Independent list · re-checked September 28, 2026 · published by Primortul LLC

branding agencies in California

4 of the 15 branding agencies on this list are based in California (CA), in San Francisco, Los Angeles. The other 11 are based elsewhere on the list. Who leads them, the work they can show, and why each one made the list. This is the list, not a ranking of the state. Nobody pays to be ranked.

  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

  4. 15 on the list · Los Angeles, CA

    Koto

    Since 2015 · 51–200 people

    Koto is a creative agency founded in London in 2015 by James Greenfield, Jowey Roden and Caroline Matthews, with U.S. studios in Culver City, Los Angeles and at 368 Broome Street in New York alongside London, Berlin and Sydney. Its about page lists 154 staff and describes its practice as branding, design and strategy built on co-creation and craft. Design Week records clients including Google, Netflix, Amazon, Uber, Spotify, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Discord and WhatsApp.

    Why it’s hereIn a decade it has become one of the most-used identity studios for large technology platforms, with two U.S. studios and 150-plus staff.

    Who leads itJames Greenfield, Chief Executive Officer.

    Work they can showInstagram. Redesigned the Instagram wordmark and brand system. Lyft. Brand work including the Your Lyft is arriving campaign. Microsoft. Brand work for Microsoft's 50th anniversary.

    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 · brand strategy · technology and consumer brands · motion and digital

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