A freelance design studio started by two Conestoga Bachelor of Design (BDes) graduates has been acquired by an international agency as it sets out to expand in North America.
2019 Bachelor of Design graduates Andrej Babic (left) and Sarah Tennent (right) have been acquired by international agency Brew Digital. Photo: Brew Digital.
Andrej Babic and Sarah Tennent started Niche Studios in Kitchener after graduating from the BDes program in 2019 as a creative outlet for their already demanding graphic design careers. The studio focused on helping local businesses stand out and grow by providing brand identity, digital and print design, and marketing services. Their client base quickly grew to the Greater Toronto Area.
Brew Digital announced in December that it acquired Niche Studios as part of its continued growth strategy. The agency specializes in web design and development, digital marketing, and creative branding. It had been expanding its teams in the United Kingdom and Malaysia before bringing Niche Studios on board to expand its market in North America. Babic and Tennent will lead the expansion as co-creative directors and rebrand as Brew Digital, Canada.
“We started as a small studio years ago with just two laptops, a strong friendship and a dream. Growing Niche Studios into something bigger was always part of the plan; we just didn’t know exactly what that plan looked like. We feel so lucky that this growth happened so quickly and even luckier that it happened at the hand of Brew Digital,” said Tennent. “Brew Digital is nothing short of talented, innovative, warm, and just plain fun - it really was the right fit for Niche Studios. We’re so passionate about what we do and grateful our careers are creative outlets for us. We couldn’t be more excited to rebrand Niche Studios to Brew Digital, Canada, and proudly serve the greater Toronto community with exceptional design.”
Brew Digital is part of The Adaptavist Group, a global and diverse family of companies working to combine the best of technology, teamwork and processes. Brew Digital, Canada, will operate as part of the group to grow capacity and capabilities while providing greater coverage and cultural diversity.
“The Bachelor of Design program made this happen,” said Babic. “I met lifelong friends and a business partner and learned all the skills I needed to make it as a designer within an agency, in-house, or on my own. Now we’re at Brew Digital, and I can’t imagine how we would have gotten here without this program.”
Conestoga’s BDes program offers a four-year degree in visual design with a complement of courses in entrepreneurship, marketing and management. Students benefit from project-based learning and small class sizes to ensure access to faculty with professional experience in design and business.
The program is unique in Ontario for offering learners a truly interprofessional perspective that blends courses with co-op opportunities as well as enhanced studio space, printing facilities and access to advanced technology in a state-of-the-art on-campus space. Graduates have both the creative and visual acuity, as well as knowledge of business strategy, necessary to create design solutions for current market needs.