Laura Garcia

CST 300L Fri. 2pm - 4pm

20 September 2016
Design Firm
Major corporations in both graphic and web design have grown significantly in the last

10 years. Along with it tech advances companies have captured the world's eye with beautiful

designs and interfaces. Corporations such as Meta Design, Pentagram, and Lab Brand, now lead

the industry in Graphic design. These companies have worked with worldwide known brands

such as “Adidas, Nike, Princeton University, AT&T, Apple, Adobe,”(Creger R.) and many

others. The graphic of these designs have received recognition all over the world and given these

once small corporation's, prestige and glorification.

To the right of the industry web design is accompanied by a group of astonishing design

firms such as Blue Fountain Media, Max Audience, and Baven Media. They are national and

international web design firms that have crafted beautiful interactive interfaces such as NASA,

Cannon, and At&t. (September 2016) These companies lead the industry in creating

personalized, well crafted mobile and desktop websites for their clients.

As mentioned previously, once a small company Meta Design started in Berlin in 1979

under Erik Spiekermann. The now international company covers a wide range of digital and

printed designs and creations. They have six different locations of which Berlin is their

headquarters. Honorably creating numerous recognizable logos around the world and partnering

with well-known brands like Volkswagen, T-Mobile and Audi (MetaDesign). With over 30 years

of being in the industry, and fascinating artists it is that Meta Design has become and prestigious

design firms.
 One of Meta Designs first steps towards its current success, was in 1994 when it

partnered with Audi to reinvent their entire design and interface. This is an ongoing project; now

that Meta Design is Audi’s go do design firm.(Audi) This lasting relationship has fortified and

strengthened Meta Designs success. With the head of Pilar Mannjarrez, Vice President, director

of operations, and HR, at Meta Design in San Francisco; The company has reached great success

year after year. They now hold projects with T-Mobile, and luxury brands like Jeager LeCoultre;

a Swiss luxury watch brand. (Jeager LeCoultre)

Meta Design has a location in San Francisco, and holds locations in Zurich, Beijing,

Berlin, Dusseldorf and Genev. The company holds nearly 200-300 employees of which, most of

all are graphic designers.(Metafox) It offers printed designs; as well as digital, and graphic

designs. Working with companies helps Meta Design create the best faces for a product or

company. They hold a wide variety of works that meet almost any new client’s needs; some of

which include “brand architecture, employer branding, brand management, and brand tracking;

and design services, including identity design, digital branding, brand environments, motion

design, sound branding, service design, prototyping, and packaging design” (Bloomberg).

Their Standards are to “remain viable into the future [and] balance stability and

adaptability. As supported by their motto “brand is key” communicated through the company

Meta Designs employers understand this concept thoroughly.(About) They work long and hard

to produce what is required of them for beautiful designs. Based on the look on the outside, the

company openly promotes design in a casual/professional way. They are open with the flow of

creativity, but hold on to values that make them a well- rounded professional firm. Creativity is

most important; notable by their social media and employee profiles online brings truth to their
concept of adapting to the future. Meta design does this through all the different generations, by

reaching out to them on different platforms.

Meta Design is the biggest design firm in Europe; the company revenues $7.5 million a

year.(Metafox) Know company ties place MetaDesign at one of the most prestigious design

firms in San Francisco. Determination form their staff who have taken risks to partake in design

compromises with well-known brands like Nike and Coca-Cola, prove and enlighten the

company’s strengths going into the future. (Contact)

At the top of their great successes in the past years is Andy Glies; alumni from the

University of Lincolnshire in England, where he studied business and marketing. Andy has

worked with Meta Design since around 2008 and is presently client engagement vice president.

Before starting with the company he worked with companies such as “Toyota, Coca-Cola, Sony,

Yahoo, Google, and Nike; gaining him an average of about 15 years of experience. While with

the company he now (takes care of), new and existing clients to make sure they are engaged and

content with the work provided for them. (Contact)

To his/ her side is, as mentioned previously, Pilar Mannjarrez. She is an Alumni from San

Francisco, graduating with a degree in Political Science. Originally from the area of San

Francisco became a part of the team in 1996. Known works by Pilar are most recognizable in her

days before Meta Design; these included working “alongside designers and art directors for

financial anNow d high-tech companies such as Adobe, Apple, Bank of America, HP, Motorola

and Siemens.” at Metadesign Pilar works company clients, leads the HR department, along with

being the lead on operations. Her roles also include guiding teams on company projects

by providing feedback. (Contact)

 Based on appearance the success brought to Meta Design, is due to their works

recognition and their employers; through which such recognitions are possible. Background rich

minds that reach Meta Design is known as empower the company and provide the stepping

stones it needs to rise in the world of graphic design. They hold their employees accountable to

their company’s name and fame being where it is today.

Compensation for all of the employers at Meta Design include salaries range from 50k-

75k per year, ranging at around 60k. This estimate if from a design perspective, the salaries

would pertain to someone who is intermediately placed on an achievement scale. Beginners

ranging closer to the 50k and Advanced designers placed around the 70k side of the

spectrum.(Glassdoor)

Financially, Meta Design can be seen as a growing/stable company. Its success helps it

generate about 7.3 million a year in revenue. The new projects/partnerships with companies in

the current decade, show signs of a positive increase in popularity; hence in financial security for

the company. Adaptation to new companies, designs, and ideas will be key for Meta Designs

growth in the industry. It’s long history is proof that the company can adapt; thus, shows

promising signs of flexibility with change; gives the company, an ability that should help it

continue to mold to new trends and updates. It’s world-wide spread centers and creates a stronger

foundation for Meta Design in the years to come.

 Citations
Creger R., ( Jul 31, 2014), 15 famous graphic design companies from around the globe, In 99Designs,

Retrieved September 19, 2016, from

https://99designs.com/blog/creative-inspiration/most-famous-graphic-design-companies/

(September 21,2016) Company Overview of MetaDesign AG, In Bloomberg, Retrieved (September 19,

2016) from http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=888776

MetaDesign, In Metafox, Retrieved (September 18, 2016) from https://datafox.com/metadesign

Opennless Jaeger-LeCoultre, In MetaDesign, Retrived (September 20, 2016) from

http://sanfrancisco.metadesign.com/case-studies/jaeger-lecoultre/

Times Change. Brands must change, too., In MetaDesign, Retrived (September 20, 2016) from

http://sanfrancisco.metadesign.com/about/

Leadership Volkswagon, In MetaDesign, Retrived (September 21, 2016) from

http://sanfrancisco.metadesign.com/case-studies/volkswagen/

Projection Audi, In MetaDesign, Retrived (September 21, 2016) from

http://sanfrancisco.metadesign.com/case-studies/Audi/

Contact, In MetaDesign, Retrived (September 21, 2016) from

http://sanfrancisco.metadesign.com/contact/

MetaDesign, In Glassdoor, Retrived (September 21, 2016) from

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/MetaDesign-Salaries-E321337.htm

September 2016, In Top Design Firms, Retrived (September 21, 2016) from,

https://www.topdesignfirms.com/firms/web-design