Public Display of Affection

What Public Display of Affection does

Public Display of Affection (PDA) is a creative studio that focuses on concepting and producing brand activations and campaigns for consumer brands. The studio develops experiential ideas, digital experiences, and product-based stunts that aim to generate cultural conversation and press. PDA’s work includes collaborations with entertainment talent, custom physical products, mobile apps, and themed events. The team often integrates social media, influencers, and interactive technology into projects to connect brands with fans.

Name

Public Display of Affection

Legal name

Public Display of Affection

Website

https://www.pda.nyc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public Display of Affection is a creative studio that designs brand activations, campaigns, and experiential concepts for consumer brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Naming & Verbal Identity (Taglines, Messaging) (MPAAAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Programmatic Display & Retargeting (DSP) (MPAAACAE)

Keywords

• Creative agency services
• Brand activation campaigns
• Experiential marketing
• Advertising campaigns
• Content production

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: PDA generates revenue through project-based creative agency work, creating non-traditional campaigns for brand clients. Revenue comes from fees for campaign development, activation, production, strategy, and media services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Public Display of Affection (PDA) is a New York-based creative studio that designs, develops, and produces non-traditional marketing campaigns, brand activations, and experiential concepts for enterprise consumer brands. The agency organizes its work around a proprietary "5 love languages" methodology (Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Gift Giving, Quality Time) and builds a custom creative team for every project drawn from its network of freelance talent.

Product overview

Public Display of Affection (PDA) is a creative studio that builds marketing campaigns and experiential activations for client brands, operating without traditional overhead through a network of freelance creatives. The company is not a product company but rather a service agency that creates non-traditional campaigns across multiple formats including grassroots activations, AI-powered experiments, branded products, social media campaigns, and immersive experiences. Their work spans campaign strategy, creative development, production, and media planning for major brands including Netflix, LEGO, Verizon, Oscar Mayer, Samsung, IBM, Chobani, Waze, and Magnolia Bakery. PDA organizes its services around five 'love languages' methodology and has received industry recognition including Cannes Lions, Clio, Webby, OneShow, D&AD, and ADC Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Non-Traditional Marketing Campaigns End-to-end creative campaign development for enterprise brand clients, covering strategy, creative development, production, and media planning, structured around five 'love languages' methodologies designed to deliver engagement, awareness, content, press, sales, likes, shares, and audience gasps.
• Experiential Activations In-person brand experiences and grassroots activations for consumer brand clients, including sampling programs, cross-country tours, social racing, and community-focused experiential events such as the Yerba Madre Trailgate Party, Wiener Rover, NASCAR Hashtag 500, and Bacon Barter.
• AI-Powered Creative Projects AI-driven creative experiments and interactive experiences for brand clients, including generative AI chatbot concepts such as CatGPT (an AI-powered 3D animated cat chat experience built in the Unity gaming engine using the language model behind ChatGPT) and earlier IBM Watson co-written music collaborations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised more than $7 million for America's small businesses through Verizon PayItForwardLIVE
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• RGA (Renewable Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDA collaborated with RGA on multiple campaigns including Verizon PayItForwardLIVE (co-created 8-week livestream series), Verizon 5G Stadium Fortnite experience, Amex Unstaged digital concert, and Samsung #DanceAwesome campaign. RGA appears to be a sister or partner agency on specific projects.
• 360iminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDA worked with 360i on Oscar Mayer campaigns including Bacon Barter (cross-country barter trip), Wiener Rover (off-road Wienermobile), Sizzl dating app, WUSB bacon-scent alarm clock, and Oreo Nomsters. 360i appears to be a partner agency on specific campaigns.
• OgilvyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDA collaborated with Ogilvy on IBM Watson song campaign and NASCAR Hashtag 500 social engagement campaign. Ogilvy appears to be a partner agency on specific projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wieden+Kennedy: Iconic independent creative agency known for non-traditional, culture-defining campaigns for Nike, Coca-Cola, and others — directly comparable to PDA in creative ambition, brand-activation focus, and independent operating model.
• Mother: Independent creative agency producing bold, non-traditional brand work for global brands — directly comparable in operating model (independent, creative-led) and category (campaigns and activations for major brands).
• Droga5: Independent creative agency known for integrated campaigns blending advertising, technology, and culture for brands like The New York Times, Google, and Heineken — closely comparable to PDA's tech-infused, culture-breaking work.
• 72andSunny: Independent creative agency focused on culturally relevant campaigns and brand activations — directly comparable in creative-led positioning and Fortune 500 client roster across entertainment, tech, and consumer goods.
• Anomaly: Independent creative agency producing brand-defining work for major consumer brands including Budweiser, Coca-Cola, and Tesla — comparable in scale and creative ambition as an independent alternative to holding-company agencies.
• R/GA: Creative agency specializing in technology-driven brand experiences and digital innovation — directly comparable to PDA's technology-enabled experiential work; also a documented collaborator with PDA on multiple campaigns.

Emerging players

• Mekanism: Independent creative agency producing emotionally resonant campaigns for brands like Alaska Airlines and Ben & Jerry's — comparable in approach to narrative-driven, culture-focused brand activations at a similar scale to PDA.
• GALE: Independent creative and media agency working with brands like BMW, Emirates, and Verizon — comparable as an independent, integrated shop delivering campaigns with measurable business outcomes, similar in scope to PDA.

Broad incumbents

• Ogilvy: Global full-service agency network offering advertising, PR, and experience design at scale — a documented PDA collaborator on IBM and NASCAR campaigns; comparable in capability scope but vastly larger and incumbent in the category.
• BBDO: Global creative agency network producing award-winning campaigns across categories — comparable in producing high-profile, award-winning brand campaigns but operates at holding-company scale and with broader service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pdanyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pda.nyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/pda.studio.nyc

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 Public Display of Affection