Index/The Studio/Est. 2019

We're a small studio that makes careful work for companies who understand that design is an operating decision, not a finishing touch.

Three partners.
Twelve collaborators.

Based in St. Julian, Malta — working globally, since 2019.
01 · Executive Creative Director · Co-founder

Fabrizio

Twelve years at Pentagram and &Walsh before co-founding 3guys. Leads brand direction across wine, hospitality and tech. Lives in Malta, reads too much.

portrait · e.m
02 · Director of Moving Image · Co-founder

Daniele

Director and colorist. Commercial work for Aesop, On, Issey Miyake. Obsessed with grain, bad weather and the second take. Based in LA.

portrait · t.i
03 · Principal, Digital Product · Co-founder

David

Builds the things we ship. Ex-Vercel, ex-Shopify. Writes her own code, writes her own specs, generally writes. Runs the Malta studio.

portrait · s.o
(04) Operating principles

What we believe,
out loud.

0.1

Write the brief like you mean it.

Every engagement starts with a written brief. If it isn't defensible in a sentence, it isn't ready to be designed. Words before pictures, always.

0.2

Make the system, not the artifact.

A logo is the last ten percent. We spend the other ninety on tone, rhythm, typographic grammar and the motion vocabulary — the part that compounds.

0.3

Direct early, decide late.

Creative direction gets locked in week two. Surfaces and specifics stay fluid until week twelve. Bold at the top, agile at the bottom.

0.4

The people are the studio.

Three partners, twelve trusted collaborators, no account layer between you and the people designing. We staff lightly and we show up in person.

0.5

Leave it livable.

Handover is a chapter, not a delivery. We train your in-house team for four weeks and hold the quality bar for ninety days after. Then we leave.

0.6

Say no more than yes.

We take four engagements per year. Work we're genuinely excited about, with founders who want an opinion. Everything else gets a kind referral.

Recognition, quietly accepted.

We're not in the business of collecting awards, but the work occasionally wins them. Selected features & recognition since 2020.

It's Nice That
ADC
Awwwards ×6
FWA
D&AD
Brand New
Eye on Design
Fast Co.
Typewolf
Monocle