Design Bridge and Partners launches as a new WPP global design company, following the merger of Design Bridge and Superunion announced in 2022. The two complementary companies come together with a vision to fundamentally redefine the role of design for a new era, positioning it at the forefront of business growth and social change through consumer, business and experience design. John Morris, formerly CEO of Design Bridge, will serve as Group CEO, and Jim Prior, who was previously CEO of Superunion, as Chairman, whilst Mark Budden will pick up duties as Chairman for Asia-Pacific.
“We fundamentally believe that design is one of the most powerful tools in business, and yet it’s historically been underutilized. As Design Bridge and Partners, we’re on a mission to change that, and simultaneously help shape the future of organizations worldwide by unleashing the full power of design,” said Morris. “For us, it’s not just a matter of what design is, but also what design can do, for brands, businesses, people and the planet —and the role design can play in answering the fundamental questions of the world today.”
Mark Budden, APAC Chairman, said: “We believe that design is the singular thread that can unify any brand, able to create distinct meaning inside every moment, interaction and customer touchpoint. At Design Bridge and Partners, we’re helping brands across sectors harness this incredible power and simultaneously redefining the role of design in our world at the same time.”
Uniquely positioned at the leading edge of design to address client challenges, Design Bridge and Partners will pull together top talent from across its 850-person strong network operating in 12 countries to unlock potential for brands, businesses and people alike.
In Asia, Design Bridge and Partners currently has studios in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and China with clients such as Diageo, HSBC, Tencent, Colgate-Palmolive, The Coca-Cola Company, Trust Bank, Resorts World, Unilever, Mondelēz and Shangri-La in their remit.
Alexandra Cerruti, Managing Director Singapore, Southeast Asia and India, said: “With a team of 100 people united under the same roof in Singapore and growing satellites in the region, we are now this powerhouse of design and can expand our partnerships with top clients in the region but also recruit the best talents.”
With centres of excellence in New York, London, São Paulo, Amsterdam, Singapore, Madrid, Berlin and Shanghai, Design Bridge and Partners is an industry leader across every aspect of brand strategy, identity, experience and brand guardianship. This includes graphic, motion, digital, physical and communication design, underpinned by a creative philosophy of leveraging the power of exceptional design to solve business and societal challenges. The business will have a strong cultural focus on collaboration and nurturing talent, forging deep and long-lasting partnerships with clients, and operating as a seamless global entity bringing the best talent to clients wherever they may be.
“It’s no secret that our world is at a tipping point, globally tied together and yet fragmented in ways which we might not have imagined previously. Design will not only help answer the big questions, how we progress as people, as businesses, but ultimately help to create both harmony and connection as well,” Morris added.
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