(About) The studio
Small on purpose. Serious about craft.
Cornice is an independent studio in Brooklyn, New York. Nine designers, strategists and developers working with founders around the world.
(01) Our story
We started Cornice in 2014 with a simple belief: good design is clear thinking made visible. Twelve years later we still work in small senior teams, so the people you meet on day one are the people doing the work.
12
Years in practice
140+
Projects launched
32
Design awards
9
People, zero layers
(02) A note from the founder
I started Cornice because I kept seeing great companies hidden behind forgettable brands.
Twelve years later, the idea hasn’t changed. We stay small so I can still be in the room for every project, and so can the people you meet on our first call. No hand-offs, no layers, just a team that cares about getting it right.
If you’re building something you believe in, I’d love to hear about it. My inbox is always open.
Megan Brooks
Founder & Creative Director
(03) Milestones
Twelve years, one idea.
From a two-person studio to a team of nine. Here are a few moments that shaped us.
2014
Founded in Brooklyn
Megan Brooks opens Cornice in a shared studio on Kent Ave with one client and a lot of conviction.
2016
First national rebrand
Halden Architects trusts us with a full identity. It becomes our first award-winning project.
2018
A real studio
The team grows to six and moves into our own space with room for workshops.
2020
Remote-friendly, worldwide
We go remote-first and start working with founders across Europe and Asia.
2023
Framer Expert Partner
We become an official Framer Expert and ship our 50th Framer site.
2026
140+ projects, 32 awards
Still nine people. Still senior-led. Still saying no to work that isn’t a fit.
(04) Values
Three rules we don’t break.
01
Clarity over cleverness
If an idea needs explaining, it isn’t finished. We cut until what’s left is obvious.
In practice: we cut a 40-page brand book down to 12 pages your team actually reads.
02
Senior hands only
No hand-offs to juniors. The people in the pitch are the people in the work.
In practice: the person who leads your workshop also signs off your final files.
03
Built to be used
We design systems your team can run without us, then teach them how.
In practice: every site ships with a short training video and editable components.
(05) Recognition
Work that gets noticed.
Awards aren’t the goal, but it’s nice when the work speaks for itself.
(06) Clients
In their words.
Pick a client to hear how working together went, straight from the people who hired us.
(Client stories)
“They turned twenty years of work into a brand that finally feels like us. Calm, precise and unmistakably ours.”
Erica Halden
Founding Partner, Halden Architects
4.9/5
Average client rating
70%
Clients who return
Select a client to read their story
(6)
Halden
Vøx Audio
Morrow & Co
Atlas Ferro
Nordwell
Sable
(07) Partners & tools
Built with the best tools.
We’re an official Framer Expert, and we pick tools that keep your team independent after launch.
Official Expert Partner
Framer
Every website we build ships in Framer, ready for your team to edit.
Design & prototyping
Figma
All design work, shared live with your team from day one.
Motion & image
Adobe Creative Cloud
After Effects and Photoshop for films, animation and retouching.
3D & interaction
Spline
Lightweight 3D scenes that load fast on the web.
Project hub
Notion
One shared space for timelines, feedback and files.
Communication
Slack
A shared channel for quick questions and daily updates.
(08) FAQ
About the studio.
Anything else? Write to hello@cornice.studio.
Are you remote or in the office?
Both. Our studio is in Brooklyn, and we work remote-first. Most clients never need to visit, but we love hosting workshops in person.
How big is the team?
Nine people: designers, strategists and Framer developers. We bring in trusted specialists, like photographers or 3D artists, when a project needs them.
Do you work with early-stage startups?
Yes. About a third of our clients are pre-seed to Series A. Our Design sprint is often the right starting point.
Can we visit the studio?
Of course. Book an intro call and mention you’d like to drop by. The coffee is on us.
Do you take on small projects?
If it’s a good fit, yes. Our smallest engagement is a two-week Design sprint starting at $9k.
Start a project