What Waste Studio does

Waste Studio (legally Waste Yourself Limited) is a Nottingham, UK-based creative design studio founded in 2006 that provides brand identity, digital design, motion graphics, spatial design, illustration, photography, videography, AR/VR experiences, and custom typeface design for global enterprise clients. Its service portfolio spans logo and visual language systems, digital and web design, exhibition identity, retail wayfinding (e.g., Nike House of Innovation Paris at 2,400 sqm), and integrated campaign work (Universal Works collaborations with K-Way, Saucony, master-piece, Flower Mountain). Underlying technical capabilities include custom typeface construction (CP Standard for Cobden Place; O12 Stencil on a 12-degree modular grid), WebGL/3D scanning, AR via Google Geospatial Creator in Adobe Aero, and an experimental archive (W.IP) covering VR street art, screen printing, and glitch code work.

Waste Studio monetises primarily through project-based B2B creative services acquired via direct client relationships, portfolio referrals, and industry networking; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. A secondary direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel sells branded merchandise (posters at £30, graphic t-shirts at £45, sticker packs at £15) featuring studio and Artist-in-Residence artwork. A small workshop business has emerged (e.g., the Mike Meyers three-day sign painting workshop at $850, April 2025), adding fee-based educational revenue. The studio is founder-led by Creative Director Norman Hayes, supported by a core team of approximately six humans plus a studio dog, operating from a single headquarters in Nottingham's Lace Market creative district. Customer mix is heavily weighted to fashion/apparel and sportswear brands (Nike, Universal Works, Converse, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Saucony), with additional work for arts/cultural institutions (Broadway, Nottingham Contemporary, Imperial War Museums) and consumer/retail (Tesco, Mothercare). The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or ownership changes.

Name

Waste Studio

Legal name

Waste Yourself Limited

Website

https://wastestudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waste Studio is a Nottingham-based creative design studio founded in 2006 that delivers brand identity, digital, spatial, motion, and typeface design for global enterprise clients, primarily in fashion, sportswear, and cultural sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Design Services

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Brand identity design
• Creative design agency
• Spatial design services
• Motion graphics studio
• Custom typeface design

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Project-based professional design services including brand identity, digital design, motion design, spatial design, photography, videography, illustration, and art direction for global brands.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including posters, t-shirts, and sticker packs through the studio's online shop.
3. Workshops & Educational Programs: Fee-based creative workshops such as the Mike Meyers Sign Painting Workshop at $850 USD for three days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Waste Studio is a multi-disciplinary creative design agency offering brand identity, digital design, motion graphics, spatial design, illustration, photography, videography, and custom typeface design services to global brands. The studio additionally sells design-led merchandise (posters, graphic t-shirts, sticker packs) and hosts fee-based creative workshops from its Nottingham studio.

Product overview

Waste Studio is a creative design studio that provides professional services including brand identity, digital design, motion design, film/videography, spatial design, signage, packaging, graphic design, marketing collateral, typeface design, brand campaigns, and web development. The studio also sells a merchandise line of graphic t-shirts, posters, and stickers featuring original artwork and typefaces created by the studio and its artists-in-residence. The service offerings form the core business, while merchandise represents a secondary retail channel for studio artwork.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Identity & Visual Language Design
• Digital Design & Web Development
• Motion Design & Film Production
• Spatial Design & Wayfinding
• Custom Typeface Design
• We Love Waste Sticker Pack
• Waste of Space / Specimen Poster
• Pixel Waste T-Shirt
• Public Display Road Sign T-Shirt
• Artist Series: Two Faced T-Shirt by WooSun Choi
• Artist Series: Oi!!!!! T-Shirt

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 years of continuous operation since 2006
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and flagship.

• Office TwelvenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on the Jordan x Foot Locker Paris in-store customisation activation. Office Twelve delivered the in-store customisation experience while Waste Studio designed the hyperlocal patches for the event.
• Universal WorksflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership spanning over a decade. Multiple collaborative campaigns including Rolling Wisdom, Festival Kit with K-Way, master-piece SS25 campaign, Saucony Route to the Future, Flower Mountain collection. Waste Studio has played a key role in shaping Universal Works' design language and brand identity since the brand's early days.
• Google Arts & CulturenotableTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on AR experience project with Global Street Art. Waste Studio created augmented reality content using Google's Geospatial Creator in Adobe Aero to bring physical murals to life in London, Mexico City, and LA.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• &Walsh: Independent, multi-disciplinary branding and design studio operating across brand identity, motion, environmental design, and art direction for global fashion and culture clients — a near-analogue to Waste Studio in scale, multidisciplinary remit, and fashion brand focus.
• Sagmeister Inc. Independent design studio led by Stefan Sagmeister delivering brand identity, typography, environmental, and experiential design for global cultural and commercial clients — directly comparable in independent model, font/typeface emphasis, and experiential remit.
• Studio Dumbar: Award-winning independent design studio specialising in brand identity, typography, motion, and digital design for cultural and commercial clients — directly comparable in multi-disciplinary creative remit and independent studio model.
• Pentagram: The world's largest independent design consultancy, with partner-led teams delivering brand identity, environmental/wayfinding design, typeface design, and motion work for global brands — directly overlapping Waste Studio's brand, spatial, and typography offerings.
• Mother Design: The design and branding arm of the global Mother creative network, delivering brand identity, campaign, and spatial design across categories including fashion and culture — a scaled but comparable peer to Waste Studio in offering and client mix.
• Koto: Independent branding and design studio delivering brand strategy, identity, motion, and spatial/experiential work for global brands across fashion, tech, and culture — closely comparable to Waste Studio's service mix and enterprise client profile.
• Bureau Borsche: Independent German design studio working across brand identity, typography, editorial, motion, and spatial/environmental design for cultural and commercial clients — comparable in independent studio model and breadth of brand/typography/spatial capabilities.
• Mucca: Independent multidisciplinary design studio delivering brand identity, packaging, editorial, and digital design for fashion and lifestyle brands — comparable in size, fashion-client orientation, and full-service creative remit.
• Manual: Boutique independent design and creative agency delivering brand identity, digital, motion, and campaign work for fashion, lifestyle, and tech clients — comparable in studio size, multi-disciplinary capabilities, and selective enterprise client roster.

Emerging players

• Universal Everything: Independent digital/creative studio specialising in immersive motion, AR/VR, and generative digital experiences for global brands — directly comparable to Waste Studio's emerging-tech (AR, 3D scanning, WebGL) capabilities, though with a narrower focus on digital experiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user8940887
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waste-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/waste_studio
• Xx.com/WasteStudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Waste Studio