Better brands start with insight.
We help founders and growing businesses build brands that actually work. Grounded in research and designed to grow with you.
Before we design anything, we get aligned on what matters most.
At Studio Lever, we start with research and strategy to make sure everything that follows is grounded, intentional, and built to work in the real world. From foundational brand kits to full identity systems, we design logos, color palettes, typography, and brand guidelines, all shaped by a process that’s built around clarity.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, we’ll meet you where you are and build from there.
This is the same workbook we use with every client to uncover what their brand really stands for. Now it’s yours, free. No jargon. No fluff. Just clarity.
We offer strategic design services across three core areas, from early insights to full brand rollout.
Uncover the insights your brand needs to grow. We combine market analysis, stakeholder interviews, and real-world consumer research to build a strategy that actually works.
Here’s how we’ve helped brands stand out, grow up, and get results.
Built for the Big Leagues: Social Strategy for The Bledsoe Agency
A fast-rising sports agency needed a social media system as dynamic as its roster. We built a brand toolkit designed for power, speed, and serious versatility.
Researching Brand Trust in a Global Market
How do consumers recognize authenticity in a digital ad? This international research program used a layered, mixed-methods approach to uncover which visual signals best conveyed brand trustworthiness — and why. The resulting insights shaped design direction and strategic guidance for future ad experiences.
Why do brand research before design?
At Studio Lever, we believe great design is built on insight, not instinct. Our research-first approach pairs the expertise of a seasoned researcher with strategic design thinking to help brands carve out their space in the market with confidence. From interviews and behavior mapping to competitor analysis and surveys, we use evidence, not guesswork, to shape every brand decision.
Designing Fundraising Tools for the Creator Era
When creators promote fundraisers on social platforms, more people give — but how do we design tools that support both influencers and nonprofits? This study explored whether a donation-matching feature could boost engagement. Interviews with creators and nonprofit teams revealed why the initial prototype didn’t meet user needs and helped reshape the product for clarity, usability, and impact.
Strength in the Pod: Branding Orcas Hockey Club
What started as a few players looking to extend the fun turned into a full-fledged team with a competitive spirit, and the gear to match.
Marketing the Invisible: Visual Design for Alexa Skills
“Alexa, let’s design a brand system.”
Why do brand research before design?
At Studio Lever, we believe great design is built on insight, not instinct. Our research-first approach pairs the expertise of a seasoned researcher with strategic design thinking to help brands carve out their space in the market with confidence. From interviews and behavior mapping to competitor analysis and surveys, we use evidence, not guesswork, to shape every brand decision.
Built for the Big Leagues: Social Strategy for The Bledsoe Agency
A fast-rising sports agency needed a social media system as dynamic as its roster. We built a brand toolkit designed for power, speed, and serious versatility.
Marketing the Invisible: Visual Design for Alexa Skills
“Alexa, let’s design a brand system.”
Mosptnspg Sells. So Why Bother Branding?
Logitech is the world’s leading manufacturer of computer peripherals. They produce roughly six out of every ten mice or keyboards sold worldwide. They spend $730
Designing Fundraising Tools for the Creator Era
When creators promote fundraisers on social platforms, more people give — but how do we design tools that support both influencers and nonprofits? This study explored whether a donation-matching feature could boost engagement. Interviews with creators and nonprofit teams revealed why the initial prototype didn’t meet user needs and helped reshape the product for clarity, usability, and impact.
Final Pass: Testing for Clarity, Usability, and Confidence
How do you explain technical systems to everyday users — and how do you know the design is working before launch? This unmoderated usability study tested a digital product that aimed to make complex tools easier to understand. Participant feedback confirmed the design was nearly ready and surfaced key improvements before rollout.