Design Syndicate
Design Syndicate is a B2B post-production services firm providing end-to-end picture and audio finishing for premium documentaries, anchored in Brooklyn, NY, with five Dolby Atmos-certified studios across the US, Canada, and Brazil.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Design Syndicate does
Design Syndicate is a privately held B2B professional services firm founded in 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Story Syndicate, the documentary production company founded by Academy and Emmy winners Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus. The company provides end-to-end post-production exclusively for premium documentaries, organized around two core service lines: Picture Finishing and Audio Finishing. Picture Finishing covers conform, framerate conversion, up-res, compositing, image cleanup, color grading in Dolby HDR and SDR using DaVinci Resolve across two dedicated color rooms, and mastering into DCP, IMF, and HDR color-managed workflows for major streaming platforms. Audio Finishing runs five Dolby Certified Atmos Studios across the USA, Canada, and Brazil, supported by over 20 sound editing workstations, a dedicated Foley pit, a live room for up to 20 musicians, and two voice-over/ADR studios, with mixing delivered in 2.0, 5.1, 7.1, and ATMOS formats. A smaller Graphic Design sub-service produces posters, key art, and promotional assets for documentary projects.
The firm operates on a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through quote-based engagements with documentary production companies and filmmakers. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement, with the studio brought in early on projects to align on creative vision rather than at the delivery stage. The stated customer base is documentary filmmakers and production companies, with Story Syndicate as the flagship parent-company client and a portfolio of external documentary projects. Operations are anchored at 55 Washington St, Suite 602, Brooklyn, NY, with additional Atmos-certified facilities in Dumbo, New York and internationally in Canada and Brazil. Distribution is executed through owned studios supplemented by Evercast-enabled remote collaboration for spotting sessions and reviews. The company has earned industry recognition including Emmy and Cinema Eye Honors nominations for visual design work on major documentary titles.
Design Syndicate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design Syndicate
- Legal name
- Design Syndicate
- Website
- https://designsyndicate.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Design Syndicate is a B2B post-production services firm providing end-to-end picture and audio finishing for premium documentaries, anchored in Brooklyn, NY, with five Dolby Atmos-certified studios across the US, Canada, and Brazil.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design Syndicate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film and Documentary Post-Production Services
- NAICS
- Teleproduction and Other Postproduction Services (512191), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Production Facilities & Suites (Edit/Color/Sound Stages) (MPADAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Color Grading & Finishing (DI, HDR, Deliverables) (MPADAGAB), Titling, Graphics & Finishing (Lower Thirds, Supers, End Cards) (MPAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Design Syndicate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Design Syndicate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Post-Production Services: Professional post-production services for documentary filmmakers including picture finishing and audio mixing. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements for production companies and filmmakers requiring end-to-end post-production support for premium documentary content.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Design Syndicate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design Syndicate provides end-to-end post-production services for premium documentaries, including picture finishing (conform, framerate conversion, up-res, compositing, HDR/SDR color grading, and mastering for DCP, IMF, and streaming platforms) and audio finishing (dialogue editing, sound effects, foley, ADR, music editing, and mixing in 2.0, 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos formats). Services are delivered from studios in the USA, Canada, and Brazil, complemented by graphic design work for documentary visual assets.
Product overview
Design Syndicate provides end-to-end post-production services for premium documentaries, operating as two core offerings: Picture Finishing and Audio Finishing, with graphic design as a supporting service. Picture Finishing handles color grading, mastering, and delivery in various formats (DCP, IMF, Dolby Vision HDR, ATMOS) across two color rooms. Audio Finishing operates five Dolby-certified Atmos studios across three countries (USA, Canada, Brazil), offering dialogue editing, sound effects, foley, ADR, and mixing in multiple surround formats. The company was formed in 2020 as a subsidiary of Story Syndicate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Picture Finishing End-to-end picture post-production for premium documentaries, including picture conform, framerate conversion, up-res, compositing, image clean up, color grading in Dolby HDR and SDR, and mastering/delivery in DCP, IMF, and HDR color managed workflows for streaming platforms and theatrical release. Serves documentary filmmakers and production companies.
- Audio Finishing Comprehensive audio post-production for premium documentaries, including dialogue and sound effects editing, audio restoration, music editing, foley, voice-overs and ADR, theatrical mix, and sound re-recording mix in 2.0, 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos formats. Operates from five Dolby-certified Atmos studios across the USA, Canada, and Brazil with over 20 sound editing workstations.
- Graphic Design Services Visual design and graphic design services for documentaries, including poster design, social media assets, and nomination artwork.
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered projects nominated for Emmy and Cinema Eye Honors awards
Companies that use Design Syndicate
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Design Syndicate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Design Syndicate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- INPUT POSTcoreINPUT POST is a certified vendor for major broadcasts globally and collaborates with Design Syndicate to provide audio production services. This partnership ensures clients receive professional-grade audio mixing that meets international broadcast standards.
- Story SyndicateflagshipStory Syndicate is the award-winning parent company of Design Syndicate, founded by Academy and Emmy winning filmmakers Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus. Design Syndicate was formed in 2020 specifically to enhance the documentaries produced by Story Syndicate, providing end-to-end post-production services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Design Syndicate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sound Lounge: Audio post-production facility for film, television, and documentary content. Direct competitor in the audio finishing and sound design segment.
- Formosa Group: Independent post-production services company offering sound, picture, and finishing services primarily for episodic and feature content. Compares on audio mixing infrastructure and high-end finishing.
- Harbor Picture Company: Premium post-production house providing picture and sound finishing services for feature films and series. Direct competitor offering similar end-to-end color, VFX, and audio finishing capabilities to high-end documentary and feature clients.
- Company 3: Color grading and finishing boutique with deep feature and episodic expertise. Direct competitor in the picture finishing and color grading segment, with strong filmmaker reputation.
- Sim International: Independent sound post-production house with facilities in multiple countries for film and television. Comparable in international audio mixing infrastructure and multi-region delivery.
- Soundtrack Group: Independent audio post-production company offering Dolby Atmos mixing, ADR, and sound design for film and television. Comparable in audio infrastructure and immersive sound capabilities.
- Final Frame: Post-production facility offering picture and sound finishing for non-fiction and documentary projects. Closest competitor in the documentary-focused finishing niche.
- Light Iron: Post-production facility specializing in picture finishing, dailies, and color grading for scripted and documentary content. Comparable in delivering HDR, Dolby Vision, and multi-format delivery for premium projects.
Broad incumbents
- Deluxe Media: Global media services company offering content distribution, localization, and post-production finishing. Competes at scale across multiple content verticals including documentary work.
- Technicolor Post: Large-scale post-production and VFX services provider with global studios. Overlapping capabilities in picture and audio finishing, serving a much broader client base across feature, episodic, and advertising.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Design Syndicate social profiles
Digital presenceDesign Syndicate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design Syndicate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Design Syndicate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design Syndicate 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 Syndicate
What does Design Syndicate do?
Design Syndicate provides end-to-end post-production services for premium documentaries, including picture finishing (conform, framerate conversion, up-res, compositing, HDR/SDR color grading, and mastering for DCP, IMF, and streaming platforms) and audio finishing (dialogue editing, sound effects, foley, ADR, music editing, and mixing in 2.0, 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos formats). Services are delivered from studios in the USA, Canada, and Brazil, complemented by graphic design work for documentary visual assets.
Is Design Syndicate a public or private company?
Design Syndicate is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Design Syndicate founded?
Design Syndicate was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Design Syndicate based?
Design Syndicate is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Design Syndicate make money?
One revenue line is on record: post-Production Services.
Who are Design Syndicate's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sound Lounge, Formosa Group, Harbor Picture Company, Company 3, Sim International, Soundtrack Group, Final Frame and Light Iron. Broad incumbents are Deluxe Media and Technicolor Post.
Does Design Syndicate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design Syndicate.
What industry is Design Syndicate in?
Design Syndicate's product category is Film and Documentary Post-Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAGAI, Post-Production Facilities & Suites (Edit/Color/Sound Stages), with a secondary code of MPADAGAB, Color Grading & Finishing (DI, HDR, Deliverables). Its NAICS code is 512191 and its SIC code is 7812.