What Satellite does

Satellite is a privately-held, founder-owned strategic brand and design agency headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2006 by Erik Attkisson. The firm operates a boutique network model with 1-10 core employees, supplemented by an extended partner ecosystem of creative studios, photographers, illustrators, and production agencies to deliver client engagements. Satellite positions itself around the thesis that brands function as vehicles of human belonging, building brand strategies, identity systems, and total brand worlds that extend from strategy and narrative through typography, packaging, digital experiences, environmental design, and motion content.

The agency serves enterprise and mid-market clients across concentrated verticals: hospitality (as a Marriott Preferred Vendor for Autograph Collection and The Luxury Collection properties), spirits and beverage (Bacardi, Jack Daniel's, Jameson, Midleton Very Rare, Samuel Adams, craft distillers and breweries), technology (IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Magento, HERE Technologies), cannabis (Camberwell, Cresco), sports (Nike, Wolverine), fashion and retail (Vineyard Vines, Target, Formehri), and financial services (Wells Fargo). Notable engagements include Cisco's GSX Global Sales Experience event branding for 17,000+ attendees, Nike workplace branding at its Beaverton headquarters, and a registered design patent for work on the Windows 7 desktop.

Satellite generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements, custom-quoted by scope and complexity with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement supported by portfolio-driven marketing through its website case studies, industry awards (TDC, ADC Young Gun, Webby, CES Innovation, Communication Arts, Graphis, One Show), and professional network presence. There is no evidence of external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity; ownership commentary suggests founder-controlled and bootstrapped operations.

Name

Satellite

Legal name

Satellite

Website

https://satellite-agency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Satellite is a Chicago-based, founder-owned strategic brand and design agency founded in 2006, serving enterprise and mid-market clients in hospitality, spirits, technology, cannabis, and lifestyle with strategy, identity systems, packaging, and environmental design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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. Brand Strategy Services: Comprehensive brand strategy engagements including brand narrative development, positioning, and identity systems for enterprise clients across hospitality, spirits, cannabis, and lifestyle sectors.
2. Brand System Design: Design systems including logo design, typography, brand patterns, packaging, website design, and collateral across multiple brand touchpoints.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Satellite is a strategic brand and design agency that develops brand strategies, comprehensive visual identity systems, packaging, digital experiences, environmental design, and branded content for enterprise clients. Core offerings center on brand strategy and brand system design, supported by service modules in digital/web design, social content, environmental experience, and integrated campaigns across hospitality, spirits, cannabis, technology, fashion, sports, and retail verticals.

Product overview

Satellite is a strategic brand and design agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of branding services. The agency's core offerings include Brand Strategy (strategic positioning and narrative development) and Brand System Design (comprehensive visual identity systems). Supporting service modules include Digital & Website Design, Social Content Design, Environmental Experience Design, and Campaign services. The agency operates across multiple disciplines including Packaging Design, Film & Motion, Illustration, Photography, Workplace Branding, Event Branding, Type Collage, Papercraft, and Installation. Satellite serves diverse industry verticals including Hospitality (hotels and restaurants), Spirits & Beverage, Cannabis, Tech, Sports, Fashion & Beauty, Retail, Services, and Entertainment. The agency was established in Chicago in 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Strategy Strategic brand positioning and narrative development that connects brands to their audiences through shared values, cultural resonance, and a 'brand belonging' philosophy. Service is delivered to enterprise clients in hospitality, spirits, cannabis, technology, fashion, and retail verticals.
• Brand System Design Comprehensive visual identity systems including logos, typography, color systems, patterns, and brand guidelines that span all customer touchpoints from ads and websites to packaging, products, brand installations, and retail experiences.
• Digital & Website Design UI/UX design and website development services bringing brands to life through interactive digital experiences for enterprise clients across hospitality, spirits, cannabis, technology, and retail.
• Social Content Design Visual content creation for social media platforms including photography art direction, animations, and illustrated content delivered to enterprise brand clients.
• Environmental Experience Design Physical space branding including signage, wayfinding, installations, and immersive brand environments for hotels, restaurants, distillery properties, retail, and corporate workplaces.
• Campaign Integrated marketing campaign development spanning advertising, digital, and experiential touchpoints delivered as project-based engagements to enterprise clients.

Named customers36 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KCS (Kevin Cantrell Studio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative agency partnership on branding projects including Villa Beluno Hotel where KCS and Satellite worked together on brand strategy, narrative, naming, and comprehensive brand identity for boutique hotel in Patagonia.
• Agency SackscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner on Provenance Hotels branding project. Creative Direction by Graham Clifford with Brand Strategy by Erik Attkisson.
• MekanismminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSan Francisco production partner on Case-Mate film projects including three quirky short films directed by Michael Langan.
• MekanismminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFilm production collaboration on Case-Mate social video content with Director Michael Langan.
• Saatchi & SaatchicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined with Satellite to create Wells Fargo banking social content campaign animations for online banking platform. Designer Jeff Rogers created youthful campaign.
• Turner DuckworthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated the 'Hug' packaging concept for Case-Mate - a playful and whimsical case packaging system.
• VMLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency on Magento comprehensive brand refresh project to unify and ignite the Magento brand globally.
• Perspective (Perspective Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned partner for Cisco GSX Global Sales Experience event branding with Niklas Lundberg developing comprehensive identity of event visuals and animations.
• Tencue ProductionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for Cisco GSX event with 17,000+ attendees at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
• Splash EventsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for Cisco GSX event experience.
• GPJ & Cisco Event TeamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent production partners for Cisco GSX Global Sales Experience.
• Lafayette AmericancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner with Graham Clifford on Detroit Dept. of Transportation public service branding for 24/7 transit experience.
• LobulominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPapercraft designer and animation partner for Iron Mountain data backup campaign and Radisson Blu Paper City immersive digital experience.
• DigitasLBI ScandinaviancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency partner for Radisson Blu Paper City project - papercraft cityscape combining five international cities.
• The Brooklyn BrotherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency partner on Samuel Adams social video campaign with chalk illustrations by Lauren Hom.
• Dress CodeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProducer/Director for Samuel Adams chalk art video campaign.
• Jon Contino StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Anvil Hotel (Jackson, Wyoming), The Hidden Sea wine branding, and Pedal Haus Brewery branding.
• Post CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction agency for Anvil Hotel branding project with Jon Contino.
• Studio TackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering agency on Anvil Hotel branding project.
• StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for Star Union Spirits branding project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/satellite0ffice
• Facebookfacebook.com/SatelliteOfficeChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/satellite-management

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Satellite