jessica walsh launches eponymous new creative agency: &walsh

in what is the biggest news the graphic design industry has seen in years, famed designer jessica walsh has founded a new creative agency: &walsh. the eponymous new studio is setting its sights on working with brands to unlock their untapped potential and ‘find their weird’. ‘getting to know yourself, your real strengths, your weak points, your blind spots — the honest truth — might require some guidance,’ walsh says. ‘most brands need help discovering their ‘personality or ‘voice,’ but we go deeper. we unearth what’s truly unique. we find their weird. whether that uniqueness is quirky or seemingly unremarkable, we believe that exceptional quality is a brand’s most valuable asset.’

having been a partner at sagmeister & walsh for seven years, and working alongside stefan for ten, the birth of &walsh marks the end of an era for the designer, but also the dawn of a whole new field of opportunity. she and stefan remain close, and will continue to work on art and exhibit projects together under the sagmeister & walsh banner.

walsh’s business savvy and bold sensibilities will lead &walsh into a realm of creative opportunities, yielding work that will ‘combine emotion, personality, and beauty to shape ownable, lasting brands that people care about’. the agency will be based in the same new york office (for now) as sagmeister & walsh, comprise the same employees, many of the same clients, and the same penchant for the provocative. as its own distinct entity, walsh’s solo venture will expand its strategic capabilities and avenues for growth, deepening previous practice fields and incorporating in several of the designer’s own initiatives.

a sleek, sinuous, custom-designed ampersand lies at the heart of the agency’s all-new brand identity — a typographic symbol that highlights the collaborative nature of the studio and its clients. for its launch, &walsh has created a host of creative assets that see the ampersand reimagined as oozing liquid chrome, breathing like an inflated balloon, and crawling across walsh’s own face. ‘we will have a custom ampersand drawn for every new client or creative partner,’ walsh explains. ‘we find the ampersand to be one of the most beautiful typographic characters, and we challenge our team to continuously reinvent its form with every new partnership.’

with the founding of &walsh, the designer hopes to open the door for a class of agencies that is still too small — those founded, owned and run solely by women. in response to unsupportive peers and unresolved gender inequities, walsh founded ladies, wine and design to empower women and non-binary people through mentorship circles, portfolio reviews, talks, and creative meetups.

&walsh has already announced projects for a host of new clients — including a vibrant social campaign for a fragrance produced by luxury fashion house, kenzo, and the ‘we get you, designers’ social campaign for website builder, wix.

the agency also aims to delight its client partners through an unorthodox website full of ‘easter eggs’ that site visitors can unearth and enjoy, creating an extra-engaging and entertaining experience that will continue to evolve over time. check out the all-new &walsh website, here.