At Condensed, we have called Brooklyn and NYC our home since we opened our doors in 2012. Our founders set off to create a different kind of branding agency in NYC: a nimble team that understands the needs of startups and creative organizations, delivers timeless work, and forges close client/agency relationships. Having worked at big agencies up and down Madison Avenue, we knew we wanted to steer clear of the inefficiencies that gave us headaches and that keep fees overblown and inaccessible to early-stage startups. Our team of strategists, designers, and developers packs the capabilities of a big agency in a neater, friendlier package.
While we have worked with companies all around the world, most of our favorite projects are close to home. Many of the clients that we've partnered with for a long time are based locally, and they value having their branding agency right in NYC and being able to discuss ideas in person together. These are a few of our favorite projects with clients based in NYC:
Garnish Studios - Greenpoint, Brooklyn
What we did: branding, web design
Garnish is a content creation company - 'for the world of provisions'. The food industry needs dedicated storytellers and photographers to show off the best of what's new, that's where Garnish comes in.
When Garnish came to us they had the name needed branding to bring it to life. Garnish Studios word-mark is like a swashbuckling retro rodeo, green waves of hand-painted curves form the word Garnish. Propped up by the word STUDIOS, in a simple and sturdy bold type.
Sesame – Dumbo, Brooklyn
What we did: Naming
This healthcare startup is after a radical idea in the US: getting the healthcare you need should be affordable, simple, and without long waits. Just like you buy everything else online, you should be able to know exactly what you’re going to spend, what your services are, and get an appointment in the next day or two.
When the Sesame team came to us they had a working name of 'EasyCare'. We wanted to move them away from descriptive names and go with something that was more memorable and positioned them clearly as a completely different healthcare experience. The name was inspired by the phrase 'open-sesame'. The brand rallies around the concept of being 'open' 'direct' and 'welcoming' - traits the platform was trying to hightlight.
Tough Mudder – Dumbo, Brooklyn
What we did: Brand Strategy, Identity Design, Web Design, Signage, Collateral Design, & Creative Campaigns
When we started working with Tough Mudder before their launch, they were just a team of two recent Harvard grads with a great idea and plenty of drive. We worked with them to develop their branding, including the now iconic running man logo, which graces countless biceps. From those early days we went on to become their agency of record over their first four years, growing their site from one event to a global community of 'Mudders'. In those early days, it was clear that Tough Mudder is about camaraderie, and that continues to be at its core today.
Keepers - Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
What we did: naming, branding, web design & development, collateral design, content creation.
Brooklyn Based Keepers is on a mission to get people from around the world to re-think what coffee is, how it’s made, and enjoyed. A Keepers is a refreshing drink, think 'summer in a can'.
Cut & Crafted – Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
What we did: naming, branding, web design & development, collateral design, content creation.
This event series shines a spotlight on local NYC-based makers who create their goods sustainably, in small batches. Cut & Crafted’s events are family-friendly experiences that bring together curated shopping, good food & drinks and fun activities for everyone. At the core of everything they do is their community spirit, love for entrepreneurs and creating a positive impact in their environment.
Woodman Foundation – Chelsea, NY
What we did: branding, web design & development, collateral design.
This arts foundation preserves and showcases the work of a unique family of artist: the incredible mother-father-daughter trio of Betty, George and Francesca Woodman. Very different as artists, working in different mediums, with a shared history as a family. The foundation is based from Betty & George’s Chelsea loft, where they both lived and worked for over three decades. It is an invaluable inspiration to us to be around their work and get a sense of their daily lives every time we visit.
New York Startups, meet your agency
We love the creative energy of the city - being a branding agency in NYC means we’re always working with an exciting new business ready to shake things up in their industry. Our clients are in very different verticals -- from SaaS to arts organizations, CPG to fitness. There is always something new for us to take a deep dive into, and being able to work directly with founders helps us share their passion for the project.
Our services include brand strategy, visual identity (logo creation), brand voice, messaging, packaging design for consumer products, website design & development, marketing campaign creative, and collateral design.
We work both with pre-launch companies and established businesses that are looking for a rebrand. Sometimes clients come to us with just an idea, and we begin the brand development process in search of the perfect name. Other times there is a name already established, but not much more than that. Every client and every launch plan is different, and we create smart blueprints for each project that make the best use of the budget.
Interested in working together? Whether you’re based in NYC or not, we’d love to hear from you.
