Design Kompany

What Design Kompany does

Design Kompany is a privately held boutique design studio co-founded by Dipika Kohli and Akira Morita, originally registered in Seattle in 2005 and now operating from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The studio sells brand identity design, messaging strategy, and visual communications services through a conversation-driven process aimed at small business owners with more than five years of operating experience, as well as thought leaders in academia, software, and architecture. Supporting offerings include creative confidence workshops (UNBOXED), reflection workshops (The Mirror, Time for Us), a Phnom Penh graphic design residency, and a 10-week branding course, all priced individually rather than at enterprise scale.

The studio has built a parallel publishing arm comprising S P A C E, a weekly e-magazine with 200+ issues produced since 2017 covering Northern Europe and Southeast Asia, and DESK, a monthly design zine launched in 2024. Both publications are sold through Gumroad and Stripe subscriptions, generating a modest recurring revenue stream alongside zine sales. The Art & Copy International Zine Club acts as an asynchronous global community that co-produces zines, and the company maintains social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Telegram to support content marketing and event promotion.

Commercially, Design Kompany runs a sales-led, direct-engagement model. New clients are acquired through free discovery calls booked via Calendly, with subsequent communication carried out on Signal, Telegram, LINE, Discord, email, and Zoom. Visible pricing is limited to workshop tickets (e.g., USD $280 for Project North Star) and subscription fees for publications; core brand design fees are not publicly disclosed. The company is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no venture capital, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. It is preparing for a 2026 event calendar spanning the Singapore Art Book Fair (with Atelier HOKO), Bangkok Illustration Fair, Seoul Design Festival, Jakarta International Illustration Fair, Wonderfruit, GARDEX in Chiba, and the Project North Star workshop in Cary NC.

Name

Design Kompany

Legal name

Design Kompany LLC

Website

https://designkompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Design Kompany is a bootstrapped boutique design studio co-founded by Dipika Kohli and Akira Morita, offering brand identity design, creative workshops, and zine publishing (S P A C E weekly e-mag, DESK monthly zine) for small business owners, thought leaders, and creative individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand Identity Design Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG), Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Brand identity design
• Creative consulting services
• Design thinking workshops
• Zine publishing
• Graphic design studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Identity Design Services: Professional branding services for small business owners including brand identity design, messaging strategy, and visual communications.
2. Publication Subscriptions: DESK magazine subscription and S P A C E weekly e-mag with membership options. Zines sold through Gumroad and Stripe.
3. Workshops and Courses: UNBOXED creative confidence virtual workshop, 10-week branding courses, and Phnom Penh Graphic Design Residency program.
4. Event Tickets: In-person workshops and events including Project North Star workshop at USD $280.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Design Kompany is a boutique design studio that provides professional brand identity design and messaging strategy services for small business owners with 5+ years of experience. Beyond design services, the studio publishes two design publications (DESK monthly zine and S P A C E weekly e-magazine) and offers a portfolio of creative workshops and residencies such as UNBOXED, The Mirror, Time for Us, and the Phnom Penh Graphic Design Residency, all centered on creative confidence, slowing down, and conversation-driven design thinking.

Product overview

Design Kompany is a boutique design studio offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around brand identity design, creative confidence development, and zine-based publishing. The core offerings include DESK (a monthly design magazine), S P A C E (a weekly e-magazine), and Classic Brand Design services for small business owners. Supporting products include UNBOXED (creative confidence workshop), Art & Copy Zine Club (community), The Mirror (reflection eWorkshop), and various specialized workshops like Time for Us. The company operates primarily from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with origins in Seattle from 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Brand Design Services Professional brand messaging and design services for small business owners with 5+ years of experience, focusing on brand identity, visual communications, and brand story development through conversation-driven design.
• DESK Magazine A monthly zine magazine by Design Kompany featuring essays and original illustration on design topics, serving as DK's publication for opinion and commentary.
• S P A C E Weekly E-magazine A weekly e-magazine featuring conversations, zine content, and original writing, published through 12-week cycles with crowdfunded support and sold via Gumroad and Stripe subscriptions.
• UNBOXED Creative Confidence Workshop Design Kompany's Creative Confidence virtual workshop designed to help individuals become more creative by challenging self-inhibition and practicing creative expression.
• The Mirror eWorkshop An eWorkshop focused on reflection practices and methodologies to help individuals get around pressure and engage in creative work they enjoy.
• Time for Us Year-End Reflection Workshop A year-end reflection workshop for groups, individuals, and leaders that focuses on slowing down and meaningful conversation; delivered to clients including Kawsang in Phnom Penh.
• Phnom Penh Graphic Design Residency A graphic design residency program based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, offered by Design Kompany.
• Cojournal – Solopreneurship & Co-Storm A service providing solopreneurs with spaces to brainstorm with others in similar situations, fostering connection and collaborative ideation.
• 10-Week Branding Course A short course on branding offered by Design Kompany for individuals seeking to develop their brand messaging and identity.
• Art & Copy International Zine Club An international asynchronous community of curious, creative people who co-make zines together, positioned as part of DK's services for connection and idea clarification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helping small business owners articulate brand identity and discover 'a-ha' moments of clarity

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Singapore Art Book FaircoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Singapore Art Book Fair 2026 with Creative Directors Atelier HOKO. Fair dates: 28-30 August 2026 at T:>Works venue. Smaller, more intimate gathering format.
• Atelier HOKOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Creative Directors of Singapore Art Book Fair 2026. Partnering to imagine a more intimate gathering experience.
• Project North StarminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026In-person workshop event in Cary NC, August 2026. USD $280 ticket price.
• Bangkok Illustration FairminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Art fair held 22-25 October 2026 at centralwOrld PULSE, 7th floor of centralworld.
• Seoul Design FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Design festival participation at 26-29 November 2026. Connected to magazine DESIGN since 1976.
• WonderfruitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event 3-7 December 2026. Diverse experiences inspired by learning, unlearning and human connection.
• Jakarta International Illustration FairminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Illustration fair scheduled for September 2026.
• Garden Culture Industry Trade Fair (GARDEX)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Garden culture trade fair in Chiba, Japan, 7-9 October 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Large, multi-partner independent design firm with global brand identity, editorial, and digital practices. Comparable category (brand identity design) but much larger scale and broader scope than DK.
• Landor & Fitch: Global branding and design consultancy with broad industry coverage. Comparable in capability set (brand identity, strategy) but operates at enterprise scale, vastly larger than DK.

Direct peers

• Frank & Victor: Independent branding and design consultancy serving a mix of SMB, nonprofit, and thought-leader clients. Comparable to DK's brand identity practice and editorial sensibility.
• Moving Brands: Independent global creative company focused on brand strategy and design. Comparable to DK in selective client model, founder-led culture, and editorial/design dual focus.
• Koto Studio: Independent branding agency with strong editorial and publishing sensibility, working with mission-driven brands. Comparable to DK's integration of brand practice and publishing output.
• Mast Studio: Boutique design studio offering branding, identity, and creative direction with a small team. Closely comparable to DK in team size, founder-led model, and brand identity focus.
• Civilization: Independent design studio that combines brand strategy, identity, and digital design with a strong editorial voice. Comparable to DK's blend of design services and content publishing.
• Manual: Independent creative agency specializing in brand identity, design systems, and digital products for mission-driven companies. Highly comparable to DK in boutique size, brand-led offering, and selective client roster.
• Hyperakt: Independent design agency focused on branding and visual storytelling for nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises. Directly comparable to DK's mix of SMB and nonprofit clients (e.g., Allied Arts of Seattle, Green Plus).

Regional players

• Toiletpaper Magazine: Independent art/design magazine publishing with strong brand identity and visual experimentation. Comparable to DK's S P A C E and DESK publishing model, though rooted in a different geographic and cultural context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/designkompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/designkompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-kompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/dkompany

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 Design Kompany