Design Systems International

What Design Systems International does

Design Systems International is a privately held digital design consultancy founded in 2017 in New York City, with team members distributed across four cities: New York, Santiago de Chile, Copenhagen, and Aachen. The studio describes itself as an international, multi-disciplinary team combining design and engineering to build what it terms 'dynamic design systems' using code. Its service offering covers seven core practices: Visual Identity Design Systems, Dynamic Identities, Web Applications, Design Tools, Product Innovation, User Research/Testing/Experience, and Fullstack Development. Notable technical work includes custom web-based asset-generation tools built on HTML5 Canvas with a proprietary WebM video exporter, a remote VJ screen control system using ffmpeg and Dropbox API for content syncing, AWS Lambda serverless proxies, and Processing-based reactive visualization systems — all delivered as bespoke code-based design infrastructure rather than as packaged software products.

The company generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements with enterprise and mid-market clients across four horizontal segments: Enterprise Companies (e.g., Cloudsmith, O'Reilly), Education & Professional Services (e.g., GMAC, SVA, O'Reilly), Entertainment & Hospitality (e.g., Noa Noa/Fauna Productions, Purísima), and Cultural Institutions (e.g., Chilean Pavilion/Tectonic Resonances at the London Design Biennale 2021, Processing Foundation, 1976). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; clients engage via website contact form or email ([email protected]). Co-development partnerships include architecture firm Oficina Bravo and typeface designer Weichi He, both on the Noa Noa project. Marketing relies primarily on published case studies, an opinion/ideas blog, and organic social (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) plus GitHub for community presence.

Design Systems International operates as a founder-led, independently held entity with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or parent company. Headcount is disclosed only as '1-10' in firmographic data, though the company emphasizes a 'multi-disciplinary team' across international locations. It holds no patents or trademarks, has no formal compliance certifications on file, has not undergone leadership changes in the available record, and is not subject to disclosed regulatory actions. Its single significant award to date is the London Design Biennale 2021 'Most Outstanding Overall Contribution' for the Tectonic Resonances Chilean Pavilion project.

Name

Design Systems International

Legal name

Design Systems International

Website

https://designsystems.international

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design Systems International is a privately held, code-based digital design consultancy founded in 2017 in NYC, with a distributed team across NYC, Santiago de Chile, Copenhagen, and Aachen, serving enterprise and institutional clients in SaaS, education, entertainment/hospitality, and cultural sectors through project-based identity, design system, web application, and fullstack development engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Design Consultancy

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAEAC

Visual Identity & Brand Design Systems

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Brand Strategy & Creative Services

SECONDARYMPAAAAAD

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Advertising Agencies (Full-Service/Creative)

Keywords

• Design consultancy services
• Visual identity systems
• Design system development
• Brand identity design
• Digital design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design Consultancy Services: Project-based professional services for brand systems, visual identities, design systems, web applications, and custom digital tools. Engagements include end-to-end design and development.
2. Visual Identity Systems: Creating comprehensive visual identity systems with custom design tools that allow internal teams to produce assets at scale

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Design Systems International is a digital design consultancy that uses code to design dynamically across the full lifecycle of digital design. The studio delivers end-to-end services spanning visual identity design systems, dynamic/generative identities, web applications, custom design tools, product innovation, user research and testing, and fullstack development for enterprise and mid-market clients.

Product overview

Design Systems International is a digital design consultancy that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company uses code to design dynamically across the full lifecycle of digital design. Their core offerings include Visual Identity Design Systems, Dynamic Identities, Web Applications, Design Tools, Product Innovation, User Research/Testing, and Fullstack Development. Services such as custom design tool development and fullstack development complement their design consultancy practice, enabling clients to move at the speed of modern business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visual Identity Design Systems Custom brand identity systems for clients including visual language, typography, color systems, and design principles that scale across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Dynamic Identities Motion-based and generative visual identity systems that adapt and change across contexts, such as variable typefaces and reactive visual systems.
• Web Applications Full-stack web application design and development services including UX design, frontend development, backend infrastructure, and custom CMS development.
• Custom Design Tools Custom design tool development for internal client team use, enabling staff to create assets efficiently within brand systems through web-based interfaces.
• Product Innovation Strategic product design services helping clients reimagine, design, and build digital products that drive lasting growth.
• User Research, Testing, and Experience User research and testing services including persona development, journey mapping, and experience design for digital products.
• Fullstack Development End-to-end development services from frontend to backend, building custom tools and infrastructure solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tectonic Resonances won 'The Most Outstanding Overall Contribution' at the London Design Biennale 2021
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Oficina BravocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Architecture firm collaborated with Design Systems International to design the physical space of Noa Noa music venue as an extension of the brand. The partnership integrated digital signage and screen systems with architectural design.
• Weichi HecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Font designer who collaborated with DSI to design a custom variable typeface for Noa Noa where all characters can stretch from very narrow to very extended. Created two versions: one for low-resolution screens in the physical space and one for digital space.
• Fauna ProductionscoreOthersMusic promoter and venue operator who engaged DSI to create the complete brand system, physical space design, website, and digital tools for Noa Noa music venue in Santiago.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athletics: Athletics is a Brooklyn-based independent branding and design studio known for visual identity systems and digital experiences for cultural and enterprise clients. Highly comparable in scale, location, and focus on identity systems with technical execution.
• Ueno: Ueno is a boutique digital design and branding studio based in San Francisco and New York, working on brand systems, products, and design tooling for tech-forward clients. Closely comparable to DSI in scale, methodology, and selective enterprise client base.
• Clay (design agency): Clay is a design and engineering agency building digital products, brand systems, and design tools for companies like Google, Facebook, and Spotify. Directly comparable to DSI's fullstack, code-driven, design-systems practice with similar enterprise client profile.
• Instrument: Instrument is an independent brand and product studio delivering brand systems, digital experiences, and design tools for brands like Google, Nike, and Patagonia. Closely aligned with DSI's combination of brand systems and custom digital tooling for enterprise clients.
• Work & Co: Work & Co is a digital design and product agency specializing in brand systems, digital products, and code-driven design for major enterprises (e.g., Apple, Google, IKEA). Highly comparable to DSI's code-first, design-systems approach and similar boutique-to-mid-size positioning.
• Pentagram: Pentagram is the world's largest independent design consultancy, with partners leading brand identity and visual systems projects for major clients. Comparable to DSI's visual identity and design systems practice, though Pentagram operates a partner-led model with hundreds of designers.

Broad incumbents

• Frog (Capgemini Engineering): Frog is a long-established design and engineering consultancy (now part of Capgemini) known for design systems, brand identity, and digital product design. Highly comparable to DSI's brand systems and fullstack development practice, though Frog serves a broader enterprise client base with a much larger team.
• IDEO: IDEO is a pioneering global design consultancy offering design strategy, brand systems, and product innovation services. Comparable to DSI in offering multidisciplinary design-to-implementation engagements for enterprise clients, though IDEO operates at significantly larger scale across many geographies.
• R/GA: R/GA is a global digital design and innovation agency offering brand systems, product design, and technology services. Comparable in offering end-to-end design and engineering for enterprises, though R/GA is significantly larger and operates in many more geographies.

Emerging players

• Manual (design studio): Manual is a small, design-led creative studio working on brand systems, design tools, and digital products. Closely matches DSI's boutique positioning, code-based design philosophy, and selective enterprise client portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/designsystemsin
• GitHubgithub.com/designsystemsinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/designsystemsin
• Instagraminstagram.com/designsystemsinternational

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 Design Systems International