What Our Friends does

Our Friends Inc. is a privately held, founder-operated visual communication agency headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with a team of 12. The firm delivers brand identity, graphic design, photography, illustration, packaging, and web design services to a diverse portfolio of business clients, financed through project-based, quote-based professional services engagements. Founder Bernie Dickson, who also teaches Typography and Color Theory part-time at Chapman University and co-owns the popsicle brand Mom & Pop Shop, is the primary creative force; the model relies on a small in-house team plus occasional external collaborators (e.g., Oona Clarke, Makenzie Taleno, Lindsey Caneso).

The business operates three revenue streams. The core is professional design services sold via direct client engagement (email helloourfriends.com), supported by an e-commerce merchandise shop selling art prints, apparel, and the Acceptance Book photography journal ($12–$80 unit price). A self-serve 'DIY Your Brand in A Weekend' course is hosted on Thinkific, extending the studio's IP into global online education. Distribution is direct: website portfolio, founder's Instagram, and email for services; Squarespace storefront for merchandise; Thinkific for the course. Customers span film/entertainment (IFC Films), insurance (Pacific Life), automotive (Toyota GEaR), education (UCI), beverage (Left Coast Seltzer, Guts•z, Mom & Pop Shop), retail (Barbie X BlondMe, Ban.do), agriculture (Boreal Forest Farms), and nonprofit (Compassion Center), with a recurring event-branding partnership with Z0e Productions across 2023–2025. The 'Tiger the Charlie' sub-brand, built around artwork by an autistic child artist and sold via collaborative apparel with BamaBones, doubles as an autism-advocacy mission. There is no disclosed revenue, no external funding, no API or AI product surface, and no measurable headcount growth — the business is best characterized as a stable, founder-led boutique agency.

Name

Our Friends

Legal name

Our Friends Inc.

Website

https://meetourfriends.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Our Friends Inc. is a Santa Ana, California-based visual communication agency offering brand identity, graphic design, photography, and illustration to small/mid-size businesses and event organizers, with a small e-commerce merchandise arm and a self-serve online branding course.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

Keywords

• Graphic design services
• Brand identity design
• Visual communication
• Photography services
• Custom illustration

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Ana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Design Services: Custom graphic design, branding, photography, and visual communication services delivered directly to business clients through collaborative engagements.
2. Product Sales (E-commerce): Sale of branded merchandise through the company website shop, including art prints, apparel, accessories, and the 'Acceptance Book' photography journal.
3. Online Course - DIY Your Brand in A Weekend: A branding course hosted on Thinkific platform teaching clients how to create professional brands without design experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Our Friends is a visual communication agency delivering custom graphic design, photography, and storytelling services to business clients. Core offerings include brand identity development (logos, color palettes, typography, illustration), packaging design, web design, and event branding, supported by professional editorial and drone photography. The company also operates an online course ('DIY Your Brand in A Weekend') on Thinkific and a merchandise e-commerce shop selling art prints, apparel, and the Acceptance Book photography journal.

Product overview

Our Friends Inc. is a visual communication agency offering creative and graphic design services, photography, and storytelling. The core offering consists of brand identity development services (custom logos, color palettes, typography, illustration, web design, and packaging design), supported by photography services and an editorial blog. The company also operates a merchandise e-commerce shop selling the Acceptance Book photography journal, Tiger the Charlie art prints and collaborative apparel with BamaBones, and rainbow-themed accessories. Educational offerings include the 'DIY Your Brand in A Weekend' online course. The Tiger the Charlie sub-brand features artwork by Charlie, an autistic child artist, with proceeds supporting autism advocacy and trust funds. The company is founded by Bernie Dickson and operates from Santa Ana, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative/Graphic Design and Brand Identity Services Custom visual communication services for business clients including brand development, custom logo design, color palette creation, typography systems, illustration, packaging design, web design, and event branding. Delivered through direct collaboration with founder Bernie Dickson and occasional project collaborators.
• Photography Services Professional photography services including editorial work, portrait photography, drone photography, and photographic storytelling for brands, events, and marketing campaigns.
• DIY Your Brand in A Weekend Online branding course hosted on Thinkific that teaches entrepreneurs and small business owners how to create professional brands without prior design experience, based on founder Bernie Dickson's client work and teaching experience.
• Our Friends Shop (Branded Merchandise) E-commerce store at meetourfriends.com/shop selling photography journals, art prints, apparel, and accessories featuring original and collaborative designs including Tiger the Charlie artwork and rainbow-themed products.

Named customers12 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Z0e ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2023Recurring collaboration partner for event branding projects including Barbie X BlondMe activation at Century City Mall and Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Parties (23, 24, 25). Z0e Productions brings Our Friends on board for creative direction and design.
• Two Lions PrintingminorOthersPrinting vendor for merchandise products. Two Lions Printing produced the Rainbow Tote Bags sold through the Our Friends shop.
• ThinkificminorOthersOnline course platform hosting the 'DIY Your Brand in A Weekend' branding course. Thinkific provides the technology infrastructure for course delivery.
• Lindsey CanesominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on the Acceptance Book photography journal project. Lindsey designed the book layout, bringing her vision to the photography project and helping bring the book to life.
• Dr. Therese Mascardo (Exploring Therapy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on the 'Love The Journey' self-care journal and workbook with Ban.do. Bernie served as one of 8 women artists creating designs for the journal and photographed the release in Lisbon, Portugal.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pentagram: Pentagram is a partner-led graphic design and branding agency specializing in identity, packaging, illustration, and brand strategy. Like Our Friends, it sells bespoke creative services directly to clients across industries, but at significantly larger scale with global offices.
• Studio Dumbar: Studio Dumbar is an independent design agency focused on brand identity, motion, and visual communication. Its relational, design-led approach to brand development and direct client collaboration mirrors Our Friends' positioning.
• Mucca: Mucca is an independent creative agency covering branding, packaging, and graphic design. Its small studio structure and focus on craft-driven brand identity work closely resembles Our Friends' operating model.
• Saffron Brand Consultants: Saffron is a brand strategy and identity consultancy serving global clients. Comparable to Our Friends in offering brand identity, naming, and visual identity services, though at enterprise scale.
• Franke+Fiorella: Franke+Fiorella is an independent branding and design studio working with challenger brands across food, beverage, and lifestyle. Comparable to Our Friends in size, client verticals (F&B, lifestyle, events), and identity-led packaging work.
• Tactile Design: Tactile is a small brand identity and packaging design studio serving F&B and lifestyle clients. Its boutique structure, packaging focus, and Southern California presence overlap with Our Friends' core offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Siegel+Gale: Siegel+Gale is a global branding and design consultancy with a focus on simplicity and brand experience. Compares to Our Friends in offering visual identity and brand strategy but at enterprise scale with global offices.
• Lippincott: Lippincott is a global brand strategy and design consultancy serving Fortune 500 clients. Overlaps with Our Friends in brand identity and packaging design but operates at far larger scale across multiple practice areas.

Regional players

• Lipman Brothers: Lipman Brothers is a Southern California-based branding and packaging studio. Same regional base and same focus on CPG and lifestyle brand identity work as Our Friends.

Emerging players

• Ramotion: Ramotion is a digital-first design and branding agency offering brand identity, web design, and app design. Overlaps with Our Friends on brand identity and web design but with a heavier focus on tech clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berniedickson
• Instagraminstagram.com/berniedickson
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ourfriends

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 Our Friends