CORE Design Studio

What CORE Design Studio does

CORE Design Studio is a Houston, Texas-based design and fabrication studio operating with a small team of 1-10 employees. The firm provides integrated design and fabrication services across five core disciplines: branding, print design, experiential design, exhibit design, and environmental graphic design. Its work spans signage and wayfinding systems, public art installations, digital interactive experiences, and web design, serving cultural institutions, museums, government entities, educational institutions, and select corporate clients primarily in the Houston metropolitan area. Notable clients include the Federal Reserve Bank of Houston, Houston Zoo, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, City of Houston, and Houston Arts Alliance.

The business model is project-based custom design services rather than a modular or productized platform. CORE operates as a design/build studio handling projects from concept development through fabrication and installation, with technical capabilities including interactive digital exhibits (touchscreen, computer-controlled LED installations, video animations), interpretive exhibit design, and complex wayfinding systems using design principles such as Fibonacci sequences and golden ratios. The studio markets primarily through its portfolio website and project case studies, relying on reputation within the Houston creative community and long-standing client relationships. The firm is independently and privately held with no evidence of external funding or institutional ownership, and pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The studio has executed projects across multiple US geographies including Houston, Brooklyn (New York), and California, with international work completed in Mexico (Museo Interactivo Del Agua) and Portugal (Oeiras Museu da Água). A sub-brand called Keylab operates a music, arts, and technology education studio in Brooklyn, New York. Distribution is direct-to-client with no reseller or partner channels; the firm operates from its headquarters at 104 Aurora St., Houston, Texas 77008.

Name

CORE Design Studio

Legal name

CORE Design Studio

Website

https://coredesignstudio.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CORE Design Studio is a Houston-based design/build studio offering branding, print, exhibit, environmental graphic, and interactive design services to cultural institutions, museums, government entities, and corporate clients on a project basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (23832)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Painting, Decorating & Wallcoverings (IMAFANAI)

Keywords

• Environmental graphic design
• Exhibit design services
• Branding and identity
• Wayfinding systems
• Signage design

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CORE Design Studio is a Houston-based design/build studio that delivers branding, print collateral, environmental graphics, exhibit design, signage and wayfinding, public art, digital interactives, web design, and specialized Art Car commissions. The studio operates an integrated design/build model, producing both the creative concepts and the physical fabrications for cultural, civic, and corporate clients.

Product overview

CORE Design Studio is a design/build studio offering a comprehensive portfolio of design services organized around branding, print, experiential, exhibit, and environmental graphic design. The studio operates across multiple service categories including signage and wayfinding systems, public art installations, digital interactive experiences, and web design. Their work spans cultural institutions (museums, libraries, zoos), public spaces (parks, transit stations), corporate clients, and nonprofit organizations. The studio handles projects from concept through fabrication and installation, serving clients primarily in the Houston, Texas area and occasionally international projects. Their service offerings function as distinct but interconnected capabilities rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Keylab: A modern music, arts, and technology education studio in Brooklyn, New York offering private lessons, group classes, and workshops for people of all ages.

Products and services

• Branding and Identity Services Development of brand systems, visual identity, logos, and identity guidelines for cultural institutions, civic organizations, and corporate clients.
• Print Design Services Design of print collateral including brochures, posters, reports, and promotional materials for institutional and corporate clients.
• Environmental Graphic Design Design of environmental graphics integrating 2D, 3D, and digital media for built environments and visitor experiences.
• Exhibit Design Design and fabrication of museum, zoo, and cultural institution exhibitions and interpretive experiences.
• Signage and Wayfinding Systems Design, fabrication, and installation of signage and wayfinding systems for cultural facilities, corporate campuses, and civic environments.
• Public Art Programs Design and execution of public art installations for civic, nonprofit, and cultural-sector clients.
• Digital Interactive Design Design and production of digital interactives and media for exhibitions, visitor centers, and cultural installations.
• Web Design Services Design of websites and digital content for institutional and corporate clients.
• Art Car Commissions Specialized design and fabrication of Art Car commissions, reflecting the studio's Houston-rooted custom fabrication expertise.

Named customers33 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Houston Arts AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership spanning over 20 years with Houston Arts Alliance and its predecessor organization (CACHH). Projects include identity and branding, masterplan design, web design, and various print and digital promotion projects. Partnership dates back to the Cultural Arts Council of Houston Harris County era.
• Buffalo Bayou PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on multiple projects including Buffalo Bayou Park signage and wayfinding, interpretive panels, the 2011 Annual Report, and the Buffalo Bayou Invasive Plant Field Guide + Eradication Unit public art project.
• Federal Reserve Bank HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple projects including the Promenade at the Federal Reserve public art installation and the Visitor Center exhibit redesign. The Michael Graves-designed Federal Reserve Bank building features CORE's permanent outdoor sculpture and promenade design.
• City of HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Houston on multiple public-facing projects including Waterworks Education Center at the Northeast Water Purification Plant, Houston Vision Zero Action Plan, and Interlude public artwork for Jones Hall lobby.
• SEARCH Homeless ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign work for SEARCH's new headquarters including signage, wayfinding, and donor recognition systems, as well as the House of Tiny Treasures early childhood education center.

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Two Twelve: New York-based wayfinding and environmental graphic design studio serving cultural, civic, and corporate clients. Direct comparable for wayfinding strategy, signage systems, and branded environments — the same disciplines CORE leads with.
• Local Projects: New York-based experience design firm specializing in interactive museum exhibits and digital installations. Closely comparable to CORE's digital interactive and museum exhibit design capabilities, though typically larger-scale.
• Poulin + Morris: New York design firm working in wayfinding, signage, environmental graphics, and exhibit design for cultural and institutional clients. Comparable scope and client mix to CORE's museum and civic portfolio.
• Gallagher & Associates: Washington, D.C.-based exhibit and experience design firm focused on museums, cultural attractions, and interpretive centers. Direct comparable for CORE's museum exhibit design and interpretive content development work.
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: Global exhibit and interpretive design firm specializing in museums, cultural institutions, and public attractions. Closely comparable in scale-up of CORE's museum/exhibit design discipline.
• ESI Design: New York-based experiential and interactive exhibit design firm (now part of NBBJ) serving cultural institutions and brands. Comparable for CORE's blend of physical exhibit design with digital/interactive elements.
• Selbert Perkins Design: Playa Vista, California-based environmental graphic design and wayfinding firm with deep cultural-institution, healthcare, and corporate campus work. Highly comparable to CORE for wayfinding systems, donor recognition, and signage design in institutional settings.
• C&G Partners: NYC-based design firm specializing in branding, exhibit design, and environmental graphics for cultural, civic, and corporate clients. Closely mirrors CORE's integrated identity + exhibit + environmental graphics model for museums and public-facing institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Largest independent design firm in the world, with a portfolio spanning branding, environmental graphics, signage, and exhibit design for cultural and institutional clients. Broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities but much larger scale and partner-led structure.

Others

• Page: Houston-headquartered architecture and design firm with significant cultural-institution and civic-project practice. Adjacent rather than direct competitor — same Houston ecosystem and many of the same institutional clients — but focused on architecture rather than graphic/environmental design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coredesignstudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coredesignstudio

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 CORE Design Studio