Creative group ‘Further’ formed as three award winning agencies merge, backed by Waterland Private Equity
A new creative group, Further, is launching today, following the merger of three companies. Branding agency, DesignStudio, motion design studio, Analog, and immersive experience pioneers, PixelArtworks, have united to become Further, an end-to-end creative group, with backing from Waterland Private Equity.
Offering a comprehensive suite of services spanning branding, content and experiences, Further’s current clients include blue-chip, mid-market and government organisations diversified across tech, fashion and travel. The group will be headquartered in London, with additional offices in New York, Sydney and Dubai.
This merger is the latest move in a growing M&A trend within the media and marketing sector, which saw a significant rise in transactions taking place in 2023, up 17% from 2021[1], according to advisory firm, Ciesco; of which private equity was responsible for 38%[2].
With Waterland’s support, Further aims to add expertise across the creative value chain whilst scaling internationally. The group will be positioned advantageously to provide a more cohesive client experience, overcoming the industry pain points by combining brand, content and experiences, creating a differentiated proposition in the market.
All the Founders are committed to building Further together. Each will remain within the group, with Paul Stafford (Founder, DesignStudio) taking on the role of Group CEO.
Paul Stafford, Founder of Design Studio, now appointed CEO of Further, said: “Analog, DesignStudio and Pixel Artworks are three award-winning agencies, each with a fierce reputation for excellence. By joining forces, we’re amplifying our collective expertise and assembling world-class talent to push creativity further.
“Our goal from day one is to stay ahead of the curve in delivering innovative solutions for clients, fostering a space where creativity has no limits. We are delighted to be partnering with Waterland, which will help Further transform the way visionary creatives and ambitious brands work together, and that’s incredibly exciting.”
Wendy McMillan, Partner at Waterland, commented: “The merger of Analog, DesignStudio, and Pixel Artworks under Further is another positive growth story for this exciting sector. As brands increasingly seek novel and memorable avenues for customer engagement, Further stands ready to help more clients reach their goals with outstanding creative thinking. We are truly impressed with the businesses that the founders have built, and together with our buy-and-build expertise and international footprint, we look forward to driving global expansion and bringing this bolstered proposition to market.”
Waterland has deep experience in deploying buy-and-build strategies across the advertising and marketing industries. Its partnerships include Dept (2015-20), iO Agency (2021), Sideshow Group (2021), Farner Consulting (2022) and AFO Group (2023).
Notes to Editor
For more information, please contact Ellie Hallam
ellie@wearehollr.com | +44 7502 409118
About Further
Further is a Creative Group with studios based in London, New York, Sydney and Dubai. Formed of Analog, DesignStudio and Pixel Artworks, we transform the way that visionary creatives and ambitious brands work together to push creativity further.
[1] https://www.ciesco.com/news-insights/ciesco-2023-global-ma-review-2024-outlook
[2] https://www.ciesco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ciesco-2023-Global-MA-Review-2024-Outlook.pdf