Element 28

What Element 28 does

Element 28 is a privately held, founder-owned brand strategy and design agency operating from Chatham, New Jersey, under the legal entity Element 28 LLC. Founded by Brett Nichols around 2009, the firm provides project-based professional services spanning brand strategy, digital strategy, logo and identity design, website design and development, SEO, digital marketing, print and collateral design, illustration, and limited custom online platform development. Its core methodology is a four-phase process (Identify, Design, Execute, Assess) delivered through a distributed model that pairs the founder with a nationwide network of independent experts rather than full-time staff.

The agency serves a horizontal mix of corporate, non-profit, startup, healthcare, and SMB clients, with a portfolio that includes Boston Children's Hospital, Liberate Health, iQvcloud, Retentacle, Green Jeans Garden Supply, WGM Boats, Mycological Society of Marin, and Camp Carysbrook. The technology stack is conventional creative-agency tooling with no disclosed proprietary platform, no AI/ML capabilities, no API, and no software product — revenue is generated entirely through bespoke creative services engagements rather than recurring productized offerings. Founder Brett Nichols brings over 20 years of creative direction experience, including prior leadership of a healthcare advertising digital division that scaled to over $3M in annual billings, and the firm positions its "brand chemistry" relational approach as its principal differentiator.

The business model is sales-led, project-based, and bootstrapped with no institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. The firm is registered as a New Jersey LLC and operates without publicly disclosed pricing, recurring retainers, or revenue figures. Geographic reach is enabled by the independent-expert network and spans U.S. regions from the Northeast headquarters to West Coast and Southeast client engagements, though the firm has no physical offices outside Chatham.

Name

Element 28

Legal name

Element 28 LLC

Website

https://element28design.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Element 28 is a founder-owned, Chatham, NJ-based brand strategy and design agency that delivers project-based branding, web design, digital marketing, and print services to corporate, non-profit, startup, and healthcare clients across the U.S. through a distributed network of independent experts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand Strategy and Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Brand strategy services
• Website design development
• Digital marketing agency
• Graphic design services
• Brand identity design

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatham

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Strategy and Design Services: Project-based professional services for branding, digital strategy, website design and development, print production, and marketing collateral creation. Services are delivered through partnerships with independent experts nationwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Element 28 is a project-based branding and marketing agency that delivers brand strategy, digital strategy, brand identity design, website design and development, print production, illustration, and digital marketing services to corporate, non-profit, and startup clients. The firm operates a four-phase methodology (Identify, Design, Execute, Assess) and partners with a nationwide network of independent experts to deliver work across both traditional print and digital channels.

Product overview

Element 28 is a branding and marketing agency operating as a strategic consultancy rather than a software product company. The firm offers an integrated suite of services organized around a four-phase methodology: Identify (Brand Strategy, Digital Strategy), Design (Brand Identity, Prototyping, Investor Support, Collateral Materials, Digital Assets, UX/UI), Execute (Print Production, Digital Production), and Assess (Analytics, Market Feedback, Maintenance & Support). Rather than a unified software platform, Element 28 delivers client-specific project work across branding, website design and development, digital marketing (including SEO and social media), illustration services, and online platform development. Their portfolio demonstrates specialized expertise in healthcare (Boston Children's Hospital fit kit, Liberate Health), technology/security (iQvcloud, Retentacle), consumer/retail (Green Jeans Garden Supply), marine (WGM Boats), non-profit (Mycological Society of Marin, Camp Carysbrook), and pharmaceutical sectors, with services spanning from original brand creation to comprehensive brand refreshes and website redesigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding Services Strategic brand identity development including logo design, typography, color systems, and brand consistency across digital and print applications, for corporate, non-profit, and startup clients.
• Website Design & Development Full-service website design and development including UX/UI design, responsive development, and content management systems for corporate, non-profit, and startup clients.
• Digital Marketing Services Comprehensive digital marketing support including SEO optimization, social media campaigns, digital strategy, and analytics to drive brand visibility and engagement.
• Print & Collateral Design Traditional print design services including marketing collateral, promotional materials, event signage, and print production management.
• Illustration Services Custom illustration work including infographic-style designs, event promotion materials, and visual content for healthcare, education, and consumer sectors.
• Online Platform Development Custom web-based platform development featuring dashboards, self-assessment tools, goal tracking, resource libraries, and member management systems for healthcare and community organization clients.

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Protector BoatsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElement 28 designed branding for WGM Boats, the authorized west coast dealer for Protector Boats. The branding was aligned with Protector's existing brand identity, ensuring consistency between dealer and manufacturer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Character: Independent branding and design agency producing identity systems, packaging, and digital experiences for a similarly diverse set of consumer and B2B clients. Overlaps with Element 28 on brand strategy, identity, and digital delivery.
• Outline: Independent design studio offering brand identity, print, and digital design for a comparable mix of corporate, non-profit, and consumer clients. Similar service profile and project-based model to Element 28.
• Manual: Boutique creative agency offering branding, identity, and digital design for corporate and startup clients. Comparable to Element 28 in positioning as a small, senior-led design studio with a horizontal client mix.
• Athletics: Small NYC-based branding and creative agency serving brand identity, web, and strategy engagements for mid-market and enterprise clients. Similar in size, service mix, and project-driven delivery to Element 28.
• Barrel: Design and digital creative agency delivering branding, e-commerce, and platform design for consumer brands. Comparable to Element 28 on the web design, brand systems, and digital production axes of the offering.
• Franke: Boutique creative agency focused on branding, web design, and content for consumer and culture-driven brands. Comparable to Element 28 in boutique size, founder-led delivery, and breadth of brand-and-digital work.
• Mucca: Boutique NYC branding and design agency that delivers identity, print, and digital design for a similarly sized portfolio of corporate and cultural clients. Comparable to Element 28 in offering mix, boutique scale, and project-based engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Largest independently owned design firm, with multiple partners operating like boutique studios under one brand. Overlaps with Element 28 across brand identity, web, and print, but at vastly greater scale, headcount, and client roster.
• IDEO: Global design consultancy offering brand, digital, and product design with deep healthcare and corporate experience (e.g., Boston Children's work). Comparable to Element 28 in healthcare/pharma capabilities, but with much broader capabilities, scale, and enterprise pricing.
• R/GA: Large global creative agency spanning brand, digital product, and marketing. Overlaps with Element 28 on integrated brand-and-digital work, but operates at significantly larger scale with retainer-style enterprise engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/element-28-llc

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 Element 28