You’ve got a hundred innovative marketing ideas, but your in-house design team doesn’t have the cap to produce all the designs you need. Fortunately, the Bay Area is bursting with best-in-breed design talent that can make your vision a reality. Make this Superside list your go-to resource for the best design agencies in San Francisco, CA.
If your business is based in San Francisco, you already know you’re operating in one of the world’s most innovative, vibrant cities. It also means your brand’s designs have to be pretty spectacular to stand out.
To add insult to injury, many of the best graphic designers already work full-time for someone else. In the U.S., 12% of graphic designers work in design agencies, while another 51% work in-house for companies, creating eye-catching campaigns that get their brands on everyone’s radar.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of options to help you craft a unique visual identity for your business. Bookmark Superside’s list of the top 15 design agencies in San Francisco—and you’re set to produce outrageously good marketing material.
How to Choose the Best Design Agency in the San Francisco Bay Area
Choosing the right design agency to meet your ongoing needs can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure what to look for. Follow the three steps below to guarantee long-term design success.
Step 1: Research and shortlist agencies
Chances are, you’re looking for a design agency because your internal team has run into creative bottlenecks, and you’re in a hurry to get designs out.
The first step is to research and shortlist your best options as some agencies might not be able to produce exactly what you’re after. Keep in mind that there are many different kinds of design services and that it makes sense to partner with a team that can deliver what you need over the long term.
Step 2: Leverage local expertise
Consider using a design and branding agency with local expertise. Local knowledge can enhance the relevance and effectiveness of your marketing material, ensuring it resonates with the unique mindset of your San Francisco-based customers.
While you don't have to restrict yourself to agencies based in the city, consider choosing a partner that has done work for brands in the area.
Step 3: Review pricing and scalability
Carefully consider your current and future budget when making a selection. It can take a while for an agency to really “get” your brand. Choose wisely now, and you’ll save time, money and effort over time.
See The Quality You Can Create With Superside
See how our world-class design teams have helped some of the world’s top brands create sensational campaigns at the speed of light.
15 Best Design Agencies in San Francisco
I understand how challenging it can be to choose a design agency that aligns with your location and creative requirements. However, that's about to change with this list of the top 15 design agencies in San Francisco, shining brightly in 2024.
1. Superside
Services offered:
- UX/UI design
- Product design
- App design
- Identity and branding
- Web design
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Ads and social media design
- Motion graphics and video production
- AR and 3D design
- Print, packaging and merch design
- Branding services
- Concept design
- Presentations, eBooks and report design
Based in: San Francisco and around the world: Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Superside’s unique Creative-as-a-service (CaaS) model allow us to help Bay Area brands scale up and extend their reach to almost anywhere on the planet.
Our AI-enhanced services and always-on creative subscriptions give our impressive list of San Francisco-based clients access to 700+ talented creatives worldwide.
Depending on the plan you choose, you can also chop and change the type of creative you brief in. Whether you choose our Design Essentials, End-to-End Creative or Digital Advertising plan, you’ll have plenty of options.
Additionally, you’ll benefit from in-depth knowledge of the San Francisco design space. Having completed 7,648+ projects across California and 1,161+ in San Francisco alone, we’ve developed the local insight to ensure your ads and other marketing material hit all the right notes. (PS: Check out the mesmerizing videos we designed for the city’s subway stations.)
Our expertise in breakthrough creative generates up to a 65% lift in ad performance. Add the fact that we can deliver massive volumes of creative super fast, and you have the perfect recipe for testing, adapting and deploying campaigns that’ll make your San Fran customers sit up and take notice.
Unlike most other agencies on this list, we also believe in being totally upfront about our pricing. You’ll never be left wondering how much you’ll pay at the end of the month or project—all our costs are baked into a single subscription fee.
Pricing: Starting at $5,000 per month.
Great for: Mid-market and enterprise-level businesses needing support with any type of design service, as and when required.
2. Clay
(Source: Clay)
Services offered:
- Web design
- Graphic design
- Illustration and animation
- UX/UI design
- Motion design
- Identity and branding
- Brand and marketing strategy
Based in: HQ in San Francisco, globally distributed team.
Clay stands out for the team’s unique approach to brand strategy, which focuses on delivering elevated digital experiences. Combined with their UI and UX design expertise, this has made them a trusted partner to some of the world’s most recognizable brands. The Clay client portfolio includes Bay Area brand leaders like Snapchat, Slack, Meta, Google and Fiverr.
The agency aims to create assets and digital experiences that don’t date quickly, which means they’re a solid choice if you’re aiming for designs that will stand the test of time. The company’s co-founders also lead all their design projects, so you can look forward to tapping into the knowledge of two highly experienced tech professionals.
Clay works predominantly with tech companies. They're a good fit if you’re in the fintech, B2B software, crypto, Web3, eCommerce, or electronics sector.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Tech brands wanting a partner with a solid track record in UI/UX and brand strategy.
3. Awake
(Source: Awake)
Services offered:
- Product design
- Graphic design
- UX/UI design
- Digital strategy
- Identity and branding
- Brand experience
Based in: San Francisco.
This digital design and branding company helps to establish, accelerate and transform brands. They specialize in creating compelling product experiences and aim to add an innovative edge to the projects they take on.
Awake strongly focuses on the retail industry, and its portfolio includes work for well-known brand names like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Puma.
Additionally, the Clay team has worked with major tech brands like Apple and Microsoft and has good experience designing for eCommerce and online retail platforms.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Mid- to enterprise-level brands hunting for a creative agency with luxury retail experience.
4. Wunderdogs
(Source: Wunderdogs)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- UX/UI design
- Motion design
- Identity and branding
- Presentation and pitch deck design
- Concept design
Based in: San Francisco.
Wunderdogs is one of the better-known names in San Francisco design circles.
The team positions itself as an extension of existing marketing teams. They aim to deliver bold solutions to companies’ biggest design problems and have extensive experience building brands and strategies that deliver lasting value.
Wunderdogs has worked with midmarket and enterprise-level companies in various verticals, including fintech and life sciences. In the past, they’ve also partnered with venture capital and non-profit organizations.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Larger life sciences or venture capital firms needing a design agency with specialist industry knowledge.
5. Spritz
(Source: Spritz)
Services offered:
- Web design
- Identity and branding
- Print design, signage and brochures
- Logo design
- Social media design
- Brand strategy
Based in: HQ in San Francisco; offices in Austin, Bangalore and Paris.
Spritz is a full-service design and branding agency with a long history of assisting prominent companies in establishing their brands and boosting their digital presence. Their experience in digital strategy, brand identity and brand activation makes them a solid choice for those launching or rebranding.
The Spritz team also offers product launch and event support and is experienced in social media design, influencer marketing, and other forms of digital marketing.
Spritz partners with various types of businesses, including startups and enterprise-level organizations, mainly in the hospitality, restaurant, event and lifestyle sectors. Their client list includes familiar brands and projects like Lucky TukTuk, Fisherman’s Wharf and The Bay Lights.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Entertainment and hospitality companies seeking solid branding support.
6. Noise 13
(Source: Noise 13)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- Web design
- Identity and branding
- Packaging design
- Print design and signage
- Brand strategy
Based in: HQ in San Francisco with an additional office in New York.
While Noise 13 is one of the smaller agencies on this list, they’re a force to be reckoned with. They’re well known for producing strong branding and marketing strategies and prefer partnering with companies that drive positive social impact.
The Noise 13 team takes a bespoke, custom approach to design and prioritizes transparency and social responsibility in their work. They prioritize companies in the food and beverage industry. However, the team has partnered with beauty brands, banks, educational institutes and game development studios in the past.
Noise 13’s client list features recognizable names in the San Francisco area, including EA Games and Fremont Bank.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Smaller, local brands with a focus on social impact and transparency.
7. Juice Design
(Source: Juice Design)
Services offered:
- Branding and identity
- UX/UI design
- Animation
- Motion design
- Packaging design
- Ads and social media design
Based in: San Francisco.
Juice Design is an independent, San Francisco-based advertising, media, and design studio that offers various creative services, including social media strategy, brand identity development, and storytelling.
A diverse skill set has served the Juice Design team well in attracting major global brands such as Adidas, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Nike, Nickelodeon and Matador Records, along with other stalwarts of the fashion and entertainment industries.
This agency has been around since 1996, so you can be sure you’re tapping into a wealth of design experience if you choose to work with them.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Businesses in the entertainment or fashion industries seeking a design agency well-versed in design, brand identity development and storytelling.
8. Gumas
(Source: Gumas)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- Motion graphics and video production
- Packaging design
- Social media design
- Identity and branding
- Podcasts and webinars
Based in: San Francisco.
Gumas has made a name for itself as a full-service advertising and branding agency that focuses on helping challenger brands take on the competition. As a leader in challenger brand marketing, Gumas helps businesses deploy fast, effective campaigns that get them noticed.
They work with companies of all sizes to improve their branding, advertising, messaging and lead-generation strategies.
HP and Sandisk are notable names on their client list. Other clients include small- to midmarket medical, pharmaceutical, tech and engineering businesses.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Challenger brands and small- to midmarket businesses with a strong growth focus.
9. RNO1
(Source: RNO1)
Services offered:
- Web design
- VR/AR design
- UX/UI design
- eCommerce design
- Identity and branding
- Pitch deck design
- Digital strategy
Based in: HQ in San Francisco with ffices in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Seattle.
RNO1 is a tech-savvy subscription-based agency focusing on enterprise-level tech, eCommerce and Web 3 brands. They’re also one of the larger design agencies on this list and one of the few specializing in VR and AR design.
The team focuses on helping large companies grow and expand across various digital touchpoints. They offer several subscription options, including the option to buy a monthly “block” of hours that can be used as needed across various creative assets.
RNO1 has worked with numerous giants of industry, including Disney, Airbnb, Ericsson, Microsoft and BMW.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Web3- and tech-focused businesses that prefer a traditional design subscription model.
10. Savage Bureau
(Source: Savage Bureau)
Services offered:
- Web design
- UX/UI design
- Motion graphics and video production
- Ad design
- Social media design
- Identity and branding
- Print and packaging design
Based in: San Francisco.
This fairly small agency has worked with businesses of all sizes in San Francisco for over 15 years. Its skilled team prioritizes authentic, eye-catching designs and brand experiences that grab target customers’ attention. They live by their motto: “Make them take notice.”
Savage Bureau’s team members kickstart their creative projects by analyzing their clients’ competitors to avoid designs that repeat what’s already been done. The result? Fresh, unique designs that help clients establish a distinct corporate identity.
Savage Bureau works across various industries, but most of the team’s work relates to the real estate sector. Salesforce, CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield have all partnered with this great agency.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Brands that want additional research support, particularly in specialized sectors like real estate.
11. Citizen Best
(Source: Citizen Best)
Services offered:
- Identity and branding
- Logo design
- Web design
- UX/UI design
- Print design and packaging
- Social media design
Based in: HQ in San Francisco with offices in Los Angeles, Austin and Bangkok.
Citizen Best is a boutique design and branding agency that prides itself on being agile, responsive and collaborative. The team’s preferred approach is to integrate with their clients’ existing processes and systems as an extension of their creative and marketing teams.
Citizen Best has worked with several lifestyle, food and beverage brands. Additionally, they have good experience designing for several prominent streaming services.
It’s worth noting that this team mostly partners with small- to midmarket companies, although they’ve produced eye-catching creative for big names like Netflix and AppleBee’s.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Small- to midmarket businesses seeking a design agency that can complement their existing creative team.
12. Gershoni
(Source: Gershoni)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Identity and branding
- Packaging design
- Print design including guide and brand books
- Logo design
- Photography and video production
Based in: Offices in San Francisco and Dallas.
Gershoni is one of the better-known design agencies in San Francisco. With 25 years of design and branding experience, they know how to deliver brand growth and ongoing brand development for clients such as Spotify, Patron, Google, Nespresso and Tata.
The Gershoni team offers various creative services, including helping companies establish brand guidelines, revitalize their identities, and evolve their existing brands.
They’re one of the few agencies that actively avoids industry specialization, preferring to work with diverse clients and across most industries. This approach also means they work with every type of company, from early-stage startups to large corporations.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Businesses seeking a creative partner to build their brand from the ground up or evolve an existing brand in new and unexpected ways.
13. Strohl, Inc.
(Source: Strohl, Inc.)
Services offered:
- Identity and branding
- Web design
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Print design and signage
- Packaging and poster design
Based in: San Francisco.
Strohl, Inc. is a small team with a big vision for delivering top-quality design. Their approach mixes boutique design sensibilities with large-scale innovation and bold exploration of unconventional design themes.
They also emphasize personal connections with their clients and between customers and brands. For Strohl, Inc., this translates into working closely with clients willing to explore bold new concepts.
While this approach may sound like Strohl, Inc. prefers to work with small and agile companies, the team’s client base includes everything from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s. Notable names in the Strohl, Inc. stable include Pepsi, Kodak and Mattel.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Businesses that prefer unorthodox design approaches and bold design choices.
14. Manmade
(Source: Manmade)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- Web design
- Identity and branding
- Data visualization
- UX/UI design
- Logo design
Based in: San Francisco.
Manmade describes itself as an information design consultancy. This agency is a good partner if you need help visually communicating data or a strong value proposition for a complex product or service.
As a smaller digital agency, the Manmade crew often relies on designers and strategists in their broader network, quickly assembling bespoke teams when required.
Their client list includes numerous successful companies in the science and technology sectors and other companies requiring data visualization. Their portfolio includes businesses in the green energy, 3D modeling and healthcare sectors.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Science and tech businesses requiring a digital marketing partner experienced with translating data into eye-catching design.
15. Hybrid Design
(Source: Hybrid Design)
Services offered:
- Graphic design
- Web design
- Identity and branding
- Print design and packaging
- Illustration
- Retail and environmental design
Based in: San Francisco.
This agency is known for combining quirky, eclectic designs with strong attention to detail. Their talented team is also well-versed in various mediums, so they easily switch from illustration and print design to website and even interior design.
Many of Hybrid Design’s clients are in the arts, education and non-profit sectors. They’ve also worked with big names in fashion and retail, such as Nike and Lego, and have run campaigns in the tech, healthcare and finance sectors.
Hybrid Design stands out from other entries on this list because the team also designs building facades and interiors. This makes them a good choice for companies that need branding support spanning everything from digital creative to lobby murals.
Pricing: On request.
Great for: Innovative companies looking for a design team covering everything from print and web design to brand-focused interiors and environments.
Tap into Superside’s Creative Subscription Service in San Francisco
You should now be much more comfortable choosing a design agency in San Francisco. The companies on this list have all proven themselves repeatedly. You can’t go wrong using any of them.
But if you’re after a no-mess-no-fuss subscription model, lightning-quick turnaround times, and a wide range of design services, we reckon Superside is the perfect fit. Our extensive experience in the San Francisco market also means we understand the unique needs of Bay Area businesses and their target customers.
But don’t take our word for it—book a free demo to discuss your needs.
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Meet Roger, a content marketer driven by his love for online search, digital marketing, and performance marketing. When he's not immersed in the latest updates on Google, AI and social media, you'll find him passionately crafting strategies to simplify online searches for people, sparing them the frustration of navigating through endless pages. As a marketer, Roger Match has turned into the perfect match for Superside, helping us showcase our purpose, objectives and essence to the world.
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