From the release:

Branding agency DesignStudio, motion design studio Analog, and immersive experience pioneers Pixel Artworks have formed a new creative group, Further. Further will push the boundaries of creative innovation across brand, content, and experiences.

Further will be able to support clients from brand and design work into best-in-class VFX, animation and content, with the added capability to deliver captivating immersive experiences. With expertise transcending the traditional industry borders, Further will partner the world’s best creative minds with the world’s most exciting brands.

Further is backed by sector experts, Waterland Private Equity, which will support the group’s ambitious growth plans. As a market-leading private equity firm, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, Waterland has strong experience in helping entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level, having already invested in leading agency network groups such as Dept, Sideshow, iO and AFO.

As brands look to explore new, unique and memorable ways to engage customers, Further will lead the way in creating cut-through brand experiences that push the boundaries of creative innovation with an in-house ability to deliver.

With Waterland’s support, Further aims to add expertise across the creative value chain whilst scaling internationally. The group will be positioned advantageously to provide a more cohesive client experience, overcoming the industry pain points by combining brand, content and experiences, creating a differentiated proposition in the market.

All the Founders are committed to building Further together. Each will remain within the group, with Paul Stafford (Founder, DesignStudio) taking on the role of Group CEO.

Paul Stafford, Further’s CEO said: “Analog, DesignStudio and Pixel Artworks are three award-winning agencies, each with a fierce reputation for excellence. By joining forces, we’re amplifying our collective expertise and assembling world-class talent to push creativity further.

Our goal from day one is to stay ahead of the curve in delivering innovative solutions for clients, fostering a space where creativity has no limits. We are delighted to be partnering with Waterland, which will help Further transform the way visionary creatives and ambitious brands work together, and that’s incredibly exciting.”

Wendy McMillan, Partner at Waterland, commented: “The merger of Analog, DesignStudio, and Pixel Artworks under Further is another positive growth story for this exciting sector. As brands increasingly seek novel and memorable avenues for customer engagement, Further stands ready to help more clients reach their goals with outstanding creative thinking. We are truly impressed with the businesses that the founders have built, and together with our buy-and-build expertise and international footprint, we look forward to driving global expansion and bringing this bolstered proposition to market.”

The individual business will continue to operate under their respective banners from studios in London, New York, Sydney and Dubai.