About Teak

We are a close-knit group of creative people based in and around San Francisco.
We partner with companies that share our values, with a goal of creating brands that have a positive impact on the world.

We help brands communicate like humans for humans.
We believe that creating a brand begins by creating a unique voice and story. That story defines not just what you say and how you say it– but also how you look and what you do.

We take on projects we are passionate about, and fill our schedule only with those projects we can handle effectively. You communicate with the people who are actually doing the work.

Mountain biking, hiking, surfing, foiling mixed equally with music, art and culture.
The combination of our incredible outdoor environment and dense urbanism feed us creatively. We live and work here for a reason.

FAQs

What does Teak do, and who do you work with?

Stories are how humans process the world and remember the things important to them. That’s why we focus on writing more interesting stories for brands. We work with companies we believe offer something positive to the world. It’s also important that we work with nice people.

How is Teak different from a traditional agency or in-house team?

The principals do the work. We only take on projects we can fully commit to, and we don’t outsource or overextend. The only scaling we do is for video production and content creation, where we bring in trusted collaborators.

What does a typical engagement look like from kickoff to delivery?

We set up standing weekly calls so you’re always talking to the people doing the work. We work iteratively, through weekly check-ins on progress as well as async collaboration through Google Docs, Figma, and other tools you’re already using.

Can Teak help with a rebrand, or do you only work on new brands?

We’ve done rebrands for legacy consumer brands and helped launch new tech brands. Either way, our focus is on the narrative and telling that story through content. We love partnering with identity design firms or in-house creative teams to make sure the brand story and visual identity work together.

Do you offer ongoing creative support after a project wraps?

Yes. We can offer ongoing creative support at a minimum retainer level, so you have a partner to call on as your brand evolves.

What makes Teak interesting?

We take an unconventional approach. We set boundaries. We believe in balance. A good part of our days are spent active and outdoors engaging with life. This is the fuel to our creativity. In turn, we develop great work efficiently and at a scale that is surprising to most.

Can I hire Teak for a single deliverable like a pitch deck or campaign concept?

Absolutely. We’re happy to take on single-deliverable projects like a pitch deck or campaign concept. Our minimum project fee is $20k.

What industries or verticals does Teak specialize in?

We don’t specialize in any specific industry or vertical. To us, storytelling is universal. Our real focus is on the industries, verticals, and companies that align with our beliefs and values.

How do we get started working with Teak?

Send us an email at hello@teaksf.com and we’ll set up an introductory call to learn about your brand and we can both determine if we’re a good match.

Is Teak hiring?

We aren't currently looking to grow or add to our team. However, we are always looking for great designers, motion designers, and filmmakers to collaborate with on projects. If that's you, definitely reach out to us.

“Teak has been instrumental in helping to redefine JanSport’s brand voice over the past several years. I cannot say more than to say they are truly world-class partners that can effectively work in all mediums, and with whom you can trust your brand, your company, and your reputation.”

Ann E. Daw Fmr. VP of Marketing, JanSport

“Strategic and creative courage are distinct competitive advantages in today’s overcrowded advertising environment, and Teak’s team of disruptive thinkers have been instrumental in shaping our brand and supporting our growth.”

Scott Kinzie Fmr. VP Marketing, Eat Club

“The team at Teak was nothing short of visionary in all respects. From providing a framework to evolve our brand to creating forward-thinking design and messaging to executing on complex strategic marketing programs, Teak surpassed even our own high expectations. The energy, passion, and expertise they bring as a marketing partner, content creator, and thought-leader is first-class. They are true partners and wonderful people.”

Mark Fisher, Fmr. Head of Marketing, Addepar

“We chose Teak after a review of several potential branding partners. They’ve been a collaborative partner who understood our vision and worked with our team to come up with an innovative and modern design that spoke to our target demographic. Teak not only came up with creative solutions, they did so under very tight deadlines.”

Mike Van Bruinisse Co-Founder, Luma

“Teak has been an amazing partner on so many fronts. They have challenged and guided our team to think about our brand, visual identity and place in the digital landscape in a measured and strategic way – and responded with joy, intrigue and calm creativity to the challenges we’ve thrown their way. They’ve really become part of our Curran family.”

Abby McLoughlin, Former Director of Marketing Curran

“When we first approached Teak, CityPASS was new to the world of creating and communicating a singular graphic look and feel, much less a brand voice. The tools and thinking they provided helped us shape every aspect of our brand communications, and yielded results beyond our expectations. We approached Teak with an assignment, but what they gave back to us was our brand.”

Matt Stiker, former Chief Marketing Officer & SVP of Sales, CityPass

“Teak went above and beyond expectations to make sure we were happy. The results – a new brand, stunning design, and crisp articulation of Sparkfund’s value – are proving transformative to our market presence and growth.”

Angela Ferrante, former CMO/Founding Team, Sparkfund

“Teak has been instrumental in helping to refine the San Francisco Travel brand and take it to the next level. They are strategic, thoughtful, and highly creative, and have taken our limited budgets and made them work harder for us. They are an essential partner to our marketing efforts.”

Lynn Bruni, Chief Marketing Officer, San Francisco Travel

we work with brands that inspire us.