Mtwtf, Inc.
MTWTF is a New York-based graphic design studio founded in 2009 that creates identities, publications, exhibitions, wayfinding systems, and websites for architecture firms, cultural institutions, academic centers, and public-sector clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mtwtf, Inc. does
MTWTF (Mtwtf, Inc.) is a New York-based graphic design studio founded in 2009 that creates identities, publications, exhibitions, wayfinding systems, signage, environmental graphics, and websites for clients in the architecture, cultural-institution, academic, and public-sector segments. Core service lines are visual identity and branding, exhibition design and graphics, publication design, signage and wayfinding systems, website and digital platform design, and tools and interactive systems such as participatory budgeting and data-visualization platforms. The studio's work is delivered through project-based, quote-driven engagements acquired via direct client relationships, professional referrals, competitive selection processes, and reputation within the architecture and design communities.
The studio operates at the intersection of design practice, critical theory, and research, frequently collaborating with academic and cultural institutions — including Columbia University GSAPP, the Civic Data Design Lab at MIT, the Center for Urban Pedagogy, Design Trust for Public Space, and the Brooklyn Public Library — and producing publications, tools, and digital platforms alongside or beyond the immediate design deliverable. Long-standing development partnerships with Kudos Design Collaboratory and Accurat extend MTWTF's technical implementation capability for digital projects, while fabrication partnerships (e.g., SITU Studio) support physical environmental graphics.
MTWTF is a privately held, founder- and partner-operated studio with a leadership team that includes Managing Partner Sarah Dunham and Senior Designers Glen Cummings and Joel Kern. Studio leadership also holds Visiting Assistant Professor roles at Pratt Institute, anchoring the firm's academic positioning. The studio has won multiple industry awards including the 2014 Buckminster Fuller Challenge, 2015 Harvard Ash Center Innovation in American Government Award, 2015 EPA National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, 2017 ASLA Honors (Communications), 2019 AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers, a 2021 Webby nomination, and the 2023 Metropolis Responsible Disruptors Award. Revenue information, pricing, and ownership structure beyond named partners are not publicly disclosed.
Mtwtf, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mtwtf, Inc.
- Legal name
- Mtwtf, Inc.
- Website
- https://mtwtf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MTWTF is a New York-based graphic design studio founded in 2009 that creates identities, publications, exhibitions, wayfinding systems, and websites for architecture firms, cultural institutions, academic centers, and public-sector clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Mtwtf, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mtwtf, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Mtwtf, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MTWTF is a graphic design studio that creates visual identities, publications, exhibitions, wayfinding and signage systems, environmental graphics, and websites for clients in architecture, cultural institutions, academia, and the public sector. The studio operates on project-based engagements, often producing publications, tools, and digital platforms alongside core design deliverables.
Product overview
MTWTF is a design studio offering visual identity and branding, exhibition design, publication design, signage and wayfinding systems, website design, and interactive tools. Their portfolio includes projects for cultural institutions, architecture schools, public spaces, and civic initiatives. The studio's work spans physical design (signage, environmental graphics, publications) and digital platforms (websites, data visualization tools). Notable projects include the Visualize NYC 2021 digital exhibition, New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center exhibition, Participatory Budgeting NYC tool, and various identity systems for architecture and design institutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Visual Identity and Branding Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Harvard Ash Center's 2015 Innovation in American Government Award for Participatory Budgeting NYC digital tool
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mtwtf, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mtwtf, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mtwtf, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Kudos Design CollaboratorycoreDevelopment partner for multiple projects including Visualize NYC 2021, The Restorative City, and BPL Strategic Plan. Kudos handles web development and technical implementation while MTWTF provides design services.
- AccuratcoreDevelopment partner for Visualize NYC 2021 microsite and crowd-sourced initiative. Accurat provides data visualization and technical development expertise.
- Civic Data Design Lab at MITcoreLong-term collaborator on civic data visualization and urban issues projects including Visualize NYC 2021, Distance Unknown exhibition, and NYC Mayoral election exhibition. CDDL provides research and content expertise.
- SCAPE / Landscape ArchitecturecoreOngoing collaborator on urban ecology, environmental, and landscape architecture projects including Living Breakwaters, Oyster Gardening Manual, Newark Riverfront Park, and Town Branch Water Walk.
- nARCHITECTScoreCollaborated on New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center exhibition design. nARCHITECTS provided architectural design while MTWTF provided exhibition design and media.
- OMAmajorCollaborated on POST signage (Houston mixed-use development) and POST identity. Also worked with OMA on Greenpoint Landing residential towers signage.
- Columbia University GSAPPcoreLong-term institutional partner for multiple projects including Arthur Ross Architecture Gallery exhibitions and identity, Buell Center projects, GSAPP Books, and ARPA Journal.
- Design Trust for Public SpacecoreCollaborated on The Restorative City project, The Neurodiverse City logotype, and Made in Midtown project. Design Trust provides project leadership and public space expertise.
- Center for ArchitecturecoreLong-term collaborator on exhibitions, Visualize NYC 2021, and Scaffolding exhibition. Provides exhibition venue and programming support.
- Brooklyn Public LibrarymajorCollaborated on BPL Strategic Plan (NOW>NEXT), Greenpoint Library Environmental Education Center, and ongoing media strategy projects.
- Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)coreCollaborated on Participatory Budgeting NYC (online balloting system), What is Affordable Housing? toolkit, and Predatory Equity: The Survival Guide publications.
- SITU StudiomajorCollaborated on Brooklyn Museum temporary signage system and Buell Hall signage fabrication. SITU provides fabrication and 3D modeling expertise.
- INABA WILLIAMSmajorArchitectural collaborator on Skylight animations (Stavanger Opera House) and Red Bull Music Academy New York projects.
- Humanities Action LabmajorCollaborated on Climates of Inequality traveling exhibition and EJ Rising initiative. Humanities Action Lab coordinates multi-institutional research and exhibition initiatives.
- Trust for Public LandmajorCollaborated on Newark Riverfront Revival project including identity, wayfinding, and interpretive signage. Trust for Public Land provides project leadership.
- Marble FairbanksmajorCollaborated on Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center environmental graphics and signage.
- Deste Foundation for Contemporary ArtsmajorCollaborated on Collecting Architecture project examining expanded territory of art institutions and foundations.
- Farzin Lotfi-JamcoreIndividual collaborator on multiple projects including GSAPP events, Modern Management Methods publication, and Royal College of Art digital exhibition. Provides architectural and curatorial expertise.
- Mark WasiutacoreKey individual collaborator and curator on multiple GSAPP exhibitions and publications. Director of Exhibitions at Arthur Ross Architecture Gallery.
- Glen CummingscoreMTWTF founding partner and managing partner. Key creative lead on studio projects.
- Sarah DunhamcoreMTWTF managing partner. Key project lead and presenter at academic conferences on design and social justice.
- Hector (Design Studio)majorCollaborated with MTWTF on Newark Riverfront Guide and Newark Riverfront Park wayfinding. Hector provides complementary design expertise.
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mtwtf, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- MASS Design Group: Architecture and design practice focused on social and civic impact, frequently collaborating with cultural and public institutions; shares MTWTF's civic-engagement orientation and institutional client base, though its core is built environment rather than graphics.
Direct peers
- &Walsh: NYC-based graphic design studio known for cultural, civic, and identity work for institutions; comparable in scale, client mix, and reputation-driven positioning to MTWTF.
- Hyperakt: Design studio focused on social impact, civic, and cultural-institution clients; comparable to MTWTF in mission-driven positioning and identity/exhibition services.
- Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv: Long-established NYC identity design firm serving cultural, civic, and institutional clients with logos, identity systems, and signage — overlapping MTWTF's core identity and environmental graphics practice.
- DesignStudio: Independent design and brand consultancy that builds identity systems and platforms for cultural and civic institutions; operates in the same premium boutique tier as MTWTF.
- Civilization: Independent design studio working with cultural institutions, museums, and civic organizations on identity, exhibition, and editorial work — overlapping MTWTF's core service mix.
- Manual: Boutique creative studio working with cultural, civic, and lifestyle brands on identity, exhibition, and publication design; comparable in client caliber and boutique positioning.
- 2x4: Design studio with deep specialization in architecture, cultural institutions, and exhibition design; mirrors MTWTF's focus on design for architecture schools, museums, and civic clients.
- Pentagram: Largest independent design firm in the world; partners operate as boutique studios serving cultural, civic, and institutional clients with identity, publication, and exhibition work — directly comparable in client type and craft to MTWTF.
Emerging players
- Kudos Design Collaboratory: NYC digital design and development studio that has partnered with MTWTF on multiple web/platform projects (Visualize NYC 2021, The Restorative City); operates in an adjacent but overlapping service category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mtwtf, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceMtwtf, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mtwtf, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mtwtf, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mtwtf, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mtwtf, Inc.
What does Mtwtf, Inc. do?
MTWTF is a graphic design studio that creates visual identities, publications, exhibitions, wayfinding and signage systems, environmental graphics, and websites for clients in architecture, cultural institutions, academia, and the public sector. The studio operates on project-based engagements, often producing publications, tools, and digital platforms alongside core design deliverables.
Is Mtwtf, Inc. a public or private company?
Mtwtf, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mtwtf, Inc. founded?
Mtwtf, Inc. was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mtwtf, Inc. based?
Mtwtf, Inc. is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Mtwtf, Inc.'s main competitors?
MASS Design Group is listed as an others. Direct peers are &Walsh, Hyperakt, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, DesignStudio, Civilization, Manual, 2x4 and Pentagram. Kudos Design Collaboratory is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mtwtf, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mtwtf, Inc..