The best 21 design startups you should know in 2025

Top design startups

Complete list of design startups that are worth knowing:

Pendo

Founded in 2013, Pendo offers software that helps companies get users to adopt new tools and applications more quickly. Their platform makes it easier for employees to learn business software so they can become productive faster.

The Pendo solution tracks how workers actually use apps to reveal sticking points. For example, it might show where people get stuck completing a process or keep clicking on help menus. Using analytics and feedback cues, it gives real-time guidance right within the app interface.

Makelab

Founded in 2013, Makelab is focused on making product prototyping accessible through digital 3D printing services. Their platform allows upload of CAD files for manufacturing.

Makelab serves both companies and consumers with design ideas globally. Users easily produce 3D printed prototypes from digital files at affordable rates. This aims to accelerate design workflows.

Tapestry

Founded in 1941 as a handbag manufacturer which evolved over decades into a multinational accessories group. Tapestry aimed to foster inspiration, inclusivity and innovation across its portfolio of aspirational brands.

Tapestry serves customers worldwide seeking premium bags, footwear and lifestyle accessories that express personal style. Consumers appreciate the brands’ focus on craftsmanship, creativity and community. This aims to create lasting relationships that transcend transactions.

Work & Co

Founded in 2013, Work & Co blends strategic design, technology and business thinking to build digital products people love. Their expertise spans UX, engineering, analytics and growth.

Work & Co serves organizations pursuing digital transformation and innovation. Clients rely on their integrated strategy-to-execution capabilities realizing ideas from concept to launch and beyond. This progresses customer-centricity and growth through digital experiences.

The Black Tux

Founded in 2013, The Black Tux upgrades formalwear rental by moving the experience fully online. Their e-commerce platform handles selections, sizing, deliveries and returns.

The Black Tux serves men needing formalwear conveniently across the US and Canada. Customers book attire for weddings, events and other occasions without visiting a store. This provides access, customization and simplicity.

Smart Design

Founded in 1980, Smart Design aimed to ground design in genuine user understanding and creativity. Their human-centered process spans research, ideation and design strategy.

Smart Design partners with leading brands globally to drive innovation. Clients rely on their expertise to uncover insights and opportunities guiding strategic design directions. This aims to differentiate offerings through purposeful experiences.

Runyon

Founded in 2014, Runyon accelerates innovation by testing concepts quickly through real-world prototypes and feedback. Their methodology focuses on rapid experimentation and iteration.

Runyon partners with organizations pursuing product and venture development. Clients rely on their prototyping expertise to ideate, test and evolve ideas faster with less risk. This aims to shorten time-to-market while maximizing customer fit.

Square

Founded in 2009, Square enables businesses to accept card payments anywhere using mobile devices. The company aimed to make payments simple, transparent and accessible through modern tools. Their offerings range from point-of-sale to payroll.

Square serves millions of sellers globally, from small vendors to large retailers. Businesses benefit from affordable pricing, omnichannel commerce solutions and data insights that help manage and run their operations. This aims to empower entrepreneurship, growth and financial inclusion.

 A/B Partners

Founded in 2019, A/B Partners aimed to reshape influence through design rooted in community identities and needs. Their creative process amplifies diverse voices.

A/B Partners collaborates with change-driven organizations globally. Clients rely on the team’s inclusive strategies and creative to progress organizational and societal evolution. This aims to build equity and empowerment.

Blenderbox

Founded in 2009, Blenderbox drives social good through digital products designed around real community insights and needs. Their process prioritizes inclusion and access.

Blenderbox collaborates with public sector and nonprofit partners globally. Clients rely on their expertise to conceive and execute services focused on creating broad societal value. This aims to promote justice and empowerment.

Candy Digital

Founded in 2021, Candy Digital advances premium branded NFT experiences through a blend of culture, community and commerce. Their platform facilitates content creation, curation and collecting.

Candy Digital collaborates with athletes, artists and other talent to produce content-driven NFTs for fans. Rights holders rely on Candy’s end-to-end capabilities realizing the potential of branded collectibles. This aims to deepen connections through digital value.

STUDIOS

Founded in 1985, STUDIOS seeks to humanize commercial design through creativity and purpose. The firm aimed to make spaces uplifting and intuitive through collaborative, research-led architecture rooted in client objectives. Their expertise spans workplace, hospitality and cultural environments.

STUDIOS partners with leading brands and developers worldwide to envision flagship spaces. Clients rely on the firm’s strategic design acumen realizing environments optimized for productivity, culture and customer experience. This aims to differentiate through design.

AFRY

Founded in 2019. AFRY combines over a century of shared industry expertise. The company aimed to shape a sustainable future through integrated solutions grounded in systems thinking. Their capabilities span consulting, digitalization and technical solutions.

AFRY partners with private and public organizations undertaking transformation. Clients rely on their tailored expertise plotting pathways aligning growth and ethics across the value chain. This aims to embed sustainability through innovation.

Eventscape

Founded in 2001, Eventscape is seeking to advance architectural fabrication through purpose and technology. The company aimed to push construction capabilities realizing novel designs requiring extreme precision and versatility. Their expertise encompasses engineering, project management and production.

Eventscape partners with architects, builders and brands on creatively ambitious initiatives. Clients rely on their specialized fabrication acumen to engineer intricacies and innovations that extend architectural possibilities. This aims to build the extraordinary.

Aumcore

Founded in 2015, Aumcore enables brands to maximize their digital potential through connected capabilities. The agency aimed to deliver agile solutions tuned to each client’s unique objectives powered by data intelligence. Their expertise includes UX design, development, marketing and optimization.

Aumcore partners with brands and organizations undertaking digital initiatives to engage audiences and propel strategies. Clients rely on their integrated implementation actualizing data-led plans through comprehensive digital activation. This aims to accelerate performance and ROI.

Snowday

Founded in 2003, Snowday unites strategy, creativity and impeccable production. The studio aimed to make great creativity accessible through a hands-on process valuing ideas, craft and collaboration equally. Their capabilities span conception, directing, design, animation and building.

Snowday partners with brands undertaking marketing, digital and experiential initiatives. Clients rely on their strategic outlook and meticulous production executing ambitious projects creatively. This aims to engage audiences through memorable content and experiences.

Nickelfox

Founded in 2008, Nickelfox drives innovation through a comprehensive design approach encompassing research, ideation and execution. The company aimed to make great user experiences accessible through their customized process valuing design thinking and craft equally.

Nickelfox partners with organizations undertaking digital product and brand initiatives. Clients rely on their strategic outlook and solid execution skills to solve business challenges through human-centered solutions optimized for usability and impact. This aims to drive customer-focused growth and differentiation.

GBcoloring

Founded in 2021, GBcoloring makes diverse coloring pages easily available to parents and teachers. The platform aimed to provide a rich digital coloring book spanning interests that users can print at home instantly. Their images cover educational themes supporting learning through play.

GBcoloring serves parents and teachers of kids ages 1-8 looking for coloring resources. Users appreciate the vast selection of pictures spanning interests that are high-quality and easy to print and color. This fosters skill development creatively.

MeanPug Digital

Founded in 2009, MeanPug Digital enables law practices to maximize their potential through strategy-led marketing rooted in proven legal expertise. The agency aimed to deliver comprehensive solutions tuned to each firm’s unique objectives and challenges powered by industry insights.

MeanPug Digital partners with law firms undertaking initiatives to engage clients and propel firm strategies. Clients rely on their tailored programs actualized through brand building, technology implementation, content production and performance activation. This aims to accelerate results and ROI.

Innovo Pro Design

Founded in 2020, Innovo Pro Design provides local businesses accessible design services that drive real results. The company aimed to deliver tailored solutions fine-tuned to each client’s unique objectives and challenges. Their expertise spans web design, development and digital marketing.

Innovo Pro Design partners with local startups and small companies undertaking digital initiatives to attract and convert more customers. Clients rely on their implementation skills actualizing affordable, effective solutions tailored for converting Westchester audiences while expressing brands authentically. This aims to accelerate ROI across digital touchpoints.

Trinetix

Founded in 2008, Trinetix drives business success through human-centered digital product design and development. The company aimed to make great digital products accessible through an adaptive process valuing imagination, craft and focusing on outcomes.

Trinetix partners with organizations undertaking digital product and innovation initiatives. Clients rely on their strategic outlook and solid execution skills to solve challenges through customer-focused solutions optimized for adoption and impact. This aims to accelerate performance and growth.

Conclusion

As design continues permeating into every corner of business and consumer experience, expect the fresh vigor and user-centered ethos of design startups to keep leading the way. The future of design has never looked brighter thanks to their vision and execution.