Wolff Olins

Independent-minded brand consultancy known for bolder identity bets than its peers.

4.8 (Editor review)
Founded
1965
Team size
251-500
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Avg. cost
$100,000–$1,500,000+/project

Overview

About Wolff Olins

Founded in 1965 by Michael Wolff and Wally Olins, Wolff Olins now operates within Omnicom but still trades on a reputation for braver creative than most big-firm competitors. Their work covers brand strategy, visual and verbal identity, architecture, and physical environments for clients like Lloyds, Decathlon, Patreon, Ubisoft, and Blank Street. It's a mid-sized shop by headcount but punches at the top of the category.

What they do

Services

  • Brand Strategy
  • Visual Identity
  • Verbal Identity
  • Brand Architecture
  • Physical Environments

Specializations

Industries served

Travel and Hospitality Financial Services Sports Consumer Goods Food and Drink

Ideal client

Who they help

Right for established brands or well-funded growth companies that want identity work with a point of view, not committee-safe design. If leadership is bought into taking a creative risk, Wolff Olins can make that risk feel defensible.

Good fit for

Enterprise Mid-market B2C B2B

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Portfolio balances cultural icons like The Met with growth brands like Blank Street
  • Strong verbal identity practice, not just visual
  • More willing than peers to push a brave creative direction
  • London and New York offices support transatlantic rollouts

Cons

  • Enterprise pricing and project timelines that match it
  • Omnicom ownership can introduce holding-company dynamics
  • Best work tends to require executive buy-in to risk, which isn't always there

Pricing

Pricing modelProject-based
Minimum engagement$100,000
Average cost of services$100,000–$1,500,000+/project
Price bracket$$$$

Notable clients

Lloyds Decathlon Benefit Blank Street Ubisoft Patreon LG Electronics The Met

Common questions

FAQ

  • What services does Wolff Olins offer?

    Wolff Olins offers Brand Strategy, Visual Identity, Verbal Identity, Brand Architecture, Physical Environments.

  • Where is Wolff Olins based?

    Wolff Olins is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with additional offices in New York, San Francisco.

  • How much does Wolff Olins cost?

    Wolff Olins operates on a project-based model, a minimum engagement of $100,000, typical costs of $100,000–$1,500,000+/project.

  • Who is Wolff Olins best for?

    Right for established brands or well-funded growth companies that want identity work with a point of view, not committee-safe design. If leadership is bought into taking a creative risk, Wolff Olins can make that risk feel defensible.

  • What industries does Wolff Olins serve?

    Wolff Olins serves clients in Travel and Hospitality, Financial Services, Sports, Consumer Goods, Food and Drink.

  • How big is Wolff Olins and when was it founded?

    Wolff Olins was founded in 1965 and has a team of 251-500 people.

  • How do I contact Wolff Olins?

    You can visit www.wolffolins.com.

Editor’s take

A premium pick when you want serious identity work with a sharper creative edge than the usual big-firm output. Not the choice for pure execution engagements.