Affair

What Affair does

Affair AS is a Norwegian design and advertising agency headquartered in Larvik with a secondary presence in Sandefjord. Founded by Christian Sørhaug and Marianne Zaitzow, the firm delivers five interconnected service lines: visual identity design, film production, digital development (websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile applications), advertising campaigns (Reklame), and environmental graphics (Utsmykning) for offices, malls, hospitals, and public spaces. Its client base spans Norwegian municipalities (Larvik kommune), national government agencies (Helfo, with 650 employees), publishing houses (Cappelen Damm), technology and SaaS firms (ABAX, Advisor), maritime and industrial companies (Jotron), real-estate developers (Alfa Eiendom, Drive Eiendom), and consumer brands (Turisimo, Lundhs Real Stone, Kent Kaffebrenneri). The agency's portfolio demonstrates strength in integrated brand-to-environment projects delivered through its branded ASK methodology (Analysis, Strategy, Communication).

The firm operates as a bespoke professional services business rather than a technology product company; no proprietary platform, patents, or software IP are disclosed. Core technical work encompasses UX/UI design with accessibility focus, web development executed via a partner network (Koderiet for coding, Easyweb for e-commerce platforms, CID for hosting), and large-format fabrication coordinated with installation partners such as UTD. Photography and film capabilities are anchored in-house and through long-term collaborators including Morten Rakke, a nationally and internationally published photographer who shares office space with the firm, and Yeast Studio for production work. The team comprises six core members plus a broader long-term collaborator network.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements priced on custom quotes reflecting scope, complexity, and deliverables. Billing cadence indicates multi-year contracts, suggesting some retainer-like anchor relationships alongside discrete project work. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and direct: Managing Director Christian Sørhaug and Board Chair/Business Developer Harald L. Østerberg lead new business acquisition, supplemented by a portfolio-driven website (affair.no) and presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Geographic reach is concentrated in the Vestfold region with select national clients (Helfo, Cappelen Damm) and international project elements (ABAX international offices). No external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity has been disclosed.

Name

Affair

Legal name

Affair AS

Website

https://affair.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Affair AS is a Norwegian design and advertising agency based in Larvik and Sandefjord that delivers visual identity, film, digital, advertising, and environmental graphics services to businesses, municipalities, and organizations across Norway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising & Design Services

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Event Design, Decor & Styling (HSACAAAB)

Keywords

• Design services
• Brand identity design
• Advertising campaigns
• Film production
• Environmental graphics

Headquarters

HQ city

Larvik

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Creative Design Services: Affair generates revenue through professional creative services including graphic design, logo development, visual identity systems, brand guidelines, and environmental graphics. Projects are custom engagements ranging from single deliverables to comprehensive brand campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Affair is a Norwegian design and advertising agency that develops logos, visual identities, graphic profiles, websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile applications, advertising campaigns, digital presentations, films, and environmental graphics. Projects are delivered as bespoke, project-based creative engagements for businesses, municipalities, and organizations, anchored by the agency's ASK methodology (Analysis, Strategy, Communication). Work spans print, digital, film, and large-format physical installations.

Product overview

Affair is a design and advertising agency offering project-based creative services organized around five core offerings: Design (visual identity, logo design, graphic profiles), Film (video production), Digital (websites, e-commerce, apps), Reklame (advertising campaigns), and Utsmykning (environmental graphics). They operate as a service-based agency rather than a software product company, delivering bespoke creative work across brand identity, digital development, film production, and spatial design. Their services are interconnected, with visual identity work often serving as the foundation for digital, film, and advertising projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Services Visual identity design services including logo design, graphic profiles, brand identity systems, typography, and color palette development for print and digital applications, backed by 30+ years of combined experience.
• Digital Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 of 160 boat slips sold within one month for Bankløkka Båthavn campaign
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Morten RakkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term photography collaborator whose images appear across numerous client projects. Morten Rakke is a nationally and internationally published photographer whose work includes National Geographic, The Times, Financial Times, Wallpaper, Lonely Planet, and Geo Saison. Shares office space with Affair.
• Spinn KommunikasjonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication strategy partner for Skiftedekk.no and Advisor redesign projects. Provided strategic communication counsel and text content.
• UTDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction and installation partner for office interior graphics and environmental installations. Handled fabrication and mounting for REEN office and Saltbrygga projects.
• SinglotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial media campaign management partner for Bankløkka Båthavn and Fastlege recruitment campaigns.
• Nordsveen & RavndalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography and film production partnership. Created website for the company and provided photography services for various projects including PV Arkitekter and Goksjø.
• Pocket&CommsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency collaboration for Eger Karl Johan Christmas exhibition display design.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyper (Hyper Communication): Norwegian design and communications agency focused on visual identity, branding, and graphic design. Comparable boutique positioning with a similar project-based model for Norwegian B2B and public-sector clients.
• Anorak: Norwegian brand-identity and design agency with a similar focus on visual identity, strategy, and integrated creative work for Norwegian clients. Directly comparable in services, target market, and project-based delivery model.
• Bleed: Norwegian design and brand-identity studio offering visual identity, graphic design, and strategic branding services. Comparable in service scope, project-based model, and Norwegian B2B client base.
• Neue (Neue Design Studio): Norwegian design studio with a portfolio in visual identity, editorial, packaging, and digital design. Closely comparable in scope, regional focus, and project-based delivery to Norwegian B2B clients.
• Antidote (Antidote Oslo): Norwegian creative agency specializing in brand strategy, identity, and communication design. Comparable full-service positioning serving Norwegian enterprise and public-sector clients.

Broad incumbents

• Creuna: Nordic digital agency delivering brand, design, web, and marketing-technology services across Scandinavia. Overlaps with Affair's digital, brand, and campaign offerings but operates at greater scale and across multiple countries.
• DDB Oslo: Norwegian office of the global DDB advertising network providing advertising, branding, and digital creative services. Competes for the same Norwegian B2B brand and campaign engagements as Affair.
• McCann Oslo: Norwegian arm of the global McCann advertising network, offering advertising, brand strategy, and integrated campaigns. Competes for the same Norwegian advertising-and-campaign work as Affair's Reklame service line.
• TRY (TRY Apt): One of Norway's largest creative agencies offering advertising, brand, digital, and content services at scale. Competes for the same Norwegian B2B brand-and-campaign work but with significantly larger headcount and resources.

Regional players

• Netlight: Nordic consultancy combining strategy, design, and digital services across the Nordics. Comparable integrated brand-and-digital offering with a broader Nordic footprint than Affair.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/affair.no
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/affair-as
• Instagraminstagram.com/affair_design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Affair