In a world overflowing with creativity and design innovation, there are thousands of outstanding design studios to be inspired by. Some of these make a lot of effort to publicise their work; some tend to hide their light under a bushel. Others, meanwhile, would love to shout about what they’ve created, but their clients frustratingly forbid it.
In short, any attempt to compile a list of the “best” design studios based on our own personal preferences would be highly subjective and wildly controversial. So, instead, we decided to keep our personal opinions to ourselves and ask hundreds of designers across the industry to vote for their favourite graphic design studios today.
The results are now in, and here they are. We’ve listed the design studios that received the most love in order of popularity, and we also give honourable mentions to those that narrowly missed making the list of 25.
We share these names not to ruffle feathers or suggest that any studio not on this list is unworthy (that would be crazy!). We just feel it’s nice to give praise where praise is due and highlight some top agencies doing outstanding work and inspiring their peers. Hopefully, their work will inspire you too.
1. Pentagram
Founded in London in 1972, Pentagram is a global design studio run as a cooperative of partners, each leader in their own right. Paula Scher, Michael Bierut, Marina Willer, Samar Maakaroun, Eddie Opara and others have led some of the most iconic branding and design projects of our time, and it’s ultimately Pentagram’s ability to evolve while maintaining high standards of creativity that’s led them to top our list.
Most recently, the studio led a rebrand for John Lewis, which unified the UK retailer’s branding and visual identity across channels, while their work for animal charity Battersea created an inclusive brand identity that connects with pet lovers everywhere. We also loved their collaboration with Pink Floyd, which helped the rock band celebrate the Dark Side of the Moon’s 50th anniversary in style. And the recent update for Paypal, which stirred much debate in the creative community.
John Lewis rebrand by Pentagram
Battersea by Pentagram
Paypal by Pentagram
2. PORTO ROCHA
Based in New York, PORTO ROCHA was founded by Brazilians Felipe Rocha and Leo Porto in 2019. The studio fuses strategy with design to create dynamic and culturally relevant work. Known for its visually arresting identities for tech, entertainment, and cultural brands, including projects for Twitch, W Hotels, Vevo and Robinhood, its forward-thinking, culturally aware approach ensures it remains at the cutting edge of the design world.
Standout recent projects include a stunning rebrand for Nike Run, recharging Nike by going back to its roots: running as the soul of Nike, and an identity refresh for Vevo, which reinforced the world’s largest music video network as both an expert in the space and a champion of the artists it showcases.