What makes a branding agency extraordinary?
Glad you asked.

        In winemaking, only wines from the finest vineyards are given the distinguished classification of ‹cru›. It’s a designation that the winemakers of France revere with grave significance and one that we also hold in the highest esteem. It stands for an unflinching dedication to extraordinary quality. And so do we.

        We are CRU—the agency for  extraordinary branding.

Fixed Team of 16    2 Locations    100+ Projects     Fixed Team of 16    2 Locations    100+ Projects

Fixed Team of 16    2 Locations    100+ Projects     Fixed Team of 16    2 Locations    100+ Projects

People behind CRU Brand Consultancy

In winemaking, ‹CRU› signifies extraordinary quality—a designation that we take to heart, especially when it comes to people.

project teams

      We begin every branding project by selecting the team members that will be the perfect fit, and will work on it from start to finish.

      By getting to know the inner workings of your organization this dedicated project team will be able to create something that’s distinct to your brand and with the greatest business impact.

BRAND Services

      CRU is a collection of experts and craftspeople in four brand disciplines.

     We are here to answer four key questions for your brand: What should it do? What does it say? How does it feel? And where will it come alive?

Brand strategy

CRU K.I.E.Z. Flyer

Every creative decision we make is based on thoughtful strategic insight. We work with you to identify the opportunities where your brand can make the biggest impact

Discovery
User & Stakeholder Interviews
Questionnaire
Brand Foundations
Brand Workshops
Brand Planning
Brand Architecture
Brand Positioning
Go-to-Market-Strategy

Storytelling

CRU Nelly Solutions Website

A good Brand Story isn’t just anecdotal. It provides the source code, or screenplay, for how the brand feels, thinks and behaves. We’re here to help you tell that story.

Visioning
Naming
Manifesto
Brand Story
Value Proposition
Key Messaging
Brand Tonality
Copywriting

Brand design

CRU WIN Creating Images Website

We believe that meticulous brand design is the cornerstone of every extraordinary brand, allowing for compelling visuals and consistent design systems that help you look the part.

Visual Identity
Logotypes and Brand Marks
Typeface Design
Graphic Design Language
Brand Identity Systems
Brand Collaterals
Digital Brandbooks
Art Direction
Brand Refresh
Brand Campaign

Brand Experience

CRU WIN Creating Images Website

Every creative decision we make is based on thoughtful strategic insight. We work with you to identify the opportunities where your brand can make the biggest impact

Web Design
Web Development
Motion Design
Brand in Product
UX & UI
Content Execution
Place Branding & Wayfinding

Our Clients

       Here are the clients who have trusted our branding agency to guide them out of the ordinary sector.

Fintechs

Ultramarin
Ultrascope
Trade Republic
OWWN
Bitwala 2.0
Nuri (Strategy & Product)
FlatexDegiro
Shush
Bitvavo
Nelly

Hi-Techs

AppliedAI Institute
AI Campus
G2K Group
Merantix
Merantix Momentum
Kausa
One Thousand
Certif.ai
Signatrix
Pacta

Mittelstand

KMC Kroatien
Mondo Möbel
SDK Versicherungen
Monin
Landwärme
Symbioworld
Neumann

Public Sector

Science & Startups
GovTech Campus Deutschland
Deutsche Aidshilfe
Heimathafen Berlin
zlb — Zentrale Landesbibilothek Berlin
K.I.E.Z.

consultancies

LEAD Forward
Arieli & Company
pwc
Elaboratum
Management Partner
east Agency
WIN Creating Images

other

La Mæson
Monin
Micky Oye
LingoAce
Eykt
Ithaka
Valuecase
Dealcode
Careville
Die Unendliche

TRUSTED PARTNERS

FAQ

      Want to know more? Branding projects can feel overwhelming but, with the right partner, they’re pretty straightforward. We collected some common questions—and you always ask us more.

How do I choose a good Branding Agency?

Now, we could say: «Why bother? You’re already here with us!» But it’s a totally valid question. A good branding agency needs to fit you and your needs. Do you like their work? How do the people come across? And once you’ve reached out: how are you treated? Are they transparent about pricing structures or how the project team is put together? All these are crucial factors in finding the right partner for your branding. (Still, make sure to put us on your shortlist—we’re seriously that good.)

So, who are you exactly?

We’re CRU GmbH, a tight knit branding agency of Storytellers, Strategists, Designers, and Account Managers based in Berlin & Munich who want to build extraordinary brands.

How long does a branding project normally take?

From our experience we’ve found that the norm is that there is no norm. So, it depends. We can create a full brand (or rebrand) in 100 days: including storytelling, design, and development—even a name if needed. But this process can move slower or faster, depending on how much time and your team can commit to the project. We also can work on smaller projects, focusing on specific needs if you are working on a tight timeframe.

Who will I be working with?

We hand pick the perfect CRU members to work in a fixed projects team for each project from start to finish. You’ll see the same friendly faces in account, strategy, story and design throughout your entire project. We won’t be putting interns and freelancers on the job behind the scenes. You’ll get the right experts for the job. We’ve found that communication becomes quicker and easier if the teams stay small and close with the client.

How involved do I have to be?

We’re not gonna surgarcoat it: every branding project big and small is a commitment. That’s because we believe if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. But we also have refined our branding process to ensure that we’ll never schedule unnecessary meetings or overwhelm you with too many details. We only ever present work that we truly believe is suited for you, and promise it’ll be worth your time.

How much does a (re-)branding cost?

This varies greatly, from consultations with strategic impulses, to full brand identities with a brand manifesto and tonality, visual identity, design libraries, film & motion, to complete rollouts / market (re-)entry strategy. Our projects are therefore between 25 and 250k€.

Can you meet a tight deadline?

Things can be sped up—to a point—but can never be rushed. Fixed project teams mean that we would never just throw freelancers on it until the project is done- the results wouldn’t be worth it. The solution often lies in smart project planning and working in phases: tackling your most urgent branding needs first and teasing the rest out slowly.

What do I need to get started?

Well, it starts with a phone call or email—don’t be shy. Just get in touch and we can discuss what you need. Whether you need to start from square one and build a whole new brand with us, or just need some touch ups in the design or story department, we’re all ears. We have a smooth onboarding process that makes kicking things off easy.

What’s your favorite color?

It’s a toss up between yellow & black.

HOW DO WE MOVE ON?

      There’s more where this came from. We’d love to assemble a costom case portfolio just for you...

MORE CASES

      You want to discover more cases?
There you go!