We started Placeholder because the best AI companies kept asking the same three people for the same three things — sharper products, clearer brands, and systems that stop the two from drifting apart.
So we joined up. Each of us has led this work inside large technology companies and through independent studios. As a collective, you get that judgement without the agency around it: no account layer, no hand-offs, no juniors learning on your budget.
Three partners, one practice.
Austin
Senior product judgement from leading design inside large technology companies — strategy, research, facilitation and review.
Rob
A decade of brand, digital and motion for global companies through his own studio — positioning, identity and creative direction.
Tim
Product definition, interaction design and prototyping — and the accountable lead who runs each engagement day to day.
Senior only
Every engagement is staffed with the partners themselves. Specialists — design engineering, motion, research, development — join from a trusted network when the work calls for it.
One accountable lead
You get one person who owns the engagement end to end. No account managers, no relay race between departments.
Built for AI companies
We work where product, brand and systems meet — because AI products drift fastest when those three are owned by different vendors.