TRUEdotDESIGN

What TRUEdotDESIGN does

TRUEdotDESIGN is a privately held, Ottawa-based integrated marketing, branding, and design agency founded in 2012 by Shelley True. The firm provides a full suite of professional services — including strategy development, brand development, graphic design, social media management, public relations, copywriting, web design and development, digital marketing (PPC, SEO, AEO/GEO), advertising and promotions, media planning, event planning, video production, and sales centre/showroom interior design — delivered by a bilingual in-house team. Its core client base is concentrated in the architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate development sectors, with enterprise relationships spanning multi-residential rental, master-planned communities, homebuilders, construction firms, and architecture practices across Ontario.

The firm's service delivery relies on standard third-party agency tooling rather than proprietary technology: HubSpot for CRM and marketing automation, Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, and Looker Studio for analytics and reporting, WordPress and Webflow for web platforms, Mailchimp and Campaign Monitor for email, Figma and Axure for design, and Hootsuite for social media management. AI is used at an operational, tool-assisted level — generative AI for copy and design assets, and an emerging AEO/GEO service line for AI-search readiness — but there is no proprietary platform or model development.

Revenue is generated through bespoke project-based and retainer-based engagements with no self-serve or productized offering; pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective clients are directed to [email protected]. TRUEdotDESIGN expanded in May 2015 by acquiring Avenue Design Group, integrating its team and client base. The company operates from a single headquarters at 145 Spruce Street, Suite 100, Ottawa, with a reported team of approximately 13 employees. New business is acquired through referrals, relationship-based outreach, community involvement (notably long-standing GOHBA sponsorship since 2013 and the Senators Community Foundation gala partnership since 2023), and inbound inquiries — no product-led or marketplace channel is described.

Name

TRUEdotDESIGN

Legal name

TRUEdotDESIGN

Website

https://truedotdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TRUEdotDESIGN is a privately held, Ottawa-based integrated marketing, branding, and design agency serving architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate development clients across Ontario with strategy, creative, digital, and environmental design services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing and Brand Strategy Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ), Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Strategic marketing services
• Brand development design
• Digital marketing agency
• Social media management
• Web design development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Integrated Marketing & Design Services: TRUEdotDESIGN generates revenue by providing a comprehensive suite of professional services to clients, including strategy development and planning, brand development, graphic design, social media management, public relations, copywriting, web design and development, advertising and promotions (mainstream and online), media and marketing planning, event planning, and sales centre and showroom interior design. Revenue is project-based or retainer-based, consistent with agency service billing models.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TRUEdotDESIGN is a fully integrated Ottawa-based marketing, branding, and design agency that delivers strategy-first, turnkey marketing services to clients primarily in architecture, engineering, residential development, homebuilding, and real estate sectors. Services span strategy development, brand development, graphic design, social media management, public relations, copywriting, web design and development, advertising and promotions, media planning, event planning, video production, and sales centre and showroom interior design. The agency operates as a single in-house team of bilingual marketing strategists and designers, with no outsourcing or subcontracting.

Product overview

TRUEdotDESIGN is a fully integrated, award-winning Ottawa-based marketing firm that operates as a single unified agency rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company provides a comprehensive suite of strategic marketing, branding, and design services primarily serving clients in architecture, engineering, residential development, homebuilding, and real estate sectors. Core service offerings include brand development, graphic design, social media management, public relations, copywriting, web design and development, digital marketing (PPC, SEO), video production, event planning, and sales centre/showroom design. The company was founded in 2012 and expanded in 2015 through the acquisition of Avenue Design Group, integrating both teams into a single enhanced agency. TRUEdotDESIGN also operates Fore-Play for Charity as an annual community initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Marketing Services
• Brand Development
• Graphic Design
• Digital Marketing
• Social Media Management
• Web Design and Development
• Public Relations
• Copywriting
• Sales Centre and Showroom Design
• Event Planning
• Video Production
• Advertising and Promotions
• Media Planning

Named customers14 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

Integration18 records

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Senators Community FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023TRUEdotDESIGN has served as the full marketing partner for the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala since 2023. Responsibilities include developing the event website, video content, and a full suite of digital, print, and signage materials. The gala connects community leaders and raises funds for the Foundation's charitable mission.
• Avenue Design GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2015TRUEdotDESIGN acquired Ottawa-based Avenue Design Group on May 1, 2015, bringing together both teams under the TRUEdotDESIGN brand. The acquisition expanded the firm's service capabilities and client base, integrating Avenue's expertise in real estate development and renovation sector marketing into the combined agency.
• Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association (GOHBA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2013TRUEdotDESIGN has been a proud sponsor and marketing partner of the GOHBA Housing Design Awards since 2013. The agency develops all event marketing collateral, including the program booklet, and the entire team attends the gala as a show of industry support. This long-standing partnership is a cornerstone of the firm's visibility in the Ottawa building sector.
• Ottawa Board of TrademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerTRUEdotDESIGN is a member of the Ottawa Board of Trade, benefiting from networking events, member discounts, the FunSave program, and newsletters. President Shelley True previously served seven years on the OBOT Board of Directors.
• Fore-Play for Charity Sponsors (Merkleysupply.com, Flux Lighting, Teknion, Welch LLP, QDI, Morin Supply, Urban Quarry, JPGravel Construction, Govan Brown, Homes in the Capital, Glenview Homes, Lawrence Arc, District Realty, Desjardins)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFore-Play for Charity is an annual women's networking golf tournament founded by TRUEdotDESIGN President Shelley True in 2015. Multiple sponsors support the event annually, with many sponsoring since its inception. The event raises funds for local Ottawa charities and provides a platform for women in business networking.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WAX Partnership: Toronto-based strategic design and branding agency with a comparable integrated model spanning brand development, design, digital, and content. WAX serves similar B2B verticals and competes for design-driven brand work in the Canadian AEC and professional services space.
• Citizen Relations: Toronto-based integrated communications and PR agency. Comparable in offering integrated brand, PR, content, and digital services to B2B and consumer clients, with a similar mid-sized agency structure and relationship-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Juniper Park\TBWA: Toronto-based creative agency within the TBWA global network. Comparable in offering breadth (brand, digital, content) and serves real estate and lifestyle clients, but at significantly larger scale and with broader portfolio reach.
• TAXI: One of Canada's largest independent full-service creative agencies. Operates a similar integrated model (strategy, brand, digital, content) across multiple verticals including real estate, but at materially larger scale and with national reach.
• Zulu Alpha Kilo: Toronto-based independent creative agency recognized for award-winning brand and campaign work. Comparable in integrated creative capabilities and creative-first positioning, though serving a much broader set of national and international clients.
• Rethink: Major Canadian independent creative agency with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Operates a similar strategy-plus-creative model with comparable integrated services and a strong award profile, but at materially larger scale.
• Cossette: One of Canada's largest full-service marketing and communications agencies, headquartered in Quebec City. Offers the same integrated breadth of services (strategy, brand, digital, content, media) at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
• DDB Canada: Canadian arm of the global DDB creative network. Operates a similar full-service creative and digital offering across multiple verticals, but at much larger scale with national reach and global network resources.
• BBDO Canada: Canadian operations of the global BBDO creative network. Provides comparable integrated advertising, brand, and digital services at significantly larger scale, with national and international footprint across multiple verticals.

Regional players

• lg2: Quebec-headquartered independent creative agency with comparable integrated service model across brand, digital, content, and design. Operates primarily in Quebec with different geographic focus than the Ottawa-based TRUEdotDESIGN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

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 TRUEdotDESIGN