Schwarz+Matt

What Schwarz+Matt does

Schwarz+Matt GmbH is a privately held German brand and design agency headquartered in Dortmund, with regional offices in Cologne (opened 2024) and Münster. Founded in 2015, the firm operates across the full brand lifecycle — strategy, design, implementation, and ongoing scaling — serving start-ups, SMEs/Mittelstand, hidden champions, public sector clients, and leading enterprises primarily in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The agency delivers project-based professional services including brand strategy and positioning, visual identity and design systems, UX/UI design, WordPress-based website development, Frontify-powered brand portal implementation, and retainer-based ongoing creative services under "Schwarz+Matt Plus." Its proprietary "Schwarz+Matt Brand System" consolidates methodology from 10 years and 120+ projects, and the firm has launched an "AI-Ready Brands" (KI-bereite Marken) methodology positioning clients for AI-augmented brand management. Technology stack centers on WordPress CMS, Elementor, and the Frontify brand management platform, supported by standard agency tooling (Asana, Zoom, Miro, Slack, MailChimp).

Schwarz+Matt generates revenue primarily through project-based fees billed at €100/hour (15-minute intervals) or fixed project prices, with website projects ranging from €5,000 (simple landing pages) to over €50,000 (corporate sites). The sales-led go-to-market operates via direct engagement from three regional offices, supplemented by content marketing, SEO/SEM, LinkedIn/Instagram presence, and industry event participation at DMEXCO and OMR. Named clients include thyssenkrupp, adesso, voestalpine, Rhenus Logistics, Aurubis, Jokey, and Rottendorf Pharma. The firm is a GWA member and multi-year award winner (German Brand Award 2021 and 2026; German Web Awards 2025 and 2026), trading under the Schwarz+Matt® trademark.

Name

Schwarz+Matt

Legal name

Schwarz+Matt GmbH

Website

https://schwarz-matt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schwarz+Matt is a privately held German brand and design agency in Dortmund, Cologne, and Münster that delivers brand strategy, visual identity, website development, and Frontify-based brand management for start-ups, SMEs, hidden champions, and enterprises across North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand and Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand Consulting, Audits & Research (Brand Health, Equity, Competitive) (BPAFAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brand Guidelines, Governance & Brand Management (BPAFAEAF), Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG), Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI)

Keywords

• Brand strategy services
• Corporate identity design
• Brand management consulting
• Visual identity design
• Brand implementation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Strategy and Consulting Services: Project-based brand strategy engagements including market and competitive analysis, brand positioning, brand architecture, brand workshops, and employer branding. Billed on time basis at €100/hour plus VAT, in 15-minute intervals, or as fixed project fees.
2. Brand Design Services: Logo development, design systems, layout systems, UX/UI design, color palettes, typography, image styles, product design, packaging design, corporate design, and stationery. Delivered as part of brand development projects or standalone design engagements.
3. Brand Implementation Services: Implementation services including brand manuals, guidelines, brand portals (Frontify), launch campaigns, web design, web development, digital asset management, workshops and employee training. Billed project-based or via retainer.
4. Brand Scaling and Ongoing Services: Ongoing brand development services including print design, communication design, social media design, motion design, presentations, annual reports, catalogs, international adaptations. Offered via retainer arrangements.
5. Website Development: Custom website conceptualization, design, and development services using WordPress CMS. Pricing ranges from €5,000 for simple landing pages to well over €50,000 for larger corporate websites. Implementation timelines of 4-12 weeks for simpler sites, 3-6 months for corporate websites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schwarz+Matt is a German brand and design agency that develops, designs, implements, and scales corporate brands for businesses. The agency delivers integrated brand services across four pillars: brand strategy (market analysis, positioning, brand architecture), brand design (logos, design systems, UX/UI), brand implementation (brand manuals, Frontify brand portals, websites, launch campaigns), and brand scaling (ongoing design, social media, international adaptations). It also offers specialized AI-Ready Brand methodology and Frontify brand management platform implementation.

Product overview

Schwarz+Matt is a brand and design agency offering comprehensive brand development services as a unified service offering rather than a software platform. Their portfolio consists of four core service pillars: Brand Strategy (Markenstrategie), Brand Design (Markendesign), Brand Implementation (Markenimplementierung), and Brand Scaling (Markenskalierung), supported by specialized services including AI-Ready Brands, Frontify-based Brand Portal implementation, Website Development, Social Media Services, and ongoing retainer services under Schwarz+Matt Plus. The agency operates from three German locations (Dortmund, Cologne, Münster) and serves clients ranging from startups to hidden champions and leading enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Strategy (Markenstrategie) Strategic brand development including market and competitive analysis, brand positioning, naming, claims, brand values, brand architecture, brand story, and employer branding. Delivered as project-based consulting engagements.
• Brand Design (Markendesign) Visual identity and design system creation including logo development, design systems, layout systems, UX/UI design, color palettes, typography, photography styles, product design, packaging design, and corporate collateral.
• Brand Implementation (Markenimplementierung) Translation of design into operational brand management including brand manuals, guidelines, brand portals via Frontify, launch campaigns, web design and development, digital asset management, workshops, and employee training.
• Brand Scaling (Markenskalierung) Ongoing brand evolution services including print design, communication design, social media design, motion design, presentations, annual reports, catalogs, international adaptations, and retainer-based services.
• AI-Ready Brands (KI-bereite Marken) Brand positioning and infrastructure development methodology that integrates AI technology deeply into brand DNA while preserving brand identity and compliance in automated environments, creating intelligent brand infrastructure.
• Brand Portal / Frontify Implementation Cloud-based brand management platform implementation using Frontify, providing a centralized hub for design assets, guidelines, and templates accessible across teams, locations, and countries, with Digital Asset Management (DAM) capabilities.
• Website Development Custom website conceptualization, design, and development using WordPress CMS, including responsive, conversion-optimized, and SEO-optimized solutions. Pricing from €5,000 for simple landing pages to over €50,000 for corporate websites, with 4-12 week timelines for simpler sites and 3-6 months for corporate websites.
• Social Media Services Social media strategy development, content production, advertising campaigns, community management, and social selling strategies across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and X.
• Schwarz+Matt Plus (Retainer) Ongoing brand support retainer services including ad creatives, social creatives, email design, landing page design, presentation design, merchandise design, e-book design, report design, print design, and concept creation. Minimum recommended term of 3 months for social media retainer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ brand and design projects completed across multiple industries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FrontifycoreTechnology or IntegrationSchwarz+Matt is an official Frontify Partner and Frontify Agency. They implement the world's leading cloud-based brand management platform (Frontify) for clients, integrating it as the central hub for brand assets, design guidelines, and brand portals. As a specialized Frontify agency, they help companies introduce, build, and use the platform sustainably, enabling AI-ready brand management and Digital Asset Management (DAM).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Serviceplan Group: Serviceplan is Europe's largest owner-managed agency group, with brand strategy, design, and digital houses under its umbrella. It competes for enterprise rebrands in Germany and offers comparable brand consultancy services, though at significantly larger scale.
• Jung von Matt: Jung von Matt is one of Germany's largest and most awarded creative agency groups, with deep brand strategy, design, and digital capabilities. It competes for the same enterprise and Mittelstand rebranding briefs but operates at significantly greater scale and a broader communications remit.
• Interbrand: Interbrand is a global brand consultancy offering brand strategy, naming, corporate identity, and brand valuation services. Comparable to Schwarz+Matt on the brand strategy and corporate identity axis, but with global reach and a much larger scale.
• FutureBrand: FutureBrand is a global brand consultancy with capabilities in brand strategy, corporate identity, experience design, and digital branding. Comparable on the corporate identity and brand strategy axis but operating globally and at significantly greater scale.
• Scholz & Friends: Scholz & Friends is a major German agency group offering integrated brand strategy, corporate design, advertising, and digital services. Comparable to Schwarz+Matt on the brand strategy/design axis but with broader advertising scale and additional group network reach.
• Landor & Fitch: Landor & Fitch is a global brand and design consultancy with deep experience in corporate identity, brand strategy, and brand experience. It competes with Schwarz+Matt for large enterprise rebranding briefs but operates at global scale.

Direct peers

• denkwerk: denkwerk is a Cologne-based independent digital agency with brand, design, web, and digital strategy capabilities. Directly comparable to Schwarz+Matt on geographic overlap (NRW), service mix, and target mid-market/enterprise clients, and a credible competitor in the Rhineland region.
• Strichpunkt Design: Strichpunkt is a Stuttgart/Munich-based independent brand and design agency focused on corporate identity, brand strategy, and digital brand experiences. It is comparable to Schwarz+Matt in service scope, premium positioning, and Mittelstand/enterprise target market.
• MetaDesign: MetaDesign is one of Germany's leading brand and design agencies (Berlin/Beijing/San Francisco), with a similar full-service offering across brand strategy, corporate design, and digital brand implementation. It is the most directly comparable German brand consultancy to Schwarz+Matt in terms of service scope and target client base (large enterprises, public sector, hidden champions).
• Peter Schmidt Group: Peter Schmidt Group is a German brand and design agency (Hamburg/Düsseldorf) with strong corporate design, packaging, and brand identity capabilities. Comparable to Schwarz+Matt in service mix (brand strategy, corporate design, packaging) and target client profile (German Mittelstand and large enterprises).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schwarzundmatt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schwarzundmatt
• Instagraminstagram.com/schwarzundmatt
• Facebookfacebook.com/schwarzundmatt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Schwarz+Matt