Mertz Design Studio

Mertz Design Studio is a Cincinnati-based, full-service creative agency with over 20 years of experience designing for consumer products across a wide range of categories. The studio operates as a cross-collaborative team comprising industrial designers, graphic designers, and animators, enabling it to execute creative projects across multiple disciplines from initial strategy through final execution. This multidisciplinary composition positions the agency as a single-source creative partner for CPG brands, consumer product companies, and retailers seeking cohesive, integrated design solutions.

The agency's service portfolio is broad and well-structured, spanning brand identity, package design, product visualization, motion design, product design, web design, ad creative, and environment design. This range allows clients to engage Mertz Design at any stage of a product's lifecycle — from concept development and brand positioning to retail shelf execution and digital content creation. The studio has been trusted by leading global brands, including ZOA Energy, reflecting its ability to deliver at scale and meet the demands of fast-moving consumer markets.

Mertz Design operates under a proprietary creative framework called Think. Make. Move. The 'Think' phase emphasizes strategic exploration, competitive auditing, and conceptual research. The 'Make' phase focuses on hands-on production, iterative prototyping using technologies such as 3D printing and virtual reality-based packaging sculpting, and high-quality craftsmanship. The 'Move' phase addresses market activation, including animated explainer videos, secondary imagery, and Amazon brand store content designed to drive product velocity at retail and online.

Supporting its prototyping and concept development capabilities, the studio operates an in-house facility called the MAKESPACE, which is equipped to produce 3D-printed bottles, printed packaging concepts, and physical prototypes, providing clients with tangible design iterations before committing to production tooling. This capability is particularly valuable for CPG brands navigating new product development or packaging redesigns.

The leadership team includes partners with expertise spanning industrial design, finance, and creative direction, alongside dedicated creative directors for graphics and motion. This structured leadership ensures disciplined project management alongside creative output. Based in Cincinnati — a city home to more than six Fortune 500 headquarters — the studio benefits from proximity to major CPG decision-makers and a robust regional design community.