Nominee Design ✳︎

Nominee operates as a brand-first creative studio focused on helping organizations define who they are and how they show up in the world. Its work spans brand research and strategy, naming, messaging, visual identity, packaging, illustration, and print and digital design. The agency serves both B2B and B2C clients and is frequently engaged during periods of growth, transformation, or public-facing change. With a mix of project-based and long-term engagements, Nominee maintained a stable revenue base and built deep relationships with its clients, many of whom returned for additional work over time.

Founder Matt Stansberry spent many years building Nominee into a nationally respected creative studio. As the agency matured, Matt began exploring new ventures across the music, startup, and real estate sectors. While Nominee remained well-positioned in the market, he reached a point where he wanted to step away from day-to-day leadership and ensure the studio’s legacy continued under new ownership. His goal was to find a partner who could preserve the culture and creative integrity of the agency while guiding it into its next stage of growth.

For Matt, the right buyer needed to respect Nominee’s strategy-led creative process and value the relationships that had been built with both clients and team members. Cultural alignment was critical, as was a shared belief in the importance of thoughtful branding and collaboration. The ideal partner would support the existing team, protect the agency’s creative identity, and provide the structure and resources needed to scale the business responsibly.

To prepare Nominee for market, Merge highlighted the agency’s strong foundation, national client portfolio, and reputation for high-quality work. The business was positioned as a well-established creative studio with refined processes, loyal clients, and meaningful opportunity for growth under the right leadership.

Merge marketed Nominee as a nationally recognized brand studio with a loyal client base and a refined creative process. Buyers were drawn to the agency’s work with high-profile brands and institutions, as well as its reputation for strategy-led design. Although the business had historically relied on inbound referrals rather than formal sales, this was seen as an opportunity rather than a limitation, signaling strong demand for Nominee’s services and clear potential for future growth.

Nominee was acquired by 617 Collective, a strategic buyer focused on building creative platforms through shared infrastructure and long-term growth strategy. The partnership aligned Nominee’s creative strengths with 617 Collective’s ability to support business development, operations, and scalability. The transaction ensured continuity for Nominee’s clients and team while creating a foundation for the studio’s next chapter.

Following the acquisition, Nominee became part of a larger creative platform that supports collaboration, expansion, and operational stability. The agency is now positioned to grow its national presence, deepen existing client relationships, and explore new service offerings while maintaining the culture and creative standards that defined its success.

Merge guided Nominee through a thoughtful, founder-first acquisition process focused on long-term alignment and continuity. Through careful positioning, targeted buyer outreach, and hands-on transaction support, Merge helped facilitate a partnership that honored Nominee’s legacy while setting the stage for continued growth with 617 Collective.