The Heads Of State

What The Heads Of State does

The Heads of State is a Philadelphia-based graphic design and branding studio founded in 2002 by creative directors Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers. The studio describes itself as 'a couple of people' and operates as a boutique creative practice serving a mix of national enterprise clients (Nike, The New York Times, PBS, Penguin Classics) and small-to-mid-market Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic businesses across hospitality, multi-family real estate, education, arts and culture, publishing, and consumer goods. Its core service lines are branding, packaging, illustration, writing and naming, brand strategy, brand sprints, and 'graphic blandishment,' with photography, videography, signage, collateral, and lettering available as integrated add-ons.

The studio's underlying technology is traditional graphic design and illustration craft, with an emphasis on custom lettering, illustration, brand identity systems, packaging, and visual communication design. No proprietary platforms, software products, APIs, or AI tooling are disclosed; the firm relies on conventional design tools and a network of trusted collaborators (illustrators, photographers, food stylists) for specialized execution. Distribution is exclusively direct: clients engage via email ([email protected]) or phone (215.240.8841), with the portfolio website and an Instagram presence serving as the primary discovery channels.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees, structured as one-time project engagements with some evidence of retainer-like ongoing work (e.g., Interboro Spirits & Ales, Russo Music). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the studio positions itself for clients 'with moderate to severe branding concerns' at rates it characterizes as 'NOT EXPENSIVE. NOT CHEAP. JUST RIGHT.' The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-based, with no product-led, self-serve, or channel-mediated distribution. The firm remains privately held by its two founders, with no external investors, parent company, or funding events disclosed.

Name

The Heads Of State

Legal name

The Heads of State

Website

https://theheadsofstate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Heads of State is a Philadelphia-based branding and graphic design studio founded in 2002 by Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers, serving national enterprise clients (Nike, NYT, PBS, Penguin) and Mid-Atlantic SMBs with branding, packaging, illustration, and brand strategy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Naming & Verbal Identity (Taglines, Messaging) (MPAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Brand identity design
• Graphic design studio
• Packaging design services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Custom illustration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Services: Project-based creative services including branding, packaging, illustration, writing & naming, brand sprints, brand strategy, and graphic blandishment. Revenue is generated through client project fees, likely structured as one-time project engagements or retainer arrangements for ongoing clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Heads of State is a Philadelphia-based graphic design studio that delivers integrated branding, packaging, illustration, writing/naming, and brand strategy services to businesses and institutions. Engagements typically combine multiple disciplines under one project — for example, a branding job may include identity design, custom illustration, collateral, and copywriting — with photography, videography, signage, and lettering available as add-ons. The studio positions itself as a small, founder-led practice serving clients "with moderate to severe branding concerns."

Product overview

The Heads of State is a graphic design and branding studio offering a unified suite of creative services. The core offering consists of Branding, Packaging, Illustration, Writing & Naming, Brand Strategy, Brand Sprints, and Graphic Blandishment. These services are delivered as integrated creative engagements, often combining multiple disciplines—branding work typically incorporates illustration, packaging projects include collateral design, and brand identity projects may involve writing, naming, and system design. Photography, Videography, Signage, Posters, and Lettering services are available as complementary add-ons within client engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding

Named customers31 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Matt CurtiusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustrator contributing custom lettering and illustration to Broad & Washington luxury real estate brand package. Appears as a trusted collaborator on multiple projects.
• Gina Triplett and Matt CurtiusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends and collaborators providing illustrations for The Wray boutique hotel stationery project. Established creative partnership contributing to project success.
• Electric KiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner on Bauer College of Business MBA program campaign. Joint creative execution for University of Houston project.
• Jason VarneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood photographer who shot The Good Batch rebranding including food styling and packaging production photoshoot. Ongoing collaborator on multiple hospitality projects.
• Ed NewtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotographer for Poison Heart bar branding project.
• Christina Hart at Wild Hart Paper CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustrator providing custom illustrations for Kinslips packaging brand.
• Cat ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustrator contributing to Reanimator Coffee brand work.
• Andre RuckerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography and prop styling for Reanimator Coffee project.
• Ian Loring ShiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotographer for Frizwit sandwich pop-up branding project.
• Jason VarneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotographer for Germantown Friends School rebrand project, described as 'the mighty Jason Varney.'
• Paul BuckleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArt director at Penguin Classics who commissioned the John Steinbeck cover series.
• Antonio AlcalaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSPS art director who helped refine iconography for Star Trek 50th Anniversary postage stamps.
• Edit Lab at StreetSenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for The Lockwood luxury apartment project in Washington DC.
• Jason VarneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotographer for The Lockwood project, luxury 250+ unit apartment in Capitol Hill, Washington DC.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Order Design: Boutique branding and design studio offering brand identity, packaging, and digital design. Closely comparable in operating model, size, and client mix across consumer, hospitality, and cultural segments.
• Collins (formerly Brand Union): Brand strategy and design firm delivering integrated identity, packaging, and brand experience work. Comparable in service mix and client categories though materially larger in scale.
• Mother Design: Design arm of independent creative network Mother, focused on brand identity, packaging, and editorial. Comparable in its creative-led, founder-influenced operating model and high-profile client roster.
• Pentagram: Largest independent design studio in the world, structured as a partnership of equity-holding creative directors. Directly comparable to The Heads of State's founder-led, branding-and-identity focus, though with substantially more partners and geographic spread.
• Studio Dumbar: Independent Dutch design studio with a strong identity, branding, and typography practice. Comparable in founder-led model, custom lettering/typographic emphasis, and cultural-sector client base.
• Mucca: Independent design studio specializing in branding, packaging, and typography. Comparable in size, founder-led structure, and emphasis on custom lettering and illustration as part of brand identity work.
• Civilization: Small, founder-led design and brand strategy studio. Comparable in size and service mix (branding, identity, packaging, illustration) with a similarly curated portfolio of consumer and cultural clients.
• Manual: Independent creative studio specializing in branding, packaging, and identity work. Highly comparable in scale, founder-led structure, and emphasis on multi-disciplinary brand engagements for hospitality, food & beverage, and consumer clients.

Broad incumbents

• Siegel+Gale: Global brand strategy and design firm. Comparable in delivering naming, verbal identity, and brand systems, but at much larger scale and with a network of offices worldwide.
• Landor & Fitch: Global branding and design consultancy. Overlaps with The Heads of State on brand identity and packaging but operates at significantly larger scale and with broader consulting capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theheadsofstate
• Facebookfacebook.com/theheadsofstate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Heads Of State