The Yard Creative
The Yard Creative is a London-headquartered, RSBG-owned evidential design agency founded in 2007 that delivers research-led strategy, branding, and interior design for enterprise brands, property developers, and challenger SMEs across retail, F&B, wellness, and placemaking sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Yard Creative does
The Yard Creative Limited is a privately held, London-headquartered design agency founded in 2007 by Sian and Steve James-Royle. It is wholly owned by German investment group RSBG since 2019 and operates through studios in London (Marylebone), Manchester, and Birmingham. TYC positions itself as an 'evidential design' agency, applying a research-led methodology that combines cultural insight, consumer behaviour analysis, and commercial understanding to produce strategy, branding, and experience design. Its service offering is structured around three integrated pillars: Design Strategy (brand strategy, retail/F&B format strategy, place strategy, naming, cultural trends, research and insights, consumer profiling, and experience mapping); Branding and Visual Identity (identity systems, collateral, guidelines, campaigns, social, digital/UX-UI, motion, packaging, and wayfinding); and Experience and Interior Design (flagship, boutique, pop-up, and concession environments, plus technical design, rollout, and franchisee design packs).
The agency serves a hybrid mix of enterprise clients (John Lewis & Partners, Landsec, Quintain, mediasense, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Central Saint Giles), mid-market brands (Bread Ahead, Christy, Repose, Sazy), and challenger/SME clients (INDU, Gecko Coffee House, Keeeps, Sushidog). It generates revenue on a bespoke, project-based professional services model with fees negotiated per engagement and multi-year retainers for strategy and research work. Client acquisition is sales-led, driven by direct outreach, referrals, industry recognition, and competitive pitches. Notable work includes the Horsham John Lewis adaptive trial concept (shortlisted for Creative Retail Awards 2024), Bread Ahead's brand evolution into Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, Landsec's repositioning campaign (340% engagement uplift), and the Wembley Park repositioning that secured 7 units against a KPI of 5 in 12 months. International delivery has reached UAE (Mall of the Emirates), Qatar (Hamad International Airport with sister firm Leslie Jones Architecture), and the US (Pittsburgh Airport, LAB14 brand launch).
Operationally, TYC is led post-January 2023 by CEO Tom Edington and Managing Director Laurence Pugh following Co-Founder Sian's June 2023 departure, with Co-Founder Steve James-Royle focused on senior client work. Headcount sits in the 11–50 range and the business reported 35% revenue growth in 2022. The company states that the majority of profits are directed toward fighting global pollution and climate change, aligned with RSBG's investment thesis.
The Yard Creative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Yard Creative
- Legal name
- The Yard Creative Limited
- Website
- https://theyardcreative.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Yard Creative is a London-headquartered, RSBG-owned evidential design agency founded in 2007 that delivers research-led strategy, branding, and interior design for enterprise brands, property developers, and challenger SMEs across retail, F&B, wellness, and placemaking sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Yard Creative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brand & Experience Design Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG), Event Theming, Mood Boards & Concept Design (HSACAOAH)
Keywords
Where The Yard Creative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Yard Creative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Project-Based Design Engagements: The agency generates revenue through bespoke design project engagements, including brand strategy, visual identity, interior design, digital design, and experience design. Projects range from full rebrands and flagship store concepts to placemaking campaigns and retail repositioning. Revenue is earned as professional services fees tied to project scope and deliverables.
- Strategy and Research Retainers: Ongoing strategic and research engagements with existing clients, supporting brand evolution, campaign development, and continuous design management across multiple touchpoints.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke project-based pricing — scope and fees negotiated per engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Yard Creative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Yard Creative is an evidential design agency delivering three integrated service pillars: Design Strategy (brand strategy, retail/F+B format strategy, place strategy, naming, research, consumer profiling, and experience mapping), Branding and Visual Identity (brand identity, collateral, guidelines, campaign, digital design, UX/UI, motion, packaging, and signage/wayfinding), and Experience + Interior Design (flagship, boutique, concession, kiosk, pop-up, and technical rollout for retail, F&B, wellness, and footfall destinations). Engagements are sold as bespoke, project-based mandates for established brands, property developers, SMEs, and place-makers.
Product overview
The Yard Creative is an award-winning evidential design agency offering a comprehensive suite of integrated design services. The core offering consists of three interconnected service pillars: Design Strategy (research-driven strategic consulting for brand, retail, and placemaking), Branding and Visual Identity (full-spectrum brand development from identity to digital), and Experience and Interior Design (immersive retail and hospitality environments). These services work together to deliver end-to-end brand and experience transformation for clients across retail, F&B, leisure, property, and transport sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design Strategy Evidential thinking to craft supercharged strategies that accelerate business and brand growth. Includes brand strategy, retail/F+B format strategy, place strategy, naming, cultural trends, research and insights, consumer profiling, and experience mapping. Targeted at brand owners, retailers, F+B operators, property developers, and place-makers seeking evidence-based strategic direction.
- Branding and Visual Identity Full-spectrum brand development brought to life across print, digital, and physical space for brands ready to be brave. Includes brand identity, brand collateral, brand guidelines, brand campaign and content, social media content, digital design, UX/UI, motion, art direction, storytelling, copywriting, packaging, in-store communications, and signage and wayfinding. Targeted at established brands and challenger SMEs needing cohesive identity systems.
- Experience and Interior Design Design of unique immersive experiences and memorable places within retail, F&B, wellness, and footfall destinations. Includes retail/F+B, flagship, boutique, concession, kiosk, pop-up and activation, technical design and rollout, franchisee design pack, design guidelines, and design management. Targeted at retailers, hospitality operators, and destination developers needing physical brand translation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Landsec campaign increased engagement by 340% and exceeded all KPIs; Wembley Park repositioning secured 7 units in first 12 months (KPI: 5); Peterborough John Lewis concept store saw 300% uplift in home design bookings since opening
Companies that use The Yard Creative
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Yard Creative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Yard Creative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Leslie Jones ArchitecturecoreSister company within the RSBG UK Group. TYC and Leslie Jones Architecture have complementary strengths in brand/visual design and architectural services. The two firms collaborate on joint ventures including LEFTside RIGHTside (a brand-led urban planning proposition) and projects such as The Watch Store concept at Hamad International Airport in Doha and Pittsburgh Airport redesign.
- SEC NewgatemajorGlobal strategic communications and advocacy group collaborating with TYC on the Ebbsfleet Central brand and visioning project. SEC Newgate brings communications strategy, research, and stakeholder engagement capabilities to the multi-disciplinary team alongside TYC (branding) and Allies and Morrison (architecture/urbanism).
- Allies and MorrisonmajorLondon, Cambridge, and Manchester-based architects and urbanists collaborating with TYC on the Ebbsfleet Central masterplan project. Partners Jason Syrett leads urban design vision alongside TYC's brand strategy and SEC Newgate's communications expertise for the Ebbsfleet Garden City development.
- LAB14 (within RSBG Group)minorTYC created the name and brand identity for LAB14 — a collective of nano-technology companies within the RSBG Group. The brand name references carbon's molecular group (14), symbolising 'Legacy of Ambition and Balance.' The brand was soft-launched in the US.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Yard Creative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Checkland Kindleysides: Leicester/London design agency offering brand strategy, visual identity, and retail/interior design for global brands — closely mirrors TYC's integrated strategy + branding + experience model.
- Mother Design: Creative collective spun out of Mother London, with a design arm covering brand identity, digital, and experience work — comparable in scale and creative-led, B2B brand approach.
- Winkreative: London branding and design consultancy with deep travel, hospitality, and lifestyle specialism — a strong analogue to TYC's work with hotel, F&B, and destination clients.
- Pentagram: Global multi-partner design consultancy working in brand identity, digital, and environmental design — comparable to TYC in offering strategy-led, integrated design for major enterprise clients.
- Dalziel & Pow: UK-based retail and brand experience design agency working with major retailers on store concepts, visual identity, and shopper experience — directly comparable to TYC's retail and placemaking work for John Lewis, Landsec, and Bread Ahead.
- Universal Design Studio: London-based design practice working across brand, digital, and spatial design for hospitality, retail, and cultural clients — a strong analogue to TYC's experience and interior design pillar.
- Koto: London-based brand and visual identity studio with a research-led positioning approach, working with challenger and enterprise brands — directly comparable to TYC's branding and evidential design ethos.
Broad incumbents
- Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with a major retail and experience design practice — competes with TYC on large enterprise retail and placemaking briefs but at vastly greater scale and as part of a much broader portfolio.
- Landor & Fitch: Global branding and design consultancy with strength in brand strategy and environmental/experiential design — overlaps with TYC's integrated offering as part of a much larger WPP network.
Regional players
- Hype: Dubai-based creative studio working across branding, digital, and spatial design for regional enterprise clients — comparable in offering and a regional peer given TYC's growing UAE/Middle East project footprint (Bread Ahead Dubai, Hamad International Airport).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Yard Creative social profiles
Digital presenceThe Yard Creative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Yard Creative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Yard Creative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Yard Creative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Yard Creative
What does The Yard Creative do?
The Yard Creative is an evidential design agency delivering three integrated service pillars: Design Strategy (brand strategy, retail/F+B format strategy, place strategy, naming, research, consumer profiling, and experience mapping), Branding and Visual Identity (brand identity, collateral, guidelines, campaign, digital design, UX/UI, motion, packaging, and signage/wayfinding), and Experience + Interior Design (flagship, boutique, concession, kiosk, pop-up, and technical rollout for retail, F&B, wellness, and footfall destinations). Engagements are sold as bespoke, project-based mandates for established brands, property developers, SMEs, and place-makers.
Is The Yard Creative a public or private company?
The Yard Creative is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Yard Creative founded?
The Yard Creative was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Yard Creative based?
The Yard Creative is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Yard Creative make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Project-Based Design Engagements are the primary driver. The others are strategy and Research Retainers.
Who are The Yard Creative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Checkland Kindleysides, Mother Design, Winkreative, Pentagram, Dalziel & Pow, Universal Design Studio and Koto. Broad incumbents are Gensler and Landor & Fitch. Hype is listed as a regional player.
Does The Yard Creative have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Yard Creative.
What industry is The Yard Creative in?
The Yard Creative's product category is Brand & Experience Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design, with a secondary code of MPAAAEAG, Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage). Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7310.