Brand strategy and creative consultancy connecting why you do what you do with how you show up in the world.
Northbound is a woman-owned brand strategy and expression studio that partners with clients to develop brand integrity, multiplying business value. They specialize in brand strategy and expression, including vision setting, customer insights, and brand design, and work with clients across industries, from start-ups to large brands, to create brands at the heart of business, teams, and customer experiences.
Our take on Northbound
Northbound operates as a brand strategy and creative consultancy with presence in Seattle and San Francisco. The agency positions itself as a connector between organizational purpose and brand expression—helping companies articulate why they exist and translate that into compelling brand presence.
Their approach combines strategic and creative thinking, with a team of brand strategists and creatives working together to ensure that brand systems reflect authentic organizational identity. This integrated model produces brands that are both strategically sound and creatively distinctive.
Northbound describes itself as outcomes-driven, obsessed with creating brands that move people and power business. Their client work includes engagements with major organizations like Microsoft, demonstrating capability with significant enterprise projects.
For organizations seeking to align brand expression with core purpose and values, Northbound offers strategic depth combined with creative capability. Their Pacific Northwest location positions them within a business culture that values authenticity and purpose-driven enterprise.
Verified credentials and recognition earned by Northbound
Verified
This agency has a verified website presence.
LinkedIn Verified
This agency has a verified LinkedIn company page.
Top Rated
This agency has an exceptional AgencyCluster score of 80+.
15+ Years
Established in 2011. Over 15 years of experience.
Small Team
Small (11-50)
Rankings earned on AgencyCluster
Common questions about Northbound.
Northbound has earned rankings on 1 AgencyCluster list: Top 50 Branding & Creative Design. Their highest AgencyCluster Score is 86/100. Rankings are merit-based and determined by evidence across six evaluation pillars — agencies cannot pay for higher positions.
In our evaluation for Branding & Creative Design, Northbound scores 86/100 overall. Their strongest areas are Reputation, Category Fit, Credibility, Proof of Work & Outcomes, Delivery Maturity, Freshness. A high Outcomes score means they have verifiable case studies with measurable results — the most heavily weighted factor in our methodology.
Northbound was founded in 2011, giving them over a decade of experience in branding & creative design. In an industry where many agencies are less than 5 years old, 15+ years of sustained operations signals stability, client retention, and the ability to adapt through multiple technology cycles. Today, the team is small team.
A comprehensive brand identity project (strategy + design) costs $30K–$150K. Logo and visual identity alone ranges from $10K–$50K. Brand guidelines and asset system creation costs $15K–$60K. Enterprise rebrands can exceed $250K. These are industry benchmarks for branding & creative design agencies at the level AgencyCluster curates. Actual pricing for Northbound will depend on project scope, timeline, and complexity — contact the agency directly for a custom quote.
Yes. Northbound has been vetted and verified by AgencyCluster's editorial team through a rigorous, multi-factor review process. Unlike self-serve directories, AgencyCluster does not accept automated submissions — every agency is evaluated manually before being published. Our vetting covers identity verification (website, LinkedIn, domain age), business legitimacy (years of operation, team size, registered presence), evidence of work (case studies, portfolio, client outcomes), reputation checks across third-party platforms, activeness and freshness of their online presence, and screening for red flags including misconduct, fraud, or misleading claims. Agencies that fail any critical check are not listed. For Northbound, verified signals include a functioning website, LinkedIn company profile, 15+ years of operating history (founded 2011), 1 earned ranking on curated top lists.
