Berlin's branding agencies are reshaping how companies build identity and connect with audiences across Europe. Here's your guide to the top 10 agencies in 2023, based on awards, client portfolios, and measurable outcomes.

10 Best Branding Agencies in Berlin to Look For in 2023

Berlin's creative scene isn't just about techno clubs and street art anymore. The city's branding agencies are reshaping how companies communicate, build identity, and connect with audiences across Europe and beyond. If you're a CEO or digital leader searching for a partner to transform your brand in 2023, Berlin's agency landscape offers a rare mix of creative excellence, strategic rigor, and technical capability—without the inflated budgets of London or New York.

Here's what you need to know about the 10 best branding agencies in Berlin right now, based on awards, client portfolios, and measurable outcomes.

1. FOUNDRY (Berlin, Zürich, New York)

FOUNDRY isn't just another creative agency—they're the most awarded branding shop in Germany for six consecutive years (2018-2023) at the German Brand Awards. That track record means something: consistent delivery of brand work that resonates with judges, clients, and end users.

What sets FOUNDRY apart is their international footprint combined with Berlin roots. Operating across Berlin, Zürich, and New York gives them access to diverse markets while maintaining the creative edge Berlin is known for. Their portfolio includes high-profile clients like SWISS International Air Lines, Zalando, Lime, and Bumble—brands that demand both strategic depth and flawless execution.

Their award cabinet is packed: Red Dot, ADC Germany, Cannes Lions, Deutscher Digital Award, EFFIE, and more. But what matters more than trophies is their approach: they forge brands that "stand the test of time" through a blend of strategic positioning and visual identity work that actually ships.

If you're a large enterprise or scale-up needing brand transformation that can hold up in international markets, FOUNDRY is built for that. Their German Brand Council membership and consistent recognition suggest they understand both creative excellence and the business outcomes brands need to justify investment.

Learn more about FOUNDRY

2. LODE (Berlin)

LODE operates at the intersection of brand strategy, design, and technology—a combination that's essential in 2023. They're not just making logos and guidelines; they're building digital products, websites, and multi-platform applications that bring brands to life in functional, user-facing ways.

Their client roster spans global corporations (BBC, Daimler, Nissan, Samsung, VW) to specialized tech companies (HERE Technologies, ANSYS, Sigfox). That range shows versatility: they can navigate corporate brand governance while still delivering the innovative work startups and tech companies demand.

LODE's approach is described as "fluid, agile, and rigorous"—an important balance. Branding projects often get stuck between endless creative exploration and rigid processes that kill innovation. LODE's methodology brings structure without stifling creativity, which is exactly what digital leaders need when they're trying to move fast without breaking things.

Their service range covers brand transformation, identity development, campaign work, motion design, web/app development, and user research. That full-stack capability means you're not coordinating between five different vendors to execute a rebrand—LODE can take it from strategy through production and into live digital channels.

If you're modernizing a legacy brand or launching a tech-driven product that needs cohesive brand and digital experience, LODE's integrated approach makes sense.

Explore LODE's work

3. Mimosa Agency (Berlin)

Since 2015, Mimosa has positioned itself where culture, technology, and design intersect—a positioning that reflects Berlin's own identity. They're a tight crew (about 10 core people) with a wide reach, working on projects that span brand strategy, digital experiences, social media, and activations.

What makes Mimosa relevant in 2023 is their understanding of how brands operate in digital-first environments. They don't just create static brand guidelines; they build identities that work across websites, social platforms, and experiential activations. This is critical for companies trying to build brand equity in fragmented media landscapes.

Mimosa offers SEO and UX services alongside branding—a combination that's increasingly necessary. A beautiful brand identity that doesn't perform in search or convert users is a missed opportunity. Mimosa's approach integrates brand expression with digital performance, which is exactly what growth-stage companies and digital transformation leaders need.

Their client work shows range: from tech startups to cultural organizations. If you're building a brand that needs to resonate with younger, digitally native audiences while still maintaining strategic rigor, Mimosa's culture-forward approach is worth examining.

Visit Mimosa Agency

4. 99d Studio (Berlin, San Francisco, Richmond)

99d Studio operates as the agency arm of 99designs, bringing together Creative Directors, Brand Strategists, and Project Managers to deliver full-service branding and campaigns. What's interesting here is the hybrid model: they combine the marketplace infrastructure of 99designs with the dedicated team approach of a traditional agency.

With locations in Berlin, San Francisco, and Richmond (Australia), 99d Studio has global reach and around-the-clock production capability. For companies operating across time zones or needing fast turnarounds, this geographic distribution can be a real advantage.

Their minimum project size is $1,000+, with hourly rates in the $150-199 range—positioning them as accessible for mid-market companies that don't have enterprise budgets but still want strategic branding work. The fixed-price package model brings predictability to branding projects, which often spiral in scope and cost.

99d Studio delivers logo and visual identity, brand guidelines, packaging, website design, and campaign creative. If you're a mid-sized company or well-funded startup that needs solid branding execution without the overhead of top-tier agencies, 99d Studio's model—backed by 99designs' infrastructure—offers a pragmatic middle ground.

It's worth noting that 99d Studio now partners closely with Circlemakers Studio for delivery, so verify current structure before engaging.

Check out 99d Studio

5. Mirage (Berlin, Amsterdam)

Mirage is an independent strategy, design, and communications agency with a philosophical foundation that's unusual in the branding world: they're heavily inspired by Stoicism. That might sound abstract, but it translates into something practical—brand strategies built on clarity, purpose, and long-term thinking rather than trend-chasing.

Their four pillars (Justice, Temperance, Courage, Wisdom) inform how they approach brand positioning, especially for organizations going through transformation or structural change. If you're a digital leader navigating complex organizational shifts—mergers, pivots, leadership transitions—Mirage's change-management orientation is relevant.

Mirage's work spans brand strategy, naming, identity systems, governance, and design. They translate strategic objectives into "compelling expressions that drive measurable impact." That last phrase matters: too many branding agencies deliver beautiful work that doesn't connect to business outcomes. Mirage positions themselves as accountable to performance, not just aesthetics.

Their empathy-driven approach and focus on organizations facing change makes them particularly relevant for CTOs and CPOs who are modernizing legacy brands or repositioning established companies for new markets.

Learn about Mirage

6. PETER PAUL AND MARY (PPAM)

PPAM is an owner-managed full-service agency that's been operating since 1998—giving them over two decades of experience navigating Berlin's changing business landscape. Their longevity suggests they've figured out how to deliver consistent value across market cycles.

What stands out about PPAM is their client retention: they've been handling all communication strategy and advertising for Call a Pizza since 2001 without interruption. That kind of long-term client relationship doesn't happen unless you're delivering measurable results and adapting to changing needs.

PPAM offers brand development workshops alongside execution—a smart combination. Too often, agencies either do pure strategy (with weak execution) or pure production (with no strategic foundation). PPAM's workshop-driven approach ensures alignment before production starts, which saves time and budget.

Their portfolio includes Wacken Open Air, one of Europe's largest metal festivals, alongside corporate clients. That range shows they can handle both B2C brand building and enterprise communications.

For companies that want a stable, experienced partner with proven client relationships and a full-service model, PPAM represents the traditional German agency approach done well.

Visit PPAM

7. New Standard Studio (Berlin)

New Standard Studio positions itself as a "systemic design studio"—designing systems that make sustainable behavior simple. In 2023, sustainability isn't optional anymore. Consumers, investors, and regulators are demanding action, and brands that can authentically communicate their sustainability story have a competitive advantage.

What makes New Standard Studio relevant isn't just their focus on sustainability (which many agencies now claim), but their systems thinking approach. They don't just slap green messaging on existing brands; they redesign the underlying systems—how companies operate, communicate, and deliver value—to embed sustainability at the core.

For CTOs and innovation leaders working on ESG initiatives, carbon reduction programs, or circular economy business models, New Standard Studio's approach bridges the gap between operational transformation and brand communication. Your sustainability efforts need to be visible and credible to stakeholders—this is where systemic brand design becomes critical.

Their work is particularly relevant for companies in green tech, renewable energy, sustainable finance, and any sector facing regulatory pressure around environmental impact. If your brand needs to tell a sustainability story that goes beyond greenwashing, New Standard Studio's methodology is worth examining.

8. 360 Agency Berlin

360 Agency Berlin has a bold positioning: they're "the first advertising agency in the world to promote exclusively sustainable and ethical brands across the globe." That's a strong filter—they won't take your project unless you meet their sustainability and ethics criteria.

This selectivity creates two advantages. First, they've built deep expertise in sustainability marketing and know how to communicate to conscious consumers effectively. Second, their portfolio becomes a signal of credibility—if 360 Agency is working with you, it suggests you've passed their ethical screening.

For CEOs and CMOs building brands in the sustainability space—organic food, renewable energy, ethical fashion, B Corp companies—360 Agency offers specialized expertise and authentic positioning. Sustainability-focused consumers are skeptical of brand claims. Working with an agency that only represents sustainable brands lends credibility.

Their global reach means they understand how sustainability messaging translates across markets—critical as European sustainability expectations often differ from North American or Asian markets.

If you're building a brand where sustainability is core to your value proposition (not just a CSR initiative), 360 Agency's exclusive focus could be exactly what you need.

9. BOLD.unite (Berlin)

BOLD.unite operates as a collective of creative specialists, bringing together expertise across branding, strategy, design, and digital. The collective model is increasingly popular in Berlin's agency landscape—it offers the specialized skill depth of freelancers with the coordination and accountability of an agency.

What this model delivers is flexibility. Instead of maintaining a large permanent team with fixed overhead, BOLD.unite can assemble the right specialists for each project. For clients, this means you're getting senior talent on your work, not junior teams padded out to justify retainers.

BOLD.unite's work covers brand strategy, visual identity, communication campaigns, and digital experiences. Their collective approach works particularly well for project-based engagements where you need specific expertise for a defined period—rebrands, campaign launches, product launches.

For digital leaders who are tired of paying for agency overhead and want direct access to senior creative talent, the collective model offers a compelling alternative to traditional agency structures.

10. LAUDO (Berlin)

LAUDO positions itself around "high-quality design"—a straightforward value proposition in a market full of agencies making complex claims. Sometimes what companies need isn't revolutionary disruption; it's excellent execution of core branding fundamentals.

LAUDO offers brand strategy, visual identity, editorial design, packaging, and digital design. Their work reflects Berlin's design heritage: clean, functional, conceptually strong. If you're a B2B company, enterprise software firm, or industrial client that needs sophisticated branding without the lifestyle-brand theatrics, LAUDO's approach makes sense.

Their focus on quality over trend-chasing is relevant for companies building brands that need to last. Fast-fashion branding might work for consumer startups playing the growth-at-all-costs game, but if you're building infrastructure, healthcare tech, financial services, or industrial technology, you need brand systems that project stability and trustworthiness.

LAUDO's portfolio and positioning suggest they understand how to build authoritative, enduring brand identities—exactly what established companies and serious startups need when they're playing long-term games.

Visit LAUDO

How to Choose the Right Berlin Branding Agency in 2023

Picking an agency isn't about finding the "best" one—it's about finding the right match for your specific needs, constraints, and objectives. Here's how to approach the decision:

1. Define What You're Actually Solving For

Are you:

• Rebranding an established company going through transformation?
• Launching a new product or service that needs its own identity?
• Refreshing an outdated brand to compete in modern markets?
• Building a brand from scratch for a new venture?
• Aligning stakeholders around a unified brand vision?

Each scenario demands different expertise. FOUNDRY and Mirage excel at transformation and change management. LODE and Mimosa are strong for digital-first brands and tech products. 360 Agency and New Standard Studio specialize in sustainability positioning.

Match the agency's proven work to your specific challenge—don't just pick the most awarded agency if they don't have experience with your type of project.

2. Assess Strategic Depth vs. Execution Speed

Some agencies are heavy on strategy—months of research, workshops, frameworks—before design starts. Others move fast, prototyping visual directions quickly to test market response.

Neither approach is wrong, but you need to know what you're buying. If you're a CEO under pressure to rebrand before next quarter's board meeting, you need execution speed (LODE, Mimosa, BOLD.unite). If you're repositioning a legacy enterprise brand across multiple markets, you need strategic depth (FOUNDRY, Mirage, PPAM).

Ask agencies: "How much time do you spend on strategy before creative development begins?" Their answer tells you what they prioritize.

3. Understand Cost Structure and Hidden Fees

Branding projects spiral in cost for two reasons: unclear scope and hourly billing without caps. Protect yourself by:

• Asking for fixed-price proposals with defined deliverables
• Clarifying what's included (How many revision rounds? How many design concepts? What file formats?)
• Understanding the difference between brand strategy, visual identity, and brand activation (they're often separate engagements)

Agencies like 99d Studio offer fixed-price packages, which brings predictability. Traditional agencies may push time-and-materials billing, which gives them flexibility but transfers financial risk to you.

4. Evaluate Team Structure and Who Actually Does the Work

Here's an uncomfortable truth: at many agencies, senior leaders pitch the work, then hand execution to junior designers. Ask explicitly: "Who will be working on my project day-to-day?" and "How much senior involvement is included?"

Agencies structured as collectives (BOLD.unite) or smaller teams (Mimosa) often provide more senior attention because they don't have large junior teams to keep billable.

5. Check for Digital Integration Capability

In 2023, brand work must work digitally. Your visual identity needs to function in:

• Websites and web applications
• Social media platforms (each with different specs)
• Email templates and digital communications
• Product interfaces (if you're a software company)
• Mobile applications

Agencies with strong digital capability (LODE, Mimosa, 99d Studio) build brand systems that translate seamlessly into digital channels. Traditional agencies may deliver beautiful print work that doesn't adapt to screens, leaving you to figure out digital execution separately.

Ask: "How do you ensure brand systems work in digital environments?" and "Can you show examples of digital implementation?"

6. Test Cultural Fit and Communication Style

You'll be working closely with your agency for months. Cultural misalignment kills projects. Pay attention to:

• Do they listen or just pitch?
• Do they ask about your constraints (budget, timeline, internal stakeholders) or assume unlimited resources?
• Do they speak your language or drown you in design jargon?
• Do they respect your internal expertise or treat you like you don't understand branding?

The best agency relationships feel like partnerships, not vendor transactions. If the chemistry is off in early conversations, it won't improve during intense project work.

What Berlin's Branding Scene Gets Right (and Where It Falls Short)

Berlin's agency landscape has distinct strengths and weaknesses compared to other European capitals.

Strengths:

• Cost efficiency: Berlin agencies deliver work at 30-50% lower cost than London, Paris, or New York, without sacrificing quality.
• Technical integration: Berlin's tech scene influences agencies—they understand digital products, SaaS models, and technical constraints better than traditional creative shops.
• Cultural credibility: Berlin's reputation for innovation, sustainability, and progressive values helps brands tap into cultural currency.
• International teams: Berlin attracts talent globally, so agencies work fluently across languages and markets.

Weaknesses:

• B2B enterprise experience: Many Berlin agencies are stronger with consumer brands and startups than with enterprise B2B, where buying committees and long sales cycles demand different brand approaches.
• Scale limitations: Berlin agencies are typically smaller than multinational holding company offices, which can be a constraint for large-scale, multi-market brand rollouts.
• English fluency varies: While most top agencies operate in English, some smaller shops are stronger in German, which can create communication friction for international clients.

If you're a scale-up, mid-market company, or digital transformation leader at an enterprise, Berlin's agency scene offers exceptional value. If you're a Fortune 500 company rolling out global brand standards across 50 countries, you may need larger infrastructure than most Berlin agencies provide.

Making It Real: Next Steps for Digital Leaders

If you're serious about rebranding or launching a new brand identity in 2023, here's the practical path forward:

Week 1: Internal ClarityBefore talking to agencies, get clear on:

• What problem is this brand work solving? (Revenue growth? Market repositioning? Competitive differentiation?)
• What does success look like in 12 months? (How will you measure whether this worked?)
• What's your realistic budget range? (Agencies can't propose effectively without knowing constraints)
• Who are the internal stakeholders who must approve this? (Plan for alignment upfront, not mid-project)

Week 2-3: Agency Research and Shortlisting

• Visit agency websites and study their portfolios (look for work similar to your challenge)
• Check client lists (do they have experience in your sector or with your type of company?)
• Read case studies (look for business outcomes, not just creative awards)
• Narrow to 3-5 agencies that match your needs

Week 4: Agency Conversations

• Schedule intro calls with shortlisted agencies
• Share your challenge, constraints, and objectives clearly
• Ask how they'd approach the work (even without a formal brief, good agencies can articulate a point of view)
• Request relevant case studies and client references

Week 5: Proposal Review and Selection

• Issue a brief to 2-3 finalists (don't waste time with five proposals)
• Evaluate proposals on approach, team structure, timeline, and cost
• Check references (ask clients: "Would you hire them again?" and "What surprised you about working with them?")
• Make the call and get started

Month 2-4: Execution

• Establish clear communication cadence (weekly check-ins work better than ad-hoc emails)
• Make decisions quickly (agency work stalls when clients can't decide)
• Involve stakeholders early (get input during development, not at final review)
• Plan for implementation (the brand system is only valuable if it gets used)

The agencies listed here all have track records delivering brand work that moves companies forward. The question isn't which is "best"—it's which matches your specific challenge, culture, and constraints.

Why Branding Still Matters (Especially in 2023)

It's fashionable in some circles to dismiss branding as superficial—just logos and color palettes while the real work happens in product and sales. That's a dangerous misunderstanding.

Strong brands compound in value over time. They make sales easier (people buy from brands they recognize and trust). They attract better talent (people want to work for companies with compelling identities). They command premium pricing (customers pay more for branded experiences vs. commodity offerings).

In 2023, as economic uncertainty pressures budgets and AI disrupts knowledge work, brand becomes even more important. When customers can access similar products at similar prices with similar features, brand is the tiebreaker. When talented people can work remotely for any company, brand culture becomes a competitive moat.

If you're a CEO, CPO, or CTO, investing in brand isn't optional—it's infrastructure. Just like you invest in engineering and sales systems, you need to invest in the systems that shape how the market perceives and values what you build.

The agencies in this list can help you build that infrastructure. Choose wisely, invest properly, and give the work time to compound. Berlin's branding scene is ready to help you transform how your company shows up in the world.

Sources:

• FOUNDRY Berlin Official Website
• The 10 Best Branding Agencies in Berlin - Sortlist
• Top Branding Agencies in Berlin - DesignRush
• Best Branding Agencies in Berlin - Digital Agency Network
• LODE Creative Agency Official Website
• Mimosa Agency Official Website
• 99d Studio on Clutch
• Mirage Agency Official Website
• PPAM Agency Official Website
• LAUDO Design Studio