What Step2 branding and design does

Step2 Branding and Design is a privately held, founder-led creative agency founded in 2009 by Ron MacDonald and Karen MacDonald, operating from Wexford, Pennsylvania, and serving clients primarily in the Pittsburgh metropolitan region and beyond through remote collaboration. The firm provides a five-pillar professional services portfolio: branding and identity (business and product naming, tagline development, messaging), logo design (offered only as a comprehensive package including stationery, color palette, and final deliverables), web design (custom WordPress sites with responsive design, SEO, and copywriting), graphic design (collateral, packaging, advertising, trade show displays), and copywriting (websites, advertising, video scripts). Step2 also operates two specialized verticals: startup and early-stage business branding and nonprofit marketing services, both offered with discounted rates.

The business model is project-based professional services with custom tailored estimates rather than fixed package pricing; logos are only sold as full identity packages, while websites require a 50% deposit with the balance invoiced at completion, and an annual website maintenance subscription provides a small recurring revenue component. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, relying on direct outreach via website contact form, phone, and email, with demand generated through portfolio and testimonials, an active blog and free downloadable guides, organic social presence on Facebook and LinkedIn, and client referrals. Customer segments span SMBs, startups, nonprofits, B2B and B2C companies, high-tech and life sciences firms, and solopreneurs, with primary emphasis on startups and nonprofits.

The firm is bootstrapped with no external institutional investment, operates with 1-10 employees, and has no disclosed API, software platform, or proprietary technology beyond standard creative tools and the WordPress CMS. Its competitive position rests principally on the founders' combined 40+ years of experience across consumer goods packaging (including GlaxoSmithKline), ad agencies, design studios, PR firms, and in-house technology marketing roles, as well as registered trademarks for its "Brand It to Be Its Best" tagline and company logo. There is no evidence of AI/ML capabilities, geographic expansion outside the Pittsburgh region, M&A activity, or external funding.

Name

Step2 branding and design

Legal name

Step2 Branding and Design

Website

https://step2branding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Step2 Branding and Design is a founder-led, Wexford, PA creative agency offering branding, logo design, WordPress web design, graphic design, and copywriting services primarily to startups, nonprofits, and SMBs in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branding and Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Identity & Brand Design Systems (BPAFAEAC), Naming & Verbal Identity (Taglines, Messaging) (MPAAAEAB), Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

Keywords

• Branding and identity
• Logo design services
• Web design services
• Graphic design
• Copywriting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wexford

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Branding and Identity Services: Project-based branding engagements including business/product naming, tagline development, logo design, brand messaging, and identity systems.
2. Logo Design: Standalone logo design service provided as a comprehensive package including stationery and brand identity materials.
3. Web Design: Custom website design and development on WordPress platform, including copywriting, optimization, and ongoing maintenance plans.
4. Graphic Design: Creative direction and design for brochures, annual reports, posters, point-of-purchase displays, packaging, trade show displays, and other marketing materials.
5. Copywriting: Content development for websites, advertising, promotions, collateral, direct mail, and video scripts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Step2 Branding and Design is a small creative agency that delivers custom branding, identity, and design services for businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. Core deliverables include business and product naming, tagline development, logo and corporate identity systems, WordPress website design and development, graphic design for marketing collateral and packaging, and copywriting for digital and print. Services are project-based and tailored per client, with an optional annual website maintenance subscription.

Product overview

Step2 Branding and Design is a full-service branding and design agency offering a comprehensive suite of creative services. The core offering consists of five integrated service pillars: Branding Services (business/product naming, taglines, identity, messaging), Logo Design Services (corporate identity packages with stationery), Web Design Services (custom WordPress websites), Graphic Design Services (collateral, packaging, advertising), and Copywriting Services (website copy, advertising, video scripts). The agency also provides specialized services for startups and nonprofits. All services are delivered as custom projects rather than package products, with pricing tailored to individual client needs. The Logo Design offering is unique in that it is only offered as a comprehensive package including discovery, design, refinements, color palette, stationery, and final deliverables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding Services
• Logo Design Services
• Web Design Services
• Graphic Design Services
• Copywriting Services
• Startup Marketing Services
• Nonprofit Marketing Services
• Tagline Development
• Annual Website Maintenance Plan

Quantifiable outcome

• All clients receive 100% ownership of final deliverables, logos, and brand assets

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Uplers: Outsourced web development and design services firm offering web design, graphic design, and branding support. Competes with Step2 on web and graphic design for SMB clients seeking flexible agency-style relationships.
• 99designs by Vista: Global design contest and freelance marketplace where SMBs and startups source logos, branding, and graphic design. Direct overlap with Step2's SMB/startup target market and logo/branding offering, but competes on price and contest model rather than bespoke agency relationships.
• Designhill: Online design marketplace offering logo design, branding, web design, and graphic design via contests and freelancer matching. Targets the same SMB/startup segment as Step2 and overlaps on logo, branding, and web services at typically lower price points.
• CrowdSpring: Crowdsourced design platform specializing in logos, branding, naming, and graphic design for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Closely comparable to Step2 on logo design, naming, and branding services and on customer size tier.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Legendary independently-owned branding and design firm with partners across the US and UK. A broad incumbent in the same brand identity, logo, and visual identity design category that Step2 operates in, though focused on much larger enterprise clients.
• Landor & Fitch: Global branding and design consultancy within WPP offering brand strategy, naming, identity design, and packaging at enterprise scale. Operates in the same brand strategy and visual identity space as Step2, but serves large multinationals.

Direct peers

• SmartSites: Full-service digital agency offering web design and development alongside branding, logo design, and digital marketing for SMBs. Direct peer to Step2 on web design and broader brand/marketing services, though significantly larger and more digitally-focused.
• Coalition Technologies: Full-service digital agency providing web design, branding, SEO, and graphic design for SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable business model and service mix to Step2's branding, web design, and graphic design offerings.
• Lounge Lizard: Digital marketing and web design agency offering branding, web design, and creative services to SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable service mix and target customer profile to Step2's web design and branding offerings.

Regional players

• TheeDigital: Pittsburgh-based digital agency offering web design, branding, SEO, and digital marketing. Direct competitor in Step2's home Pittsburgh market for web design and branding, with a stronger digital marketing tilt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/step2branding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step2branding

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 Step2 branding and design