Design de Plume
Design de Plume is an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency founded in 2009 in Sudbury, Ontario, providing branding, strategy, design systems, websites, and campaigns via its IIDEAS framework for clients across higher education, healthcare, government, financial services, and Indigenous-focused organizations in Canada and the US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSudbury, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Design de Plume does
Design de Plume Inc. is an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, founded in 2009 and operating across North America (Canada and the US). The company delivers strategy, branding, design systems, campaigns, websites, AR/VR consultation, comic book storytelling, and Indigenous stock photo curation for clients in Higher Education, Healthcare, Government (federal, provincial, tribal), Financial Services, NGOs, Cultural Institutions, Indigenous-owned businesses, and emerging sectors like sports/media. All work is anchored by the proprietary IIDEAS framework (Indigeneity, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability) and the Creative Compass four-phase methodology (Listening, Ideating, Implementing, Reflecting), ensuring accessibility compliance with WCAG 2.1, ADA, and AODA standards.
The business model combines professional services with a small digital product stream. Revenue is primarily project-based, quote-driven creative agency work for enterprise and institutional clients, with named engagements spanning CBC, RBC, TD Bank, Toronto Maple Leafs, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, Université de Sudbury, Queen's University, Indigenous Services Canada, and numerous Indigenous-focused NGOs. Secondary revenue includes the Indigenous Communications Toolkit, a downloadable PDF guide priced at $39.95 CAD for personal license and $149.95 CAD for organizational license, plus keynote speaking fees and custom workshops delivered by Co-CEOs Jennifer Taback and Meggan Van Harten at design and industry conferences.
The firm is founder-owned with no external venture capital, no parent company, and no subsidiaries reported. It holds Certified Aboriginal Business (CCAB), WeConnect International Women-Owned, and Registered Graphic Designer (RGD) certifications, and has accumulated multiple international design awards including DNA Paris Design Awards, MarComm Gold, DotComm Platinum, and WOLDA recognition. The agency is led under a Co-CEO model since inception, with a hybrid workforce of approximately 14 visible team members supplemented by a network of Indigenous consultants and subject matter experts.
Design de Plume firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design de Plume
- Legal name
- Design de Plume Inc.
- Website
- https://deplume.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Design de Plume is an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency founded in 2009 in Sudbury, Ontario, providing branding, strategy, design systems, websites, and campaigns via its IIDEAS framework for clients across higher education, healthcare, government, financial services, and Indigenous-focused organizations in Canada and the US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design de Plume industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Agency Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG), Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Design de Plume is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sudbury
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Design de Plume business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Creative Agency Services: Full-service creative agency providing strategy, branding, campaigns, design systems, websites, and AR/VR consultation. Revenue generated through project-based client engagements across multiple sectors including Higher Education, Healthcare, Government, Financial/Tech, NGOs/Nonprofits, and Cultural Institutions.
- Indigenous Communications Toolkit Sales: Sale of the Indigenous Communications Toolkit digital product. Available in Personal License ($39.95 CAD) and Organizational License ($149.95 CAD) versions. Revenue from product sales with pricing based on license type.
- Speaking Engagements: Revenue generated through booking Co-CEOs (Jennifer Taback and Meggan Van Harten) for keynotes, conference talks, and custom workshops. Speaking engagements cover inclusive design, accessibility, and Indigenous-informed communication topics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Indigenous Communications Toolkit - Personal License |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Indigenous Communications Toolkit - Organizational License |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Creative Agency Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Design de Plume product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design de Plume is a full-service Indigenous and women-owned creative agency delivering strategy, branding, design systems, campaigns, websites, AR/VR consultation, and Indigenous stock photo curation for organizations. All work is guided by their proprietary IIDEAS framework (Indigeneity, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Sustainability). They also sell a standalone digital product, the Indigenous Communications Toolkit (a downloadable PDF guide), and offer paid speaking engagements and custom workshops.
Product overview
Design de Plume is an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency offering a portfolio of services anchored by its full-service creative offering (strategy, branding, design systems, campaigns, websites, AR/VR consultation, and Indigenous stock photo libraries). The agency also sells a standalone digital product, the Indigenous Communications Toolkit (a downloadable PDF guide at $39.95–$149.95 CAD), and packages its methodology as the Creative Compass process. Speaking engagements and custom workshops are offered as separate service lines. All work is guided by the IIDEAS framework (Indigeneity, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability). The company operates primarily as a services firm with one commercial digital product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creative Services (Strategy, Branding, Design Systems, Campaigns, Websites, AR/VR Consultation) Full-service creative agency services including strategy, branding, design systems, campaigns, websites, and AR/VR consultation for organizations in higher education, healthcare, government, NGOs, financial services, and cultural institutions. Powered by the proprietary IIDEAS principles.
- Indigenous Communications Toolkit A downloadable PDF digital product (2 MB) offering practical guidance on inclusive language when communicating with Indigenous communities. Includes tips for honouring Indigenous identities, common missteps, alternatives, and cultural context. Available as Personal License ($39.95 CAD) or Organizational License ($149.95 CAD).
- Speaking & Workshop Services Signature talks and custom workshops delivered by Co-CEOs Jennifer Taback and Meggan Van Harten on inclusive design, accessibility, and Indigenous-informed communication. Signature talks include 'The Stewardship of Stories', 'Beyond Compliance: Cultural Perspectives on True Accessibility', and 'Keep Your Doors Open'.
- Comic Book Design & Storytelling Custom comic book design services as a storytelling tool for education and reconciliation, using a proprietary 15-step Comics Design Process involving research, community input, illustration, and iterative collaboration to ensure cultural accuracy.
Quantifiable outcome
- 240,000 Indigenous people reached through Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health branding project
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Design de Plume
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Design de Plume technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Design de Plume partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MastercardminorMastercard supported DDP's 2026 Indigenous Celebration Night design project for the Toronto Maple Leafs. This partnership provided financial support that enabled Co-CEO Jennifer Taback to express herself authentically and represent her community. The collaboration helped push DDP's business to a new level and opened opportunities for other community members.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Design de Plume competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lg2: Quebec-based independent creative agency offering branding, design, and integrated marketing. Comparable independent Canadian agency with full-service creative capabilities serving enterprise clients, similar in size-class and service mix to DDP.
- Bruce Mau Design: Toronto-based strategic design studio founded by Bruce Mau, focused on brand systems, identity, and design-driven transformation. Highly comparable in design-system, branding, and methodology-led positioning; differs in scale and absence of Indigenous-community specialization.
- Anomaly: Independently-owned global creative agency known for brand strategy, design systems, and integrated campaigns. Comparable independent-agency operating model and offering mix; differs in geographic scale and lack of Indigenous-and-accessibility specialization.
- Sid Lee: Montreal-headquartered independent creative agency offering branding, strategy, design, and campaign work across Canada and globally. Directly comparable in service mix (strategy, branding, design systems, digital) to DDP, but at significantly larger scale and without DDP's Indigenous-and-accessibility specialization.
- Rethink: Canadian independent creative agency providing brand strategy, design, and integrated campaigns. Closely matches DDP's model as a mid-sized independent Canadian shop with multi-vertical reach; differs in lacking DDP's Indigenous-and-accessibility focus.
Emerging players
- Hyperakt: Brooklyn-based design studio purpose-built for mission-driven organizations, with deep expertise in brand strategy, identity, and accessible digital design. Closest analogue in the 'design with purpose + accessibility' positioning, though it does not center Indigenous cultural practice the way DDP does.
Broad incumbents
- Cossette: One of Canada's largest full-service marketing and communications agencies, offering branding, advertising, design, and digital services. Comparable offerings in branding and campaigns, but operates at national-network scale and without DDP's Indigenous-niche specialization.
- Juniper Park\TBWA: Toronto-based TBWA-network creative agency providing brand strategy, campaigns, and design. Overlaps with DDP on creative services for enterprise Canadian clients, but at significantly larger scale and broader vertical focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Design de Plume social profiles
Digital presenceDesign de Plume compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Design de Plume financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design de Plume leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Design de Plume funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design de Plume 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 Design de Plume
What does Design de Plume do?
Design de Plume is a full-service Indigenous and women-owned creative agency delivering strategy, branding, design systems, campaigns, websites, AR/VR consultation, and Indigenous stock photo curation for organizations. All work is guided by their proprietary IIDEAS framework (Indigeneity, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Sustainability). They also sell a standalone digital product, the Indigenous Communications Toolkit (a downloadable PDF guide), and offer paid speaking engagements and custom workshops.
Is Design de Plume a public or private company?
Design de Plume is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Design de Plume founded?
Design de Plume was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Design de Plume based?
Design de Plume is headquartered in Sudbury, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Design de Plume make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Creative Agency Services are the primary driver. The others are indigenous Communications Toolkit Sales and speaking Engagements.
Who are Design de Plume's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lg2, Bruce Mau Design, Anomaly, Sid Lee and Rethink. Hyperakt is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Cossette and Juniper Park\TBWA.
Does Design de Plume have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design de Plume.
What industry is Design de Plume in?
Design de Plume's product category is Creative Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design, with a secondary code of MPAAAEAG, Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage). Its NAICS code is 541430.