design on edge

What design on edge does

Design on Edge is a privately held, bootstrapped boutique creative agency headquartered at 201 W. Liberty St. #208 in downtown Reno, Nevada. Founded in 2008, the firm has operated for nearly 18 years serving clients across Northern Nevada with branding, web design, graphic design, illustration, and advertising/marketing services. The agency is self-described as a "tiny staff with BIG successes," with publicly stated headcount in the 1-10 range and no evidence of external institutional investment, subsidiaries, or parent company ownership.

The agency's core offering is project-based professional creative services delivered through a direct, sales-led go-to-market motion built on referrals, community engagement, and portfolio demonstration. Pricing is custom and quote-based per engagement, with multi-year contractual structures evidenced through long-running client relationships. Design on Edge serves a horizontally segmented client base spanning local SMBs in food and beverage, hospitality, and wellness, alongside nonprofits, healthcare providers, performing arts organizations, and government entities (including the City of Reno). Notable multi-year engagements include Wild River Grille (since 2009), TEDxReno (annual event identity), the Reno Philharmonic's Pops on the River series (four years), and the Downtown Reno Partnership.

The firm completed a multi-year corporate rebrand in 2023, introducing a fingerprint-based logo and signature red identity, and in 2026 secured eight honors at the American Advertising Awards including Best of Show. Technology use is conventional for a creative studio (Adobe-class design tools, standard CMS platforms); the firm has explicitly avoided generative AI in flagship engagements and has no disclosed AI capabilities, software products, or API offerings. Distribution is regional and direct, with no evidence of national or international expansion.

Name

design on edge

Legal name

Design on Edge

Website

https://designonedge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Design on Edge is a privately held, bootstrapped boutique creative agency in Reno, Nevada, providing branding, web design, graphic design, and advertising services to Northern Nevada SMBs, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations through project-based engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative and Branding Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Creative branding services
• Web design agency
• Graphic design services
• Advertising marketing campaigns
• Brand identity design

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Creative Services and Branding: Project-based professional services including branding, web design, graphic design, and advertising/marketing campaigns for local businesses and organizations in Northern Nevada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Design on Edge is a boutique creative agency that sells branding, web design, graphic design, and advertising/marketing services to businesses, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations primarily in Northern Nevada. Each engagement is a customized, project-based creative deliverable — ranging from logo and brand identity creation to full website builds, social media campaigns, illustration, packaging, and event branding — delivered by a small in-house team.

Product overview

Design On Edge is a boutique creative agency based in Reno, Nevada, offering creative services including branding, web design, graphic design, and advertising/marketing. The company operates as a service-based business rather than a software product company, providing custom creative work and brand strategy services to clients. Their portfolio includes projects across branding, website design, social media strategy, illustration, and campaign work for various clients in the Northern Nevada region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding

Quantifiable outcome

• 369.0% increase in organic reach on Facebook for The Club at Rancharrah social media campaign
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Malaya EatsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Design on Edge partnered with Malaya Eats to develop their website. The relationship began when Design on Edge's lead designer asked Malaya to cater an event in September 2024, leading to an ongoing partnership.
• Green Business National Network (GBNN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive branding partnership including logo redesign, brand guide development, fully mobilized ADA UX/UI website, stationery business kit, client design templates, and support graphic assets. The agency emphasized avoiding AI due to environmental concerns and built the brand authentically.
• The Club at RancharrahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial media strategy re-envisioning project including multi-channel engagement on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business. Conducted photo shoots and launched micro-paid campaigns resulting in significant performance improvements.
• Downtown Reno PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for community brand campaigns including the 'Operation #2 They Poop, You Scoop' pet waste awareness campaign, website redesign, and various marketing initiatives supporting the organization's mission for a cleaner downtown Reno.
• The Brewer's CabinetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership for beer label design including the Strange Brew Festival campaign and ongoing branding work for the brewery.
• About Town Deb / Nello Olivo WineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create wine label for 'Deb 6.5' red wine blend, with proceeds supporting children's cancer research. Collaboration with family-owned Nello Olivo Winery in Somerset, California.
• TEDxRenocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership to develop visual identity for TEDxReno events. The agency creates comprehensive event branding including theme development and promotional materials.
• Reno PhilharmoniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year partnership developing creative direction for the 'Pops on the River' concert series, including poster designs and event branding for annual performances.
• American Heritage PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to honor the American experience through historical commemoration projects.
• Reno Riverwalk DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Green Gala event development, creating overall aesthetic, collateral materials including banners, table numbers, posters, and program of events.
• Nevada Green Business NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the Green Gala event recognizing sustainable business practices across Nevada.
• BlueZone SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mural design and brand storytelling at their South Reno location, featuring artwork that highlights Reno-Tahoe landmarks and outdoor sports.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Large US digital marketing agency offering web design, branding, SEO, and advertising at scale. Operates in the same categories as Design on Edge but at much greater scale and with a more productized, tech-enabled service model.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency with web design, branding, and advertising capabilities. Competes for SMB-to-mid-market clients in adjacent categories to Design on Edge but with broader service lines and national reach.

Direct peers

• Lounge Lizard: Long-standing US digital creative and web design agency offering branding, web design, and digital marketing. Comparable full-service creative agency model with similar SMB-to-mid-market client mix and project-based pricing.
• Column Five Media: Creative agency specializing in visual content, infographic design, branding, and digital marketing. Comparable boutique creative services model with strong emphasis on visual storytelling and brand-led content.
• SmartSites: US digital marketing and web design agency offering branding, web development, and integrated marketing services. Direct overlap with Design on Edge's core web design, branding, and advertising offerings for SMB clients.
• KPS3: Reno, Nevada-based integrated marketing, branding, and public relations agency serving Northern Nevada and beyond. Closest geographic and service-line peer to Design on Edge, competing for many of the same regional SMB, nonprofit, and civic accounts.
• Brafton: Content marketing and creative agency offering branding, design, and full-funnel marketing services. Overlaps with Design on Edge on branding, graphic design, and integrated marketing campaign execution.
• Clay: San Francisco-based branding and UI/UX design agency known for identity work and digital product design. Comparable boutique creative positioning with a strong craft and storytelling emphasis similar to Design on Edge's brand-building ethos.

Regional players

• Rizen Creative: Regional creative agency offering branding, web design, and marketing services. Comparable boutique creative services model with similar SMB-focused client mix to Design on Edge.

Emerging players

• Artonic: Creative digital agency offering branding, web design, and marketing services to SMBs. Comparable boutique scale and service offering, though with less regional community entrenchment than Design on Edge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/designonedge
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@designonedge8010/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/designonedge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-on-the-edge
• Instagraminstagram.com/designonedge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 design on edge