What Reference NYC does

Reference NYC (legally Reference Digital Innovation LLC) is a New York-based creative technology studio founded in 2020 that delivers campaign-driven visual work for enterprise brands. The studio operates a B2B creative agency model, generating revenue through project-based fees for 3D billboard production, CGI film production, AI-powered content generation, and AR-enabled digital experiences. Its client roster spans global luxury and fashion houses (Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Calvin Klein, Off-White, American Eagle, Touchland), technology platforms (Google), automotive (McLaren), and financial services (Mastercard), with case studies centered on landmark deployments such as Times Square 3D billboards and the Rijksmuseum facade.

The studio's technology stack combines proprietary CGI craft with third-party generative AI tooling (notably Google Gemini's Veo 3, accessed via creative technology partner AdditionML) for AI-generated environments and imagery, alongside AR experimentation that transforms architectural surfaces into digital canvases. Service offerings are organized around four interconnected pillars: 3D Billboard Campaigns, CGI Film Production, AI-Powered Production, and Digital Experiences, supported by creative direction and 3D out-of-home production capabilities. Strategic collaborators include agency partners McCann, General Idea, and CK Creative, as well as high-profile creative talent such as photographer Nick Knight and Chris D'Andrea.

Operationally, the company is a boutique studio of 11-50 employees, founder/team-operated, with no external funding recorded. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on a public portfolio website, industry recognition from Complex, Diet Prada, and Hypebeast, social presence on Instagram and LinkedIn, direct inquiry, and external representation by RW Media. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured as project-based engagements. The legal entity is domiciled in New York, USA, with marketing reach spanning global enterprise brands.

Name

Reference NYC

Legal name

Reference Digital Innovation LLC

Website

https://referencenyc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Reference NYC is a New York-based creative technology studio founded in 2020 that produces 3D billboards, CGI campaigns, AI-powered visuals, and AR digital experiences for enterprise brands across luxury, fashion, technology, automotive, and financial services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Production Services

NAICS

Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Spectaculars (Building Wraps, 3D, Landmarks) (BPAFALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG), Corporate Event Decor, Branding & Signage (HSACADAJ)

Keywords

• 3D billboard production
• CGI campaign production
• AI-powered creative
• Digital brand experiences
• AR advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative Production Services: B2B creative agency model delivering campaign-driven visual work for major brands. Revenue is generated through project-based creative production fees for 3D billboards, CGI films, digital experiences, and AR campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reference NYC is a New York-based creative technology studio that produces campaign-driven visual content for global luxury, fashion, automotive, and consumer brands. The company delivers 3D billboard campaigns, CGI films, AI-generated production, and AR-based digital experiences deployed at landmark locations such as Times Square. Its clients include Google, McLaren, Mastercard, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Calvin Klein, Off-White, American Eagle, and others.

Product overview

Reference NYC is a creative production studio based in New York that operates as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company provides campaign-driven visual work across four interconnected service areas: 3D Billboard Campaigns (large-scale CGI billboards at landmark locations like Times Square), CGI Film Production (animated content and motion graphics for brand campaigns), AI-Powered Production (generative AI content creation for hyperreal imagery and environments), and Digital Experiences (AR experiments and digital activations). Services are delivered through their creative team offering Art Direction and 3D OOH production, working with luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands on high-impact visual campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Billboard Campaigns Large-scale 3D out-of-home billboard production featuring cinematic CGI visuals deployed at landmark locations including Times Square and international sites; for enterprise brands seeking high-impact out-of-home campaigns.
• CGI Film Production Computer-generated imagery films and animations for brand campaigns, including motion graphics, 3D animations, and sculptural environments; for luxury, fashion, and consumer brand clients.
• AI-Powered Production AI-generated campaign content leveraging generative AI tools to create hyperreal imagery, environments, and synchronized visual content for brand activations; for enterprise consumer brands seeking AI-augmented creative.
• Digital Experiences (AR Activations) AR experiments and digital activations that transform architectural spaces into interactive brand canvases, merging digital and physical environments; for luxury and fashion brands seeking immersive retail and out-of-home moments.
• Creative Direction Art direction and creative strategy for brand campaigns spanning visual identity, storytelling, and multi-platform brand expressions; for enterprise brands engaging the studio for full campaign conception.
• 3D OOH (Out-of-Home) Production Specialized 3D out-of-home advertising production including billboard design, site-specific projections, and architectural integration; for premium brands needing large-format out-of-home executions.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdditionMLcoreTechnology or IntegrationCreative technology partner for the Google H100 campaign, providing AI-powered production capabilities that enabled seamless integration of AI-generated environments with product visuals
• McCanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency partner for McLaren x Mastercard CGI campaign, collaborating on the overall creative direction and campaign development
• General IdeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner for Tiffany & Co. CGI animations and XO Khloe campaigns, providing creative direction and production support
• Chris D'AndreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGI creative direction for Off-White global 3D billboard campaign
• Nick KnightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned creative director and photographer collaborating on XO Khloe campaign, bringing high-profile creative vision to the project
• RW Media (Randi Wilens)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia representation partner handling business inquiries and representation for Reference NYC
• CK Creative / Tom ElseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership for Calvin Klein fragrance campaigns, collaborating on creative direction

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buck: Design-driven creative studio with deep motion/CGI capabilities serving Fortune 500 and consumer brands. Comparable boutique scale and integrated creative-tech positioning, though broader portfolio.
• Ueno: Creative + tech studio with strong motion design and CGI work for premium brands. Similar boutique scale, similar integrated brand-and-product creative offering for enterprise clients.
• Pilot: Boutique creative + design studio with motion and CGI capabilities serving enterprise and consumer brands. Comparable integrated creative production model.
• Object & Animal: Boutique creative studio producing high-end motion, CGI, and brand experiences for fashion and lifestyle clients. Comparable scale and direct overlap in luxury/fashion campaign production.
• DPT: NYC-based creative studio best known for Nike 3D anamorphic billboards. Same boutique scale and identical core offering — large-format 3D OOH + CGI campaigns for premium brands.
• Studio Brasch: LA/NY creative studio producing CGI, film, and digital experiences for fashion and lifestyle brands. Direct overlap in luxury CGI/3D campaign production.
• Saturday NY: NYC boutique design and creative studio serving fashion, luxury, and lifestyle brands. Overlap in clientele (luxury/fashion) and boutique creative production model.
• Jam3: Creative studio producing interactive, CGI, and digital experience work for premium brands (Nike, Adidas, Amazon). Comparable boutique scale with strong motion/3D portfolio.
• Hell Studios: NYC-based creative studio specializing in CGI, 3D, and experiential content for major brands. Direct competitor in the high-end CGI/3D production category.

Broad incumbents

• Output: Larger creative services and music/sound platform with broader portfolio including tools used by Reference (e.g., custom fonts, sound design). Adjacent incumbent rather than direct competitor but operates in overlapping creative production space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/referencenyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/_reference

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 Reference NYC