500 Designs

500 Designs as a studio

500 Designs lists only two service lines: web design at 50 percent and branding at 20 percent, with a design share of 70 percent. That brand-to-web ratio is higher than most of this batch. Reviews back it up with visual identities, brand strategy, logos, a design system and creative direction for a signage company relaunch. The team is large, 50 to 249 people across Irvine and San Mateo, founded 2017, charging $100 - $149 / hr with a $25,000+ minimum. B2B services and healthcare lead the industry mix. Rating 5.0 across 43 Clutch reviews.

Who it fits

Hire 500 Designs when you are a mid-market B2B, healthcare or consumer company that wants a refreshed identity and a new site delivered together with some creative direction, and you are comfortable with a large agency. If you want a founder-led boutique, the headcount says look elsewhere.

Strengths

• Branding at 20 percent of the mix with brand strategy, logos and design systems cited in reviews.
• Creative direction acknowledged by a reviewer, which is rarer than it should be.
• A 5.0 across 43 Clutch reviews with mid-market at 50 percent of clients.

Watch-outs

• A 50 to 249 person agency, so the taste is institutional rather than personal.
• No UX/UI or product line on the record; this is brand and marketing web only.

Evidence

• Service mix: web design 50 percent, branding 20 percent; design share 70 percent.
• A Clutch reviewer says the team "created a custom website and visual identity, developed a brand strategy, and built a design system".
• Offices in Irvine and San Mateo; founded 2017; rates $100 - $149 / hr; minimum project $25,000+.