Urbanink

What Urbanink does

Urbanink is a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based multidisciplinary design studio and printshop founded in 2004 by creative director Marcelle Lussier. The studio operates two core offerings: a creative agency practice spanning visual identity, branding, typography, illustration, packaging, publication design, signage and wayfinding, motion design, UX/UI, website design, copywriting, and photography; and in-house print production using two Heidelberg Windmill letterpresses, supplemented by foil stamping, die-cutting, embossing, and screenprinting capabilities. A consumer-facing sub-brand, YOUI Paper Co., extends the studio into letterpress paper goods distributed globally through a dedicated e-commerce storefront at youipaper.com.

The business is project-based, with services quoted per engagement and billed per project or retainer. The client base spans arts and culture institutions (MacKenzie Art Gallery, Plug In ICA, University of Manitoba School of Art Gallery), nonprofit organizations (Manitoba Craft Council across 20+ projects since 2009, Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers since 2020, Reel Pride Film Festival), enterprise accounts (TELUS Agriculture 2021–2024, Alston Properties, National Film Board of Canada), SMBs (The Cheesemongers Fromagerie, Baked Expectations, AMBM), and academic institutions (University of Winnipeg's 1C03 Gallery). Geographic reach covers Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Western Canada, with English and French bilingual capability. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company operates as a privately held, founder-led boutique with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or ownership changes.

Name

Urbanink

Legal name

Urbanink

Website

https://urbanink.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urbanink is a Winnipeg-based multidisciplinary creative agency and letterpress printshop, founded in 2004, serving arts organizations, nonprofits, enterprise clients, and SMBs with branding, publication design, signage, and in-house print production via two Heidelberg Windmill presses, plus a consumer stationery line under YOUI Paper Co.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Decoration & Branding Services (Printing, Hot Stamping, Metallization, Labeling) (IMALAJAN), Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)

Keywords

• Graphic design services
• Letterpress printing
• Brand identity design
• Publication design
• Screen printing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Project-based design and branding services including visual identity, packaging, website design, UX/UI, signage, wayfinding, motion design, copywriting, and photography. Services are billed per project or retainer.
2. Print Production Services: In-house letterpress, screenprinting, foil stamping, embossing, and die-cutting services for clients and the YOUI Paper Co. product line, providing end-to-end production from design through fabrication.
3. YOUI Paper Co. Stationery Products: Letterpress paper goods sold through an external shop (youipaper.com), generating revenue from the sale of designed and printed stationery products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Urbanink is a multidisciplinary creative agency and printshop providing graphic design services (branding, visual identity, typography, illustration, packaging, website design, motion design, UX/UI, copywriting, and photography) and traditional print production (letterpress, screen printing, foil stamping, die-cutting, embossing). The studio serves arts and culture organizations, corporate clients, and small businesses with end-to-end design-to-production capabilities, complemented by its YOUI Paper Co. letterpress stationery sub-brand.

Product overview

Urbanink is a multidisciplinary creative agency and printshop based in Winnipeg, founded in 2004. The company operates two core offerings: creative agency services (branding, typography, illustration, website design, motion design, UX & UI, copywriting, and photography) and letterpress printing services using two Heidelberg Windmill letterpresses. They also operate a sub-brand, YOUI Paper Co., which produces and sells letterpress paper goods and stationery. The studio owns and operates their equipment in-house at their Woodhaven location to ensure complete quality control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YOUI Paper Co. YOUI Paper Co. is the studio's line of letterpress paper goods. Designed and printed in studio, they produce enduring and beautiful stationery.

Products and services

• Urbanink Creative Agency Services Project-based creative agency services including branding, visual identity, packaging, posters, type design, signage, infographics, wayfinding, campaign concepts, motion design, web design, UX & UI, social media & newsletter templates, copywriting, and photography, delivered to arts organizations, corporate clients, and small businesses.
• Letterpress Printing Services Traditional letterpress printing services using two in-house Heidelberg Windmill letterpresses, offering foil stamping, diecutting, embossing, and screenprinting for high-quality printed materials for clients and the studio's own product line.
• YOUI Paper Co. YOUI Paper Co. is Urbanink's line of letterpress paper goods including greeting cards, wedding invitations, and custom stationery products, designed and printed in studio and sold to consumers through the youipaper.com e-commerce storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• Long-term partnership spanning more than 20 projects with Manitoba Craft Council
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Public City ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on award-winning public art projects including the Hygge House warming hut (Forks River Trail Warming Hut Design Competition) and Row Row Row at Clarence Street Station, commissioned by Winnipeg's Art Council. Public City Architecture and Urbanink jointly design and build public art installations.
• Pike ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Urbanink and Public City Architecture on the Hygge House neon yellow wood-framed shelter project.
• 5468796 ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 123 James Ave Pumphouse lobby artwork commission for Alston Properties. 5468796 Architecture designed the building, and Urbanink designed and fabricated the custom lobby artwork referencing the site's historic water infrastructure.
• TELUS AgriculturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOngoing creative partnership (2021–2024) producing marketing collateral, digital and print campaigns, and campaign concepts for prairies and Western Canada markets. TELUS Agriculture trusted Urbanink for tagline development through full creative execution.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rethink: Canadian creative agency with offices across major cities, offering branding, advertising, and design services. Comparable as a Canadian-headquartered creative agency serving enterprise and cultural clients.
• Concrete Design Communications: Winnipeg-based creative agency serving cultural and corporate clients with branding and design. A direct local market peer competing for the same regional arts, culture, and SMB clients.
• Lammert & Mann Bookbinders & Printers: Toronto-based letterpress and bookbinding studio offering design, fine printing, and stationery products. Closest Canadian letterpress peer, sharing craft-driven, small-team operating model.
• The Letterpress Shop: Independent letterpress printshop offering custom printing, stationery, and design services to consumer and small business clients. Comparable craft-driven print model with in-house equipment and stationery product line analogous to YOUI Paper Co.
• Hatch Show Print: Iconic Nashville-based letterpress printshop combining traditional printing with poster and design services for cultural institutions. Most direct letterpress peer in the broader North American market, sharing a similar craft-driven, multi-decade operating model.
• Field Day Creative Group: North American creative agency focused on branding, design, and campaign work for cultural, nonprofit, and consumer clients. Comparable mid-sized agency competing for similar cultural-sector engagements.
• Studio on Fire: Minneapolis-based letterpress and design studio producing custom print, stationery, and packaging. Operates an in-house letterpress and design practice very similar to Urbanink's Heidelberg-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Cossette: One of Canada's largest full-service marketing and communications agencies, offering branding, advertising, and design at scale. Operates in the same broad agency space as Urbanink but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Juniper Park\TBWA: Major Canadian creative agency (formerly TAXI) operating across Toronto and broader Canada with full-service branding and advertising. Overlaps with Urbanink on branding engagements but serves much larger national accounts.

Emerging players

• Pidgin Magazine / Pidgin Design: Vancouver-based independent publication and design practice with adjacent cultural-sector design capabilities. Comparable as a Pacific Canadian creative peer with cultural institution focus, though distinct in editorial publishing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/urbaninkwpg
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbaninkwpg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urbanink

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Urbanink