5 By 5 Design, Inc.

What 5 By 5 Design, Inc. does

5 by 5 Design, Inc. is a Minneapolis-based branding and graphic design agency founded in 2006 that provides research, strategy, messaging, visual system design, signage, and sales and marketing tools to organizations. The firm organizes its practice into seven service areas — Research, Strategy, Message Development, System Design, Sales & Marketing Tools, Signage, and Ongoing Support — delivered through project-based professional services engagements. The company is privately held, certified women-owned, registered in Minnesota, and operates from a single headquarters at 3608 Aldrich Avenue South, Minneapolis, with a team of 1–10 employees. No proprietary software or technology platform is developed or described.

The firm serves a heterogeneous client base spanning multiple sectors. Enterprise clients include MillerKnoll and E.A. Sween Company; nonprofit and foundation clients include United Women in Faith, McKnight Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, and Model Cities; government clients include the Minnesota Department of Human Services; and mid-market clients include IT-HenHouse, iSpace Environments, and Crux Collaborative. The company runs on the EOS operating system, holds a Women Owned business designation, and earned CERT certification in 2024. Recent industry recognition includes Communicator Awards (2023, 2024), GDUSA American Graphic Design Awards (2021, 2022), and a PRINT Regional Design Annual award (2024).

5 by 5 Design generates revenue exclusively through custom-scoped professional services fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are quoted per project, with no subscription, product, or marketplace revenue streams. The firm drives awareness through content marketing — its website's Ideas/Blog section, a quarterly email newsletter, case studies, and client testimonials — with no paid advertising channels described. No funding rounds, institutional investors, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships are disclosed, and there are no public indicators of geographic expansion, headcount growth, or new product development beyond the established seven-service portfolio.

Name

5 By 5 Design, Inc.

Legal name

5 by 5 Design, Inc.

Website

https://5by5design.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

5 by 5 Design is a Minneapolis-based branding and graphic design agency serving nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and enterprises through project-based professional services engagements spanning research, strategy, messaging, visual system design, signage, and marketing tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand Strategy & Creative Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Identity & Brand Design Systems (BPAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG)

Keywords

• Branding services
• Brand strategy
• Graphic design
• Creative agency
• Marketing communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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

Revenue model

1. Branding and Creative Services: The firm generates revenue through project-based creative and strategy engagements. Services include research, brand strategy, message development, system design, sales and marketing tools, signage, and ongoing brand support. Revenue is earned through professional services fees scoped per engagement, with no subscription, usage-based, or product-based revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

5 by 5 Design is a branding and creative services agency that helps organizations clarify their brand, develop messaging and visual identity systems, and produce practical marketing and signage tools. Core deliverables span marketplace research, brand audits, strategy workshops, messaging frameworks, brand architecture and visual systems, sales and marketing collateral, environmental signage and wayfinding, and ongoing brand stewardship.

Product overview

5 By 5 Design, Inc. is a branding, marketing, and graphic design agency offering a comprehensive suite of professional services. Their offering is organized as a service portfolio rather than a software product or platform. The core services include Brand Research & Discovery Services (marketplace assessments, competitive reviews, qualitative research, brand audits, and ideation sessions), Brand Strategy Services (positioning, audience definition, strategic planning), Brand Messaging & Message Development Services (value propositions, brand stories, taglines, verbal guidelines), Brand System Design & Architecture Services (brand architecture, visual systems, logo guidelines, governance models), Sales & Marketing Tools (collateral, templates, presentations), Signage Services (environmental graphics, wayfinding), and Ongoing Support (continuous brand guidance). These services work together to guide clients from initial research through strategy, messaging, visual identity development, and ongoing brand management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Research & Discovery Services Discovery and research services including marketplace assessments, competitive reviews, qualitative research, ideation sessions, brand audits, and creative brainstorming, designed to reveal opportunities and build team alignment for organizations seeking brand clarity.
• Brand Strategy Services Strategic direction services including brand positioning and differentiation, audience definition, personas, strategic planning workshops, and marketing communications planning to align teams and guide decisions for organizations.
• Brand Messaging & Message Development Services Language and messaging development including brand names, value propositions, brand stories, points of difference, core message frameworks, audience-specific messaging, taglines, and verbal brand guidelines, for organizations that need consistent communication.
• Brand System Design & Architecture Services System design services including brand architecture and hierarchy systems, logo usage guidelines, visual systems, sub-brand extension systems, visual and verbal brand guidelines, governance models, and scalable system documentation for organizations with complex brand portfolios.
• Sales & Marketing Tools Creation of practical materials to support sales conversations, communicate value, and encourage action, including collateral, templates, presentations, and digital assets for sales and marketing teams.
• Signage Services Signage design helping people navigate spaces, feel oriented, and experience brands through environmental graphics and wayfinding for offices, community spaces, and public environments.
• Ongoing Support Strategic guidance, practical tools, and thoughtful updates to help organizations maintain brand momentum over time as a retained or recurring service engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Northwest Minnesota Foundation 'surpassed its best year of giving ever' following a new messaging campaign developed by 5 by 5 Design
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Russell Herder: Minneapolis-based brand strategy and creative agency serving similar mid-market, nonprofit, foundation, and healthcare clients. Highly comparable in size, regional focus, and brand-led offerings.
• Clarity Coverdale Fury: Minneapolis-based creative agency providing branding, advertising, and design services to consumer, nonprofit, and health clients. Directly comparable in service mix and regional positioning.
• Space150: Minneapolis creative and digital agency offering brand, content, and digital experience design for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable as a Minneapolis-based creative services competitor.
• Falls Agency: Minneapolis branding and advertising agency serving consumer and B2B clients with strategy, design, and integrated campaign services. Comparable in scope of brand and marketing deliverables.
• Yamamoto: Minneapolis creative agency (formerly Yamamoto Moss) providing brand strategy, design, and campaign work for regional and national clients. Comparable in creative-services positioning.
• Periscope (Quad): Minneapolis brand and creative agency (now part of Quad) serving consumer, healthcare, and nonprofit clients. Directly comparable in brand-led offerings and Twin Cities geography, though at larger scale.
• Preston Kelly: Minneapolis independent creative/advertising agency offering brand strategy, design, and campaign work for regional and national clients. Comparable in creative-services positioning and Twin Cities geography.
• Zeus Jones: Minneapolis creative agency offering brand strategy, design, and integrated campaign services to mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable in creative-services scope and regional positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Landor & Fitch: Global brand consulting and design firm offering brand strategy, identity systems, and brand experience work. Comparable in core brand-system and visual-identity offerings, though at far larger scale with global reach.
• Carmichael Lynch: Long-established Minneapolis full-service advertising and brand agency serving major national brands. Comparable in geography and brand-creative category but operates at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5-by-5-design

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 5 By 5 Design, Inc.