There There Ltd.

What There There Ltd. does

There There Ltd. (株式会社 There There) is a Tokyo-based boutique design studio founded by Kazune Watanabe in April 2018 and incorporated in March 2022. The firm provides project-based professional design services centered on editorial design, visual identity (VI) systems, typography, book and catalog design, poster and direct mail design, and exhibition and event graphics. Its client base is concentrated in Japan and spans publications and media (e.g., TRANSIT, Pen Magazine, DEEPTOKYO, Kodansha's FRaU), educational institutions (Digital Hollywood University, Kuwasawa Design School, Tottori University, Mitsumura Tosho), hospitality and retail (Mitsui Fudosan's sequence hotel, LUMINE Ogikubo, fufu salons, Paul Stuart), and cultural institutions (Waseda University International House of Literature, design events such as DESIGNTIDE TOKYO).

The studio operates as a craft-led service business with no proprietary software, no technology platform, and no disclosed AI/automation stack. Its competitive position rests on the founder's recognized expertise in typography and editorial design, a team of six named professionals recruited from leading Japanese design programs, and a consistent track record of high-prestige international design awards (iF Design Award Gold 2026, German Design Award Gold 2023 and 2026, A' Design Award Gold, D&AD Shortlist, Kuwasawa Award 30th). The firm occasionally develops proprietary typeface assets (e.g., PARKET Font) as part of client engagements, but the core deliverable is human-authored design and art direction.

The business model is project-based professional services sold via direct enterprise engagement, with acquisition driven by portfolio visibility, design-award recognition, and word-of-mouth within the Japanese design community. There is no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no public listing. Marketing is primarily through the studio's portfolio website (therethere.tokyo), Instagram and Twitter, and earned media via design annuals and industry publications.

Name

There There Ltd.

Legal name

株式会社 There There

Website

https://therethere.tokyo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

There There Ltd. is a Tokyo-based boutique design studio founded in 2018 by Kazune Watanabe, providing project-based editorial design, visual identity, typography, and exhibition graphics services to Japanese enterprise clients in publishing, education, hospitality, retail, and cultural sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Editorial design services
• Visual identity design
• Typography design
• Graphic design studio
• Brand identity design

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (Nishi-Ogikubo)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Project-based design and art direction services for editorial, visual identity, and graphic design projects. Revenue generated through client engagements for magazines, books, branding, signage, and exhibition graphics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

There There is a Tokyo-based boutique design studio providing art direction and graphic design services for editorial publications, visual identity systems, books, catalogs, posters/direct mail, and exhibition/event graphics. The studio serves enterprise clients including magazine publishers, universities, hospitality brands, retail chains, and cultural institutions, handling the full design process from concept development through final production with particular expertise in typography-driven solutions.

Product overview

There There Ltd. is a Tokyo-based design studio offering a comprehensive suite of design services centered on editorial design, visual identity (VI), graphic design, and publication design. The portfolio includes work across six main categories: Visual Identity (VI) design, Editorial/Magazine design, Book design, Catalog design, Poster/DM design, and Exhibition/Event graphics. Projects span diverse sectors including hospitality (lifestyle hotels, cafes), education (universities, design schools), publishing (magazines, travel guides), retail (fashion brands, bakeries), and cultural institutions (museums, exhibitions). The studio handles the full design process from concept development through final production, with particular expertise in typography-driven design solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visual Identity (VI) Design Services Comprehensive visual identity design services including logo design, signage systems, brand guidelines, and identity applications for clients across hospitality, retail, education, and cultural sectors.
• Editorial / Magazine Design Services Magazine and publication design services encompassing art direction, layout design, typography, and print production for cultural, lifestyle, and trade publications.
• Book Design Services Book design and publishing services including cover design, interior layout, and typography for photo books, technical books, and literary publications.
• Catalog Design Services Catalog design services for retail brands, including seasonal lookbooks, corporate catalogs, and promotional materials.
• Poster / DM Design Services Poster and direct mail design services for exhibitions, events, promotional campaigns, and special projects.
• Exhibition and Event Graphics Services Visual identity and graphic design services for exhibitions, cultural events, and design festivals including signage, promotional materials, and environmental graphics.

Named customers16 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KnaxminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with Knax as editor for DEEPTOKYOmagazine Vol. 1 project. Knax handled editorial duties while There There provided art direction and design.
• CLASS Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Direction partnership for LUMINE Ogikubo 45th anniversary logo and graphics project.
• Mitsui Fudosan / Mitsui Fudosan Hotel ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFull VI design partnership for Mitsui Fudosan's lifestyle hotel brand 'sequence' including logo, signage, amenities, and website across three locations.
• Welcome Co., Ltd.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning and production partner for sequence hotel VI project.
• Griffon Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpatial design and production partner for fufu VI rebranding project.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mast: Brooklyn-based boutique design studio with editorial and identity work for cultural and consumer clients. Comparable in small-team boutique model and craft-driven editorial/VI output.
• Mucho: Barcelona-based boutique design studio with an internationally recognized practice in editorial design, visual identity, and art direction for cultural and enterprise clients. Closely comparable in scale, craft positioning, and editorial/VI focus.
• Manual: San Francisco boutique creative studio working across visual identity, editorial, and brand systems for enterprise and cultural clients. Comparable in small-team boutique model and craft-led VI practice.
• Concrete: Toronto-based boutique design studio with identity, editorial, and brand experience work. Comparable boutique positioning and enterprise client focus across publishing, retail, and culture.
• Bedow: Stockholm-based boutique design studio known for typography-driven identity, editorial, and packaging work. Comparable in small team size, typographic craft focus, and editorial/VI service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Global design partnership renowned for visual identity and editorial work across enterprise clients. Comparable to There There in service mix (VI, editorial, books) but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Instrument: Portland-origin independent creative agency with brand identity, editorial, and digital work for enterprise clients. Shares the boutique/independent positioning but operates at greater scale and scope.
• Nippon Design Center (NDC): One of Japan's largest integrated design firms, with a long track record in editorial, corporate identity, and environmental graphics. Shares There There's Tokyo base and VI/editorial portfolio but operates as a much larger incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThereThere_tw
• Instagraminstagram.com/therethere__design/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/therethere-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 There There Ltd.