Hollis Ceramics
Identity · Web · Campaign
A quieter identity and a new shop for a family pottery in Kingston, New York.
Independent studioMinneapolis, MNEst. 2014
We design brands, websites and motion for companies that make real things.
Trusted byClients since 2014
- Hollis Ceramics
- Northline Arts Festival
- Velo Larder
- Ardell & Strom
- Fieldhouse Press
- Orrin Audio
The studioNine peopleOne room
The studio
Apogee is nine people in a former print shop on Washington Avenue. We take on eight to ten projects a year, so the people who pitch your project are the ones who design it, build it and answer your email at 7 p.m. on launch day.
Meet the studio
Brand · Web · Motion
Selected work
Work2021–2026
- 2026
- 2025
Northline Arts Festival
Motion · Campaign
Wayfinding, posters and title films for ten days and 140 venues across the city.
- 2024
Velo Larder
Identity · Web
Brand and online ordering for a Saint Paul bike shop that also sells groceries.
- 2024
Ardell & Strom
Web · Campaign
A portfolio site for an architecture practice that reads like a printed monograph.
ServicesWhat we do
Services.
Five things, done by the same small team. Most projects use two or three of them.
Brand identity
Positioning, logo and type systems, a voice your team can write in, and guidelines people actually open. We help with naming when it is part of the job.
- Strategy workshops
- Wordmark
- Type and color
- Guidelines
Websites
Marketing sites designed and built in-house in Astro, fast by default, easy for your team to edit, and handed over with source and docs.
- Content and UX
- Design
- Astro build
- CMS setup
Motion and film
Logo animation, product films and launch reels, plus a motion kit so every social post moves the same way.
- Logo motion
- Product film
- Title design
- Motion kit
Campaigns
Launch campaigns, photo direction and print, from a single poster to a city-wide rollout with signage.
- Art direction
- Photography
- Wayfinding
Design systems
ProcessTen to fourteen weeks
Process.
Four steps, one team, a review every Friday. You always know what happens next.
- Weeks 1–2
Listen
Workshops with your team and a few of your customers. We leave with a one-page brief that everyone has signed.
- Weeks 3–4
Frame
Two or three distinct directions, shown in context: your homepage, your packaging, your trade-show booth.
- Weeks 5–10
Make
One direction, refined in weekly reviews. You see real work every Friday, not a status report.
- Week 11 on
Launch and stay
We ship it, train your team, and stay on call for ninety days after launch at no extra cost.
ShowreelBrand · Web · Motion
Reel 2026.
Studio reel, 2026
ClientsAnd recognition
Recognition.
| Client | Since |
|---|---|
| Hollis Ceramics | 2023 |
| Northline Arts Festival | 2022 |
| Velo Larder | 2024 |
| Ardell & Strom | 2021 |
| Fieldhouse Press | 2019 |
| Orrin Audio | 2023 |
| Award | Project | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Larchmark Design Annual, Gold in Identity | Hollis Ceramics | 2026 |
| Riverframe Motion Awards, Title Sequence | Northline Arts Festival | 2025 |
| Fernhill Web Annual, Best Portfolio Site | Ardell & Strom | 2024 |
| Packaging Review Annual, Shortlist | Velo Larder | 2025 |
| Twin Cities Type Club, Merit | Northline poster series | 2023 |
Client wordsNorthline, 2025
They redrew our whole festival in eleven weeks and made 140 venues feel like one place. Our volunteers stopped getting asked for directions.
FAQBefore the first call
Questions.
What does a project cost?
Most identity projects run $35,000 to $70,000, and websites start at $45,000. After the first call we send a fixed quote, and it only changes if the scope does.
How long does a project take?
Ten to fourteen weeks for most identity and website work. Motion pieces and campaigns can be faster.
Do you work with early-stage companies?
Yes, when funding and a launch date are in place. Teams under twenty people can book a six-week founder sprint.
Who will we work with day to day?
A partner and one or two designers: the same people from the first call to launch. There is no account manager in between.
Can you work with our own developers?
Yes. We hand over source files, a component library and a recorded walkthrough, and we pair with your developers if they build it.