branding agencies in San Francisco, CA

1. 01 on the list · San Francisco, CA

   Landor

   Since 1941 · 500+ people

   Landor is a brand consulting and design firm founded in San Francisco in 1941 by Walter and Josephine Landor and now part of WPP, with its site reporting 1,300 staff across 30 locations. Its practice is organised as consulting, design and experience, spanning brand strategy, visual, verbal, sonic and motion identity and customer and employee experience, with recent work shown for Nike Kids, LeShuttle and Bancomat. Wikipedia records its acquisition by Young & Rubicam in 1989 and 32 offices worldwide.

   Why it’s hereThe oldest continuously operating brand consultancy in the United States, with 85 years of identity work and the largest footprint of any firm on this list.

   Who leads itJane Geraghty, Global CEO.

   Work they can showNike. Brand work for Nike Kids. LeShuttle. Brand work for the Channel Tunnel vehicle shuttle. Milan Symphony Orchestra. Brand identity work for the orchestra.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $25,000–$80,000, typical for US branding projects; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   brand strategy consulting · visual and verbal identity · sonic and motion design · customer and employee experience

2. 09 on the list · San Francisco, CA

   Character

   Since 1999

   Character is a San Francisco branding agency founded in 1999 by Ben Pham, Tish Evangelista and Rishi Shourie, offering brand strategy, brand identity and brand experience across digital, retail, packaging and environmental channels. Its site lists clients including Apple, Nike, Levi Strauss, Kohler, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn Kids and National Geographic. Clutch records the 1999 founding at 447 Battery Street.

   Why it’s hereA founder-led San Francisco studio with 25-plus years of identity and packaging work for Apple, Nike and Levi Strauss.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $25,000–$80,000, typical for US branding projects; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   brand strategy · brand identity · packaging · retail and environmental design · digital

3. 10 on the list · San Francisco, CA

   Mucho

   Since 2003 · 11–50 people

   Mucho is a design and branding agency founded in Barcelona in 2003 by Marc Català and Pablo Juncadella, with a San Francisco studio led by partner Rob Duncan and a further studio in Sydney. Its about page lists 35-plus designers and strategists from 16 nationalities and clients including Apple, Google, PayPal, Visa, Gap, Levi Strauss and FC Barcelona, with recognition from D&AD, the Art Directors Club, the Type Directors Club and AIGA. DesignRush lists the firm with Barcelona headquarters, a San Francisco office and fewer than 49 staff.

   Why it’s hereA partner-run studio whose San Francisco office serves Bay Area technology clients including Apple, Google and PayPal, with D&AD Yellow Pencils on its record.

   Who leads itMarc Català and Pablo Juncadella, Co-founders, Partners and Creative Directors (San Francisco office led by partners Rob Duncan and Francesca Duncan).

   Work they can showAeroméxico. Created a digital-first visual identity, graphic system, illustration style and brand guidelines for the airline.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $25,000–$80,000, typical for US branding projects; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   brand identity · visual communication · creative strategy · editorial design

All places on this list·branding agencies in California·How to choose