DBC

What DBC does

DBC (The Design and Branding Company, Inc.) is a privately held, New York-based brand strategy and creative agency founded in 2014 by Carlos Williams. The firm delivers a portfolio of design services organized into four named offerings: Remote Team (on-demand creative support), RTB / "Rebrands that Perform" (rebrand engagements), Baseline (new brand creation for emerging ventures), and Presentations (presentation design), supplemented by educational Guides + Checklists resources. Its client base spans Fortune 500 enterprises (Spotify, American Express, Bank of America, Meta, Google, J.P. Morgan, College Board), foundations and nonprofits (Gates Foundation / Higher Endeavor, NBPA Foundation, Ms. Foundation for Women, Vitalant), and startups/education (WealthMore, Sophia Learning, The Webb School).

Underlying the services is a "data-driven creative" positioning that combines brand strategy with data-informed design decisions. The most notable technical component is Ditto, a proprietary tool (dittoditto.io) that automates hyperlocal, on-brand marketing asset creation, suggesting an early move from pure services toward productized creative tooling. The business operates on a professional services, project-based revenue model with quote-driven pricing and a free initial consultation ("first insight is free of charge") as the entry point; no public pricing tiers or API exist. Go-to-market is direct sales via website, phone, and email, supported by content marketing (insights blog, case studies) and organic social across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

The firm is independently owned and operated without external institutional capital or parent company, holds MBE certifications (NYC, NYS, NMSDC national) and DBE (NYS Unified Certification Program), and is BBB accredited with industry recognition including MUSE Platinum, Davey Silver, a Clutch Black-Owned badge, and a 2026 Top 10 Design Firm listing on 50pros.com. Headcount is reported in the 1–10 employee band, operating from a single headquarters at 40 Water Street, New York.

Name

DBC

Legal name

The Design and Branding Company, Inc.

Website

https://studiodbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DBC is a New York-based brand strategy and creative agency, founded in 2014, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, nonprofits, and startups with rebranding, brand creation, presentation design, and on-demand creative services, complemented by its Ditto AI-powered asset-generation tool.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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. Creative Agency Services: Full-service brand strategy and design services including rebrands, new brand launches, presentations, and ongoing creative work. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements with clients ranging from startups to global enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DBC is a full-service creative agency that sells brand strategy, brand design, rebranding, presentation design, and on-demand creative services to growth organizations. Its offerings include four named service lines (Remote Team, RTB Rebrands that Perform, Baseline New Brands for New Ideas, and Presentations) plus Ditto, a proprietary tool for automated hyperlocal marketing asset production.

Product overview

DBC (The Design and Branding Company) is a full-service creative agency that specializes in brand strategy and design for growth organizations. The company operates as a services-based business offering multiple distinct service lines: Remote Team (on-demand creative support), RTB (Rebrands that Perform - rebranding services), Baseline (new brand creation), and Presentations (presentation design). DBC also offers Ditto, an AI-powered tool for automated, hyperlocal marketing asset creation. The portfolio also includes educational resources like guides and checklists. The agency serves clients ranging from startups to global enterprises including Spotify, Meta, Bank of America, Google, J.P. Morgan, and American Express.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ditto: DBC's tool for turning data into creative power. Helps brands deliver hyperlocal, high-quality marketing assets automatically.

Products and services

• Ditto Ditto is DBC's proprietary tool that helps brands, platforms, and teams deliver hyperlocal, high-quality marketing assets automatically. It turns data into creative power, enabling scalable on-brand content production without manual bottlenecks. Targeted at brands and marketing teams seeking personalization at scale.
• Remote Team On-demand creative services for organizations needing rapid design and branding support. Marketed as 'Creative that you need ASAP', this service provides immediate access to DBC's design team for time-sensitive creative needs.
• RTB (Rebrands that Perform) Comprehensive rebranding services focused on delivering measurable business performance outcomes. Marketed as 'Rebrands that Perform', this service helps organizations refresh or transform their brand identity to drive tangible business results.
• Baseline (New Brands for New Ideas) Brand creation services for new ventures and startups launching fresh brands to market. Marketed as 'New Brands for New Ideas', this service supports organizations from positioning and naming through to full visual identity and launch creative.
• Presentations Presentation design services aimed at creating compelling visual narratives that motivate audiences to take action. Marketed as 'Presentations that drive action', this service helps organizations craft persuasive presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Year-over-year increase in average donation amount for Ms. Foundation for Women
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pentagram: Pentagram is a renowned partner-led, design-focused brand agency offering strategy, identity, and design services to global clients. It is the closest large-scale analog to DBC's boutique brand strategy and design model.
• Red Antler: Red Antler is a Brooklyn-based branding agency focused on launching and re-energizing brands for high-growth companies. Comparable to DBC in its emphasis on brand strategy for growth-stage organizations.
• Manual: Manual is a creative branding agency serving ambitious founders and enterprises with brand strategy, identity, and design. Comparable to DBC's growth-organization focus and full-service creative offering.
• Mucca: Mucca is a boutique branding and design studio delivering brand strategy, identity systems, and design work for global clients. Comparable in scale and service mix to DBC's boutique positioning.
• Athletics: Athletics is a NYC-based branding and design agency with expertise in identity, brand strategy, and creative for ambitious companies. Comparable in geography and boutique enterprise focus to DBC.
• HAWRAF: HAWRAF is an independent creative agency specializing in brand identity, strategy, and design for forward-thinking clients. Comparable as a boutique creative firm working with enterprise clients across industries.
• Collins (brand consultancy): Collins is an independent brand and design consultancy delivering strategy, identity, and experience design for global brands. Comparable boutique model and enterprise client roster to DBC.
• Mother Design: Mother Design is the design arm of Mother, a global creative network, providing branding, identity, and design services. Comparable creative design focus with global enterprise clientele.

Broad incumbents

• Lippincott: Lippincott is a long-established global brand strategy and design consultancy serving Fortune 500 enterprises. Comparable brand strategy offerings but with broader portfolio and significantly larger scale than DBC.
• Prophet: Prophet is a global brand and marketing consultancy combining strategy, design, and digital. Overlaps with DBC on brand strategy but operates as a broader management consultancy with enterprise scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studiodbc
• Facebookfacebook.com/thestudiodbc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studiodbc
• Instagraminstagram.com/studiodbc
• TikToktiktok.com/@designbrandingco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 DBC