huge is a digital experience agency that integrates strategy, design, and technology for global brands across product, marketing, and brand. Closely comparable in integrated model and enterprise roster (Google, Nike-adjacent brands).
• Ammunition Group: Ammunition is an independent brand and product design agency working with major consumer and tech brands (Beats, Oculus, Starbucks). Comparable as a design-led independent agency in the same competitive set.
• Pentagram: Pentagram is the largest independent design consultancy, focused on brand identity and visual design for high-profile clients. Comparable in independent ownership structure and brand-design focus, though narrower in services.
• Work & Co: Work & Co is a digital product agency that designs and builds flagship digital products for major brands (Apple, Google, Nike). Comparable in product/UX design depth and enterprise client caliber.
• Fantasy (Interactive): Fantasy is a digital creative and experience agency working with brands like Google, Instagram, Nike, and Netflix on high-design digital products and campaigns. Direct peer in design-forward digital work for tech and consumer brands.
• frog (Capgemini): frog is a design and innovation consultancy working across product, brand, and service design for enterprise clients. Comparable in multi-disciplinary design services and Fortune 500 client roster.

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: IDEO is a broad design and innovation consultancy spanning product, brand, and service design. Overlaps on design-led enterprise work but operates at larger scale across more categories and geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hellodsgn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hello-design
• Instagraminstagram.com/instrument

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 Hello Design