1504
1504 is a Birmingham, Alabama-based narrative studio that integrates strategic communications with visual arts production for mission-driven organizations and purpose-driven brands. It delivers documentary film, immersive exhibits, brand strategy, and storytelling content across civil rights, healthcare, food systems, and cultural sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 1504 does
1504 is a narrative studio based in Birmingham, Alabama that integrates strategic communications with the visual arts. The studio is built around a small core team — a Director, Story Producer, Executive Producer, and Studio Manager — and operates through a three-phase methodology of Workshop (journalistic research and audience mapping), Blueprint (framework development), and Production (content creation and implementation). Its service offerings span narrative strategy, content development (documentary film, photography, video, podcast, written narrative), experience design (immersive exhibits, installations, audio walks), and cultural programming.
The studio serves mission-driven organizations and purpose-driven brands across civil rights, healthcare technology, food systems, arts, and community sectors. Named clients include the Equal Justice Initiative, the American Red Cross (a decade+ relationship), athenahealth (since 2018), Iron Mountain (since 2020), Southern Foodways Alliance, Brick & Wonder, and a long tail of nonprofits, SMBs, and individual artists. Notable deliverables include the Peabody Award-winning HBO documentary 'True Justice,' the New York Times-profiled Beth El Civil Rights Experience, and the 'Selma Is Now' book published by University of Texas Press.
The business operates as a project-based professional services studio on commissioned work — strategy, content production, experience design, and brand storytelling — with revenue derived from multi-year retainers and episodic projects. The company is privately held, appears bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, and serves clients both domestically (multiple U.S. regions) and internationally (London, Brazil, India via clients; Florence via founder origins). It holds an Emmy nomination and a Peabody Award as its principal credentials.
1504 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1504
- Legal name
- 1504
- Website
- https://1504.co
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- 1504 is a Birmingham, Alabama-based narrative studio that integrates strategic communications with visual arts production for mission-driven organizations and purpose-driven brands. It delivers documentary film, immersive exhibits, brand strategy, and storytelling content across civil rights, healthcare, food systems, and cultural sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1504 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (54143), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)
Keywords
Where 1504 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
1504 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Creative Services and Narrative Strategy: Project-based commissioned work including documentary films, brand campaigns, experiential exhibits, and storytelling content for mission-driven organizations. Work spans multiple sectors including civil rights, healthcare, food systems, and arts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Full-time employee compensation |
| Other | Annual | Full-time employee compensation |
| Other | Annual | Full-time employee compensation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
1504 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1504 is a narrative studio that integrates strategic communications with the visual arts. It delivers commissioned narrative strategy, documentary and multimedia content production, immersive experience design, digital media, professional photography, and cultural programming for mission-driven organizations. Engagements are structured through a Workshop, Blueprint, and Production methodology that translates complex ideas into human-centered stories across film, photography, exhibits, and digital campaigns.
Product overview
1504 is a narrative studio that integrates strategic communications with the visual arts. The company operates as a hybrid practice combining consulting insights with production implementation across multiple service offerings. The core products include Narrative Strategy Services (strategic communications, messaging, brand positioning), Content Development (documentary films, photography, video production), Experience Design (immersive exhibits, installations, narrative placemaking), Digital Media (websites, microsites, audio experiences), Photography Services (editorial, lifestyle, portrait), and Cultural Programming (workshops, events). These services are delivered through a three-phase methodology: Workshop (journalistic research and audience mapping), Blueprint (framework development), and Production (content creation and implementation). The company maintains a diverse project portfolio spanning civil rights memorial work (Equal Justice Initiative, Selma Is Now), healthcare communications (athenahealth, MANA Nutrition), cultural institutions (Southern Foodways Alliance, American Red Cross), brand storytelling (High Wire Distilling, Holman Ranch), and community engagement (Birmingham Education Foundation, Wallace Center).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Narrative Strategy Services
- Content Development
- Experience Design
- Digital Media
- Photography Services
- Cultural Programming
Quantifiable outcome
- Raised over $20 million for EJI through capital campaign support
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use 1504
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
1504 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
1504 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)coreLong-term partnership since years before establishing the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum. 1504 worked on communication planning and awareness projects, supporting capital campaigns that raised over $20 million. Continued collaboration including Soil Collection Project, Community Remembrance Project, and True Justice documentary.
- Columbia RecordsminorPast collaborator listed among notable clients/partners for the studio.
- NPRcoreFeatured 'For the Sake of Old Times' film on 'All Things Considered' and Future of StoryTelling Podcast. Also featured Selma Is Now book coverage in The Guardian.
- American Red CrosscoreOver a decade as creative strategy and narrative partner for biomedical division. Developed integrated marketing campaigns across the country.
- Temple Beth ElcoreProduced 'In Solidarity' immersive exhibit for the Birmingham synagogue's Civil Rights Experience, featuring mixed-media storytelling and experiential learning.
- Kundhardt Filmsminor1504 served as production unit on 'True Justice' feature-length documentary that premiered on HBO.
- The FlourishminorPartnership for Birmingham Education Foundation's 'All In' exhibit where students produced 1-minute films about their experiences.
- Anson MillsminorFeatured Glenn Roberts from Anson Mills in 'A Spirit of Revival' story about Jimmy Red corn for High Wire Distilling.
- Auburn UniversitycoreCollaboration on 'Out of Whole Cloth' exhibit and hosted visioning charrette with Joe Minter. Partnership with designer Robert Finkel from Auburn University for Selma Is Now book.
- US State DepartmentminorInternational aid organization that distributes Mana Nutrition's therapeutic food alongside UNICEF.
- UNICEFminorMajor international aid organization distributing Mana Nutrition's Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food worldwide.
- Rachelle Sartini GarnerminorCollaborated on Holman Ranch brand refresh including bottle, digital, and collateral design.
- ReD & Associatesminor2023 workshop on Belonging with stakeholder interviews and documentation for Common Era organization.
- University of Texas PresscorePublished 'Selma Is Now: The March for Justice Continues' book featuring newly restored Spider Martin photographs.
- Chip Brantley and Andrew Beck GraceminorPulitzer Prize finalists collaborated with 1504 on EJI's Soil Collection Project stories featured in Legacy Museum.
- ASH (hotel group)coreProduced 'The Holy Ghosts' multimedia series for ASH's Hotel Peter & Paul boutique hotel in New Orleans.
- Doug McCraw and Tracy MartincoreCollaborated with Doug McCraw and Spider Martin's daughter Tracy on 'Selma Is Now' book production.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
1504 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tribe Pictures: NYC-based documentary and branded content production studio producing films for nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven brands. Directly comparable to 1504 in offering corporate documentary and narrative work for mission-driven clients.
- Second Story: Experience design studio creating immersive exhibits, interactive installations, and narrative environments for museums and cultural institutions. Closely aligned with 1504's experience design and immersive exhibit work for EJI, Beth El, and Wallace Center.
- ESI Design: Experience design firm building interactive exhibits and narrative-driven environments for cultural and civic clients. Direct overlap with 1504's exhibit and placemaking offerings.
- Radley Studios: Independent branded content studio producing documentaries, short films, and editorial photography for brands and cultural institutions. Comparable in scope and craft to 1504's documentary and photography offerings.
- Toolhouse: Branded content studio producing films and campaigns for nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven brands. Directly comparable to 1504's integrated documentary and campaign work.
Broad incumbents
- T Brand Studio: The New York Times' branded content studio producing narrative-driven editorial and multimedia for enterprise clients. A larger, established player in the same branded narrative space as 1504.
- Godfrey Dadich Partners: Design and editorial strategy firm combining design, journalism, and narrative for mission-driven and enterprise clients. Comparable interdisciplinary strategy-plus-creative positioning to 1504.
- Pentagram: Independent design firm covering brand identity, editorial, and experience design. A larger incumbent whose experience design and brand storytelling practices overlap with 1504's portfolio.
- Dept: Global digital creative agency with significant experience design and content capabilities. Operates at greater scale than 1504 but competes for similar digital storytelling and brand experience work.
Emerging players
- Movers and Shakers: Independent creative studio focused on story-led work for brands, nonprofits, and cultural institutions. Closely aligned with 1504's narrative studio positioning and mission-driven client mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
1504 social profiles
Digital presence1504 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1504 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
1504 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1504 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 1504
What does 1504 do?
1504 is a narrative studio that integrates strategic communications with the visual arts. It delivers commissioned narrative strategy, documentary and multimedia content production, immersive experience design, digital media, professional photography, and cultural programming for mission-driven organizations. Engagements are structured through a Workshop, Blueprint, and Production methodology that translates complex ideas into human-centered stories across film, photography, exhibits, and digital campaigns.
Is 1504 a public or private company?
1504 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 1504 founded?
1504 was founded in -1.
Where is 1504 based?
1504 is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does 1504 make money?
One revenue line is on record: creative Services and Narrative Strategy.
Who are 1504's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tribe Pictures, Second Story, ESI Design, Radley Studios and Toolhouse. Broad incumbents are T Brand Studio, Godfrey Dadich Partners, Pentagram and Dept. Movers and Shakers is listed as an emerging player.
Does 1504 have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1504.
What industry is 1504 in?
1504's product category is Creative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAK, Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAJ, Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound). Its NAICS code is 54143 and its SIC code is 7812.