Collins Opens in San Francisco: Plans to Rebrand the Other Coast

The Collins San Francisco office team. Left to right - Joanna Hobson, Matt Luckhurst, Christian Widlic, Christy Silva. Photo - Cody Pickens.

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Collins, the New York-based brand and design consultancy that helps companies transform customer experiences, is bringing its multi-disciplined vision of design to San Francisco. Over the past two decades, West Coast entrepreneurs and long-standing companies have experienced wild growth, entered new markets, and diversified the way they connect with consumers. Increasingly, these companies seek to design better brand experiences to keep pace with this rapid change.

Collins is ideally positioned to answer this challenge. Founders Brian Collins and Leland Maschmeyer point out that design used to fight for a seat at the executive table, but now, in many instances, it’s driving the business.

“Great design used to be 'a competitive advantage,'” said Brian Collins. “Now it's table stakes. As more companies realize exceptional customer experiences drive exceptional businesses, the need is stronger than ever to create meaningful ones your competition cannot replicate."

Collins, who worked in San Francisco during the 1990s, added, "We're honored to become a part of this remarkable creative community."

Collins had already begun developing projects with West Coast clients including Facebook, Airbnb, and Shyp the mobile app that makes shipping easier. Current projects include product development, identity design, brand transformation and advertising. It was deeply involved in the development of Facebook's M.

"Partnering with Collins San Francisco on the identity for M, a digital assistant in Messenger, was awesome,” said Luke Woods, Head of Product Design at Facebook. “The team knows how to move fast and make things. They navigated a tricky set of constraints, collaborated with a broad range of stakeholders and delivered work that speaks for itself. We’re thrilled with the result."

Matt Luckhurst, the creative director who has worked with Collins clients such as Babyganics, Target, and Coca Cola, returns to the firm after an 18-month role at Airbnb. He will lead Collins in San Francisco. At Airbnb, he led work on one of the most covered identity re-launches of the last five years. Luckhurst also developed some of Airbnb’s largest and most visible campaigns, including its first community driven platform, Create Airbnb.

Collins is assembling a team of rising stars in design, technology, and other disciplines at 330 Fell Street in the Western Addition district of Hayes Valley. An ideal location, Hayes Valley is a hub of creative energy and exploration. The team is working on Shyp’s first ever ad campaign which will launch right before Thanksgiving.

"We couldn't have hoped for a better creative partner than Collins," said Lauren Sherman, VP of Marketing, Shyp. "It's difficult to find a firm that understands the unique challenges of building a brand from scratch, while leaving room to evolve and grow. Collins is the perfect strategic partner to guide us through that and help us as we ideate our brand platform and direction. We feel lucky to have found the San Francisco team, led by Matt Luckhurst, a thoughtful group of creatives who understand so deeply what we need."

About Collins

Founded by Brian Collins and Leland Maschmeyer, Collins is the New York and San Francisco-based brand consultancy that believes a remarkable brand experience is the last sustainable competitive advantage a company has. Companies that deliver meaningful experiences will earn what every modern brand chases: enduring relevance in a world of constant change. Collins clients include Spotify, Coca-Cola, Facebook, Airbnb, Target, the Museum of the Moving Image, and Babyganics, among others.

Contacts

Collins
Andrea Janko, 646-760-0768
andrea@wearecollins.com
Or
The Bounce Group
Patrick Keyes, 646-592-0534
patrick@thebouncegroup.com

Release Summary

Branding and design consultancy Collins opens its new office in San Francisco. Goal is to create meaningful customer experiences that cannot be replicated. Facebook and Shyp among first clients.

Contacts

Collins
Andrea Janko, 646-760-0768
andrea@wearecollins.com
Or
The Bounce Group
Patrick Keyes, 646-592-0534
patrick@thebouncegroup.com