durham
Durham is an independent, full-service design studio in Covington, Kentucky that develops brand identity, campaigns, packaging, experiential environments, and video content for global enterprises, craft producers, hospitality operators, and startups, including P&G, Bud Light, and TaylorMade.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersCovington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What durham does
Durham is an independent, full-service design studio headquartered in Covington, Kentucky that develops strategy and design programs for global enterprises, craft producers, hospitality operators, cultural institutions, and startups. Founded over a decade ago and led by founder Austin Dunbar, the studio operates across six core service lines — brand design, campaign design, experiential design, packaging design, strategy services, and video production — delivered through a documented three-phase methodology (Discover–Design–Deliver). The studio has built an extensive enterprise client roster that includes Procter & Gamble brands (Old Spice, Olay, Head & Shoulders, Secret, Gillette, plus the Old Spice Barbershop concept), Bud Light, TaylorMade, Enable Injections, Wenzel Distillery, Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey, CVG Airport, Adrian Steel, Placemakr, Coterie Senior Living and Insurance, Cincinnati Ballet, and the AI learning app Nerdy.
The studio generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements acquired primarily via portfolio visibility, direct client inquiries, and long-cycle referrals. In 2023 the team logged 16,957 hours across 111 projects, roughly equivalent to 423 person-weeks of work, indicating a sizable but focused operation. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract cadences and no publicly disclosed rates. Distribution is direct-to-client, combining global enterprise accounts with a deep regional presence in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky market — including civic projects such as the Madison Mile wayfinding system, BLINK Cincinnati 2022 (a 300-drone show reaching over 2 million attendees), and SparkHaus. Marketing relies on a portfolio website, organic social (Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads), earned media in AdAge, Forbes, Esquire, GQ, Brand New, The Dieline, and Fast Company, and a "Disclose" content blog. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding, ownership structure, or financial information, and appears founder-owned and bootstrapped.
durham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- durham
- Legal name
- Durham
- Website
- https://durhamstudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Durham is an independent, full-service design studio in Covington, Kentucky that develops brand identity, campaigns, packaging, experiential environments, and video content for global enterprises, craft producers, hospitality operators, and startups, including P&G, Bud Light, and TaylorMade.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where durham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Covington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
durham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Creative Services and Design Consulting: Project-based professional services revenue from brand strategy, identity design, campaign development, experiential design, packaging, video production, motion design, photography, environmental design, and copywriting engagements with corporate, cultural, and consumer brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Project-Based Engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
durham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Durham is an independent full-service design studio that develops brand strategy and design programs for corporate, cultural, and consumer brands. The studio delivers six core service areas: brand design (naming, positioning, identity), campaign design, experiential design (physical environments and installations), packaging design, strategy services, and video production. Work is delivered through a three-phase Discover-Design-Deliver process and serves clients including P&G, Bud Light, TaylorMade, Old Spice, Wenzel Distillery, and CVG Airport.
Product overview
Durham is an independent design studio developing strategy and design programs for brands, non-profits, and private label portfolios. The studio operates as a full-service agency offering six core service areas: Brand Design (naming, positioning, identity, visualization), Campaign Design (social and traditional channels), Experiential Design (physical installations and environments), Packaging Design, Strategy Services, and Video Production. Work is delivered through a three-phase process: Discover (research and positioning), Design (execution across all touchpoints), and Deliver (implementation and market activation). The studio specializes in brand building centered on narrative, identity, motion, and video.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brand Design Services
- Campaign Design Services
- Experiential Design Services
- Packaging Design Services
- Strategy Services
- Video Production Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 66M+ campaign impressions and 200,000 website visits in 5 months for Adrian Steel
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use durham
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
durham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
durham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- GRAINWELLminorFabrication support partner for SparkHaus project, providing specialized fabrication services for art installations and environmental elements.
- WILD STYLE SIGNSminorFabrication support partner for SparkHaus project, contributing signage and visual elements for the entrepreneurial hub.
- NEONWORKS OF CINCINNATIminorNeon fabrication partner for SparkHaus project, providing illuminated signage for the space.
- Jeremy Kramer PhotographyminorPhotography partner for Wenzel Distillery and Enable Injections projects, providing brand photography services.
- Patrick McNamara PhotographyminorPhotography partner for Wenzel Distillery project.
- meetNKYcorePartnership with Northern Kentucky tourism/economic development organization for Madison Mile wayfinding project, a flagship city signage initiative.
- Rove iQcoreTechnology partner for Madison Mile digital signage and wayfinding system implementation.
- The Ohio State UniversitycoreLocation partner for Old Spice Barbershop, the first brick-and-mortar barbershop on OSU campus in Columbus, OH.
- Old SpicecoreOngoing partnership for Old Spice brand including Holi-Dudes holiday campaigns, brand activations, and the Old Spice Barbershop experiential concept.
- Aaron ConwayminorDesign collaborator for Placemakr brand identity project.
- Sky ElementscoreDrone show execution partner for BLINK Cincinnati 2022, collaborating on 300-drone choreographed show over the Ohio River.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
durham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pentagram: Legendary partner-led independent design studio offering brand identity, packaging, and campaign work for Fortune 500 and cultural clients. Directly comparable in independent model and full-service creative offering.
- Order: Design and creative agency producing brand identity and campaigns for cultural, hospitality, and enterprise clients. Similar in service mix and client types.
- Mother Design: Independent creative agency offering brand strategy and design with a creative-led culture. Comparable scale and independent operating model.
- Buck: Independent creative and design agency with strengths in brand, motion, and experience design. Overlaps with Durham's full-service creative and motion capabilities.
- Collins: Brand design agency known for integrated brand systems, identity, and experience design. Directly comparable in design-led, strategy-grounded approach.
- Character: Independent design and brand agency delivering brand identity, campaigns, and packaging for enterprise and cultural clients. Closely matches Durham's boutique independent positioning.
- Manual: Independent creative agency specializing in brand, packaging, and campaign work with a strategy-led approach. Comparable in scale, philosophy, and service mix.
- &Walsh: Independent creative studio providing brand, digital, and campaign design for global brands. Comparable boutique model with similar service breadth.
Broad incumbents
- Wieden+Kennedy: Major independent agency network with a creative-led model. Significantly larger but operates with a similar independent ethos and competes for the same enterprise brand engagements.
- Landor & Fitch: Global branding consultancy (WPP) offering brand strategy, identity, and experience design. Competes for similar enterprise brand identity and strategy mandates, but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
durham social profiles
Digital presencedurham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
durham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
durham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
durham 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 durham
What does durham do?
Durham is an independent full-service design studio that develops brand strategy and design programs for corporate, cultural, and consumer brands. The studio delivers six core service areas: brand design (naming, positioning, identity), campaign design, experiential design (physical environments and installations), packaging design, strategy services, and video production. Work is delivered through a three-phase Discover-Design-Deliver process and serves clients including P&G, Bud Light, TaylorMade, Old Spice, Wenzel Distillery, and CVG Airport.
Is durham a public or private company?
durham is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was durham founded?
durham was founded in -1.
Where is durham based?
durham is headquartered in Covington, United States, in the North America region.
How does durham make money?
One revenue line is on record: creative Services and Design Consulting.
Who are durham's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pentagram, Order, Mother Design, Buck, Collins, Character, Manual and &Walsh. Broad incumbents are Wieden+Kennedy and Landor & Fitch.
Does durham have an API?
No public API is recorded for durham.