History

Founded in 2000, DISTINC_ has grown from a modest design studio to a formidable branding agency sought after by mission-driven organizations.

We have honed a keen expertise in how to raise awareness and funds for causes by investigating the relationships between culture, health, and education.

Photo by Jennifer Rocholl

If you seek brand strategists, writers, art directors, designers, and developers with a broad perspective, look no further.

Our team hails from many corners of the world, and we come together in Northeast LA to design solutions that address issues we collectively care about.

Photo by Matthew Bucknall

Our work has garnered flattering awards, yet it is the lives we have touched that humble us the most.

Clients

Since 2000, we’ve put our heads together with amazing groups of people. We are grateful to have earned their trust and loyalty.

American Cinematheque
Art Council of LACMA
Arts for All
Autry National Center
Aveda
BizFed (LA County Business Federation)
Boston Court Pasadena
The Broad Foundations
The Broad Stage
Bullis School
Calarts
Caltech
California League of Conservation Voters
Casting Society of America
Cate School
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Center for Nonviolent Parenting
Chadwick School
Children’s Community School
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Cleveland Institute of Art
Colburn School
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center
Drucker Institute at Claremont College
Fine Art Dealers Association
Grand Performances
The Getty Center
Habitat for Humanity
Historic Resources Group
Imagine LA
Inner-City Arts
International School of Los Angeles
Johnson & Johnson
KPCC Mohn Center
LA’s BEST After School Program
Live Oak School
Los Angeles Conservancy
LA Stage Alliance
Los Angeles Art Show
Milken Community Schools

Mirman School
Miss Porter’s School
MIT Sloan School of Management
MUSE/IQUE
Museum of Contemporary Art
New Roads School
Oakwood School
Occidental College
Otis College of Art & Design
Outpost for Contemporary Art
PeoplesLab
Playhouse Village
Population Communications International
Park Century School
Providence High School
Rape Treatment Center
SAG Foundation
San Diego French-American School
Science Museum of Minnesota
Scripps College
Skirball Cultural Center
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Fe Waldorf School
Santa Monica College
Silicon Valley International School
Southern California Public Radio
Southwest Museum
St. John’s College
StudioPractice
SWA Group
Turning Point School
Valley Economic Alliance
UCLA Lab School
USC Center on Philanthropy & Public Policy
United States Artists
Valley Performing Arts Center
Waldorf School Santa Fe
Westland School
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve
Yiddishkayt

Services

  • An immersive study investigates quantitative data and qualitative evidence from a variety of stakeholder groups. This audit helps identify how far your organization has come as well as understand what may stand in the way of progress.

  • Ideation workshops offer a variety of hands-on exercises tailored to your organization’s unique situation. The group experience is strategically designed to test readiness for change and to help envision how quickly your organization can pivot.

  • A strategy for change is not always easy to deploy as it often challenges old habits. Brand evolution permeates throughout your entire organization and we work together as a team to cultivate opportunities as well as navigate challenges.

  • A strategic brand positioning clearly declares what sets your organization apart vis-à-vis the audiences you target and the competitors you face. Building consensus helps build enthusiasm and trust in the future.

  • Your brand identity is much more than the sum of a logo, a set of typefaces, and hex codes pleasing to the eye. It can be a living, breathing, flexible system that is both open enough to communicate across your varied audiences and focused enough to cultivate a united brand experience, full of intent.

  • Every organization has a voice. And every brand voice has a purpose: to distill your collective personality and ethos into a coherent expression that is accessible across many audiences.

  • Organizations deserve websites that strive to satisfy visitors’ needs and deliver a delightful experience—nailing both aspects yields superlative UX. Guided by accessibility and current best practices, we develop award-winning websites that balance simplicity and depth.

  • Compelling brands can only go so far without a proper deployment plan to put them to market. We architect strategic communication roadmaps across social, digital, print, experiential that achieve measurable results.

  • Brands are driven by people, and people are driven by principles. We coach individuals within your organization to speak their truths while simultaneously seeing themselves as brand advocates. This training builds up collective values unique to your brand, and empowers everyone to do their part in sustaining them.