CL Design
CL Design is a Paris-based graphic design studio founded in 2005 that delivers visual identity, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibition graphics, digital design, and communication design for French and international cultural institutions, public entities, luxury brands, and corporate headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CL Design does
CL Design (legal entity: CL DESIGN SAS, registered in Paris since 2005) is a private, founder-owned graphic design studio with a permanent team of approximately 10 designers plus administrative support, headquartered at 113 rue du Mont-Cenis, 75018 Paris, with an additional presence in New York. The studio is co-led by Présidente Domitille Pouy (a typeface designer trained at École Estienne, joined 2008, partner since 2010) and Directeur général Nicolas Journé (co-founder, formerly at Printemps). Founded originally by Camille Leroy-Vinclet, the firm has operated for two decades with no external funding, parent company, or institutional investors.
The studio delivers five interconnected service lines: visual identity design, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibition graphics, digital design, and communication design. Its core products are built around the design of physical and digital navigation/identity systems for cultural and public institutions rather than as software or technology products — there are no APIs, AI features, or licensed platforms disclosed. Marquee engagements include signage and visual identity for Centre Pompidou, Louvre Abu Dhabi (opening exhibition), Musée Carnavalet, Comédie Française, Kering's new headquarters, JP Morgan's Magnetik office, Monnaie de Paris for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the NarboVia museum designed by Foster + Partners.
Commercially, CL Design operates a sales-led, project-based professional services model: revenue flows from consultancy and project fees tied to scope, with acquisition via direct appointments, architectural consortiums (Studio Adrien Gardère, Foster + Partners, RCR Arquitectes, CUT Architectures, Projectiles, Atelier Maciej Fiszer, Patrick Mauger), and competitive public tenders. The primary customer segments are cultural and public institutions (museums, theatres, government entities), with secondary exposure to corporate enterprise, sports organizations, and luxury/fashion brands. Geographic footprint spans France, the UK, Switzerland, the UAE, and the US.
CL Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CL Design
- Legal name
- CL DESIGN (SAS)
- Website
- https://cldesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CL Design is a Paris-based graphic design studio founded in 2005 that delivers visual identity, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibition graphics, digital design, and communication design for French and international cultural institutions, public entities, luxury brands, and corporate headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CL Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Graphic Design Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG), Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where CL Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CL Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Design Services: Project-based professional services providing visual identity, signage, exhibition graphics, and communication design for cultural institutions, public entities, and luxury brands. Revenue generated through consultancy fees and design project engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
CL Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CL Design is a graphic design studio that provides visual identity design, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibition graphics, digital design, and communication design services. The studio serves cultural institutions, public entities, luxury brands, and corporations across France and internationally through project-based professional engagements.
Product overview
CL Design is a graphic design studio (not a software company) that offers professional design services. Their portfolio consists of five interconnected service offerings: Visual Identity Design (brand identities, logotypes), Signage and Wayfinding Systems (directional signage, environmental graphics), Exhibition Graphics (museographic design, display typography), Digital Design (websites, digital interfaces), and Communication Design (print materials, campaigns). Founded in 2005 and led by Domitille Pouy and Nicolas Journé, the studio works primarily with French and international cultural institutions, museums, public organizations, and luxury brands. The studio does not offer software products, APIs, or AI-powered solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Visual Identity Design Creation of brand identities, logotypes, and visual systems for cultural institutions, public organizations, and private companies.
- Signage and Wayfinding Systems Design of directional signage, orientation systems, and environmental graphics for buildings, museums, stadiums, and public spaces.
- Exhibition Graphics Museographic graphics, display typography, and exhibition design support for museums and cultural venues.
- Digital Design Website design, digital interfaces, and online identity systems for cultural institutions and organizations.
- Communication Design Print materials, signage, and visual communication campaigns for events, exhibitions, and institutional communications.
Companies that use CL Design
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CL Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CL Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Studio Adrien GardèrecoreLong-standing collaboration on museum and exhibition projects including Louvre Abu Dhabi opening exhibition, NarboVia, and Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. Studio Gardère serves as museographer while CL Design handles graphic design and signage.
- Patrick MaugercoreCollaboration on Institut Français de la Mode renovation project. Patrick Mauger served as architect while CL Design handled signage and wayfinding programming.
- Atelier Maciej FiszercoreFrequent partnership on exhibition projects including MTO Museum of Sufi Art and Culture, Vendée Globe exhibition at Musée national de la Marine, and various museum projects.
- Pascal RodriguezcoreCollaboration on exhibition scenography including 'Paris!' exhibition at Hôtel de Ville, Foot et Monde Arabe at Institut du Monde Arabe, and 'Hypnose' at Musée d'Art de Nantes.
- Jean-Julien SimonotcorePartnership on multiple fashion and art exhibitions including Back side / Dos à la mode at Musée Bourdelle and Fashion Mix at Palais de la Porte Dorée.
- CUT ArchitecturescoreCollaboration on UCPA Sport Stations multi-sports complexes project in France. CUT Architecture handled overall architecture while CL Design provided global signage mission.
- RCR ArchitectscorePartnership on Musée Soulages project where Catalan architects RCR designed the building and CL Design won the signage consultation.
- ProjectilescoreCollaboration on Cité internationale de la langue française at Château de Villers-Cotterêts. Projectiles served as head architect and scenographer.
- MAW (Philippe Maffre)corePartnership on Le Marais en héritage(s) exhibition at Musée Carnavalet and Legend of King Arthur exhibition at BnF.
- Bernard DesmoulincoreCollaboration on Musée de Cluny renovation project. Bernard Desmoulin served as architect while CL Design handled museographic graphics and orientation signage.
- Foster + PartnerscoreCollaboration on NarboVia museum designed by Foster + Partners. CL Design developed visual identity and graphic guidelines for the museum.
- FandD StudiocoreCollaboration on Nuit Blanche signage project for Paris City Hall, designing family of signage objects to create distinctive route through the city.
- Romain JeantetminorCollaboration on INSEP campus signage project, designing signage masts for building identification.
- Laurent ViéminorCollaboration on Jardin des Tuileries orientation system and La Passerelle media library signage projects.
- LocomotionminorCultural programming partner collaborated on various exhibition and signage projects including NarboVia and stadium wayfinding.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CL Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CL Design social profiles
Digital presenceCL Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CL Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CL Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CL Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CL Design
What does CL Design do?
CL Design is a graphic design studio that provides visual identity design, signage and wayfinding systems, exhibition graphics, digital design, and communication design services. The studio serves cultural institutions, public entities, luxury brands, and corporations across France and internationally through project-based professional engagements.
Is CL Design a public or private company?
CL Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CL Design founded?
CL Design was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CL Design based?
CL Design is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does CL Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: design Services.
Does CL Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for CL Design.
What industry is CL Design in?
CL Design's product category is Graphic Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAN, Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design, with a secondary code of MPAAAEAG, Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage). Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7330.