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818 - a tiny design empire

Name: 818 - a tiny design empire
Address: 440 East Grand Avenue, Suite E, Des Moines, IA, 50309, US
Telephone: +15158055239
Price range: $$

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818 - a tiny design empire

We’re here as an extension of your team to help you achieve goals through design-centric marketing.

08/21/2026

We had the opportunity to help create one of the coolest display walls yet (in our humble opinion), and it is officially on display inside the Iowa Pork Tent. 🐽

The Iowa Pork Producers Association approached us with a completely blank wall and a challenge: transform the space into something that tells the story of who they are, what they do, and why their work matters to Iowans. So naturally, we had some fun with it.

What started as a blank wall became a full interactive experience designed for fairgoers to explore, engage with, and learn from. And when we say interactive, we mean it—you can actually use your hands to move, slide, and reveal different pieces throughout the display.

Projects like this are exactly why we love experiential design. It's not just something you look at; it's something you get to experience. And what a privilege to help showcase it at Iowa's biggest event of the year!

If you're heading to the Iowa State Fair this weekend, be sure to stop by the Iowa Pork Tent, find the wall, and give it a spin (or a slide) for yourself. Happy fair season! 🥓 🎆

08/20/2026

A classic collaboration for a very special milestone! 818 has partnered with Lion Bridge Brewing Company on many projects over the years, and their latest release gave us a chance to bring two great brands together in one very fun package. 🍺🏆

Meet Kohawk Classic: a special Lion Bridge + Coe College beer collaboration created in celebration of Coe’s 175th anniversary.

Our goal for the design was to make sure this beer felt unmistakably Lion Bridge. We built upon the established look of their core lineup, carrying familiar brand elements while thoughtfully weaving in Coe’s identity and anniversary branding. Swipe through to see some of those connections, including a look at Compensation and the result in making a beer feel right at home.

Lion Bridge is celebrating the official release of Kohawk Classic tomorrow, Friday, August 21, from 4:00-6:30 PM at their taproom. Stop by if you are in the area for cake, pizza, prizes, plenty of Kohawk Classic, and a toast to 175 years of Coe College! Keep an eye out for this special release at select Hy-Vee locations throughout Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. 👀

08/19/2026

Have you made your way to the Iowa Pork tent at the Iowa State Fair yet? 👀🐷

If not (or even if you already have), you may want to take a closer look at the west well. There is something pretty cool on display over there…and we may know a thing or two about how it all came to life. 😉

Stay tuned for more details soon.

08/14/2026

A fresh look for a longtime 818 partnership. 🍻 🎉

Millstream Brewing Co. has been a client and creative partner of 818 for many years now, and most recently, we had the opportunity to collaborate on a complete rebrand of their core beer lineup, bringing a refreshed identity to some of their most recognizable favorites.

Millstream’s cans have become known for their personality, especially with the introduction of their signature mascot, Millie Hop. For this rebrand, we built the core can system around Millie, putting her front and center and giving her persona even more room to shine. Each label now features Millie in a bold, consistent illustration style, while unique colors, details, and plenty of character give every brew a look of its own.

The best way to experience the finished product is in person! Find the new cans at Millstream’s taproom or on shelves at surrounding grocery stores.

07/24/2026

A peek into the 818 team's summer survival guide ☀️ 📓 🏖️

06/26/2026

Our current summer status at 818:
📍Capitol City Pride
📍Iowa Craft Brew Festival
📍Des Moines Chamber Night at Principal Park
📍AIA Iowa Board Firm Visits
📍Celebratory Cookies for Bree at the 818 Office
📍Hoover High School Q&A + Office Visit
📍ADAI Awards
📍Patio Season at Ernie's ..with many more to come! 🌞

06/24/2026

Some projects mean a little more. 🩵💗

Our 818 team had the honor of creating the branding and logo family for Truman Tough, an organization founded in memory of Truman Scott Barnes. After being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 2024, Truman faced his journey with remarkable courage and strength before passing away just 10 months later at the age of 12. Today, Truman’s legacy lives on through the Truman Tough Charitable Foundation, which supports organizations helping families navigate the challenges of childhood cancer.

This summer marks the second annual Truman Tough Golf Tournament on July 22, 2026. You are invited to register, attend, or simply make a donation. Every contribution helps support the Foundation’s mission and the families it serves.

As designers, we are often asked to create logos. Every once in a while, we are given the opportunity to help tell a story or share a legacy. It was a privilege to create a visual identity that honors Truman’s life and celebrates his love of sports. ⚾🐼

https://truman-tough-memorial-golf-outing.perfectgolfevent.com/

06/19/2026

Happy birthday to our very own Bree Glenn! ❤️ 🎉

Our brand-new Studio Director, trusted teammate, and dear friend. Bree is someone who makes everyone around her feel seen, celebrated, and supported. She is often the first to cheer on others, and that is exactly why she deserves to be fully celebrated today!

We are incredibly fortunate to have Bree on our team. Her knowledge, creativity, leadership, and wisdom help shape our studio every day, and beyond that, she is simply a wonderful person to know and work alongside.

Happy birthday, Bree! We are grateful for all that you do and all that you are.

06/17/2026

A few weeks ago, 818 had the opportunity to work on a very exciting project for the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Championship , which was hosted in Des Moines this year. We had the honor of designing custom awards and trophies that were presented to the students, teams, and schools throughout the championship. ⚖️🏆

This year’s mock trial case centered around one of Downtown DSM’s most recognizable visual landmarks—the iconic Traveler’s Umbrella and the Crusoe Umbrella of Crowles Commons. More than 600 students from 48 different states, territories, and nations stepped into a legal fiction case involving the death of a student who fell from the Travelers sign during a scavenger hunt.

A special thank you to our client, The Iowa State Bar Association, for trusting us with this project and for the incredible work they did in hosting this competition, as well as providing fantastic photos from the event. We also want to thank Trophies Plus for their collaboration throughout the project, contributing design concepts, and sharing their fabrication expertise.

Congratulations to all of this year’s participants! Thank you for letting us play a small part in such an impactful event.

05/20/2026

One whole year of Lorelai O'Hara at 818 already?! Somehow that feels impossible, because it honestly feels like she has been part of our team forever. 😅🎊

From day one, Lorelai has fit seamlessly into our 818 crew. Over the past year, she has continued to impress alll of us with her design strengths and skills, as well as her willingness to jump headfirst into literally ANY project we have on the table. As one of our Experiential Designers, she brings so much thoughtfulness and knowledge to the team. So many of us look up to her for her talent and perspective in the design world.

She also brings so much fun and personality into the studio every day—and her iconic thrifted outfits are always a huge highlight. Our client love working with her, and so do we.

Lorelai, we are SO happy to have you on the 818 team, and we cannot wait to continue watching you grow. The sky is the limit for you and all the incredible potential you have ahead. Happy anniversary! 👏😎

Address

440 East Grand Avenue, Suite E
Des Moines, IA
50309

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15158055239

Website

http://www.818iowa.com/

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