Introduction
Pick up a bottle of maple syrup, a tin of tea or a blanket in a beautiful box, and sometimes you can just tell: someone cared about this. The label wasn't made from a template. It was drawn.
That's the feeling Studio MPLS goes for. It's a branding and packaging studio in Minneapolis, founded by designer Dan Olson in 2009, and its big idea is simple: design and fine art should go together.
If you're a food, drink, outdoor or lifestyle brand, you've probably seen its work on the shelf, from Crown Maple to Rishi Tea. It has even created identities for two countries' tourism brands.
In this review, I'll walk you through who Studio MPLS is, how it works, what it has made, what it likely costs, and whether it's right for your brand.
The Short Answer: Is Studio MPLS Worth It?
Studio MPLS is worth it for food, drink, outdoor and lifestyle brands that want crafted, art-led branding and packaging from a senior team, but it's a small studio focused on identity and packaging, not websites or campaigns.
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
What is it? | A branding and packaging design studio |
Founded | 2009 |
Founder | Dan Olson (creative director) |
Location | 4009 East Lake Street, Minneapolis |
Known for | Art-led packaging and identity |
Clients | Crown Maple, Rishi Tea, Target, General Mills, Amazon.com |
Pricing | Not published; quoted per project |
How I Wrote This Review
I put this review together in early November 2026. I looked at a profile of the studio in The Dieline, an interview with Dan Olson in designboom, and a 2026 guide to Minneapolis design studios.
I haven't worked with Studio MPLS myself. I'm a designer who works on branding, so I'm reviewing it from a working designer's point of view.
Who Is Studio MPLS?
Studio MPLS is a branding and packaging studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded in 2009 by Dan Olson, who had already spent more than 25 years in the industry, including time at the well-known Minneapolis firm Duffy.
Olson started the studio in his dining room with designer Ross Bruggink, after people kept approaching him directly with projects. It later moved into a studio space in south Minneapolis.
"Art should lead the way"
Studio MPLS believes design and fine art belong together. Olson has said, "I've always thought that art should lead the way." The studio solves problems like designers, but through an artist's eyes.
In practice, that means a lot of drawing. Olson values drawing as a way to bring ideas to life, and much of the studio's work has a hand-made, illustrated quality.
Avoiding "average, expected results"
Olson warns against starting a project by looking at what others in the category are doing. He says that leads to "average, expected results." Instead, each project's problem gets its own solution. He also sees strong identities as long-term investments, not quick fixes.
What Services Does Studio MPLS Offer?
Service | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
Brand identity | Logo, type and visual system | An identity for a maple syrup brand |
Packaging design | Bottles, boxes, tins and labels | A tea tin range for a premium tea company |
Illustration | Hand-drawn art for brands | Illustrated labels for a cocktail brand |
Brand strategy and naming | Positioning and names | Naming a new outdoor gear line |
Print collateral | Printed brand materials | Shopping bags and signage |
Destination branding | Identities for places | A tourism identity for a country |
Industries
Studio MPLS works mostly with food and beverage, coffee and tea, outdoor and lifestyle products, consumer packaged goods and hospitality.
Studio MPLS's Clients and Notable Projects
Studio MPLS's work includes:
Crown Maple: identity and packaging, a three-year project.
Belize: a tourism identity with a logotype, regional color palettes and regional identities.
The Bahamas: a tourism identity with a logotype, island marks and shopping bags.
Basin: identity, store signage and packaging.
Faribault Woolen Mill: blankets for the historic Minnesota mill.
Rishi Tea & Botanicals, Happy Ending Cocktails and Yoke Outdoors: packaging projects.
Sola Coffee Co and Little Sesame.
It has also worked with large companies like Amazon.com, JCPenney, Target and General Mills.
What this work shows
The studio is equally comfortable with small craft brands and big retailers, and even national tourism brands. The common thread is a hand-made, art-led feel.
What Do Clients Say About Studio MPLS?
Studio MPLS doesn't have a Clutch profile or a large set of public reviews. Its reputation comes from its portfolio and design press like The Dieline and designboom.
What strengths come through
Craft. Art-led, often hand-drawn work.
Packaging expertise. Years of shelf design.
Senior leadership. A founder with decades of experience.
Long-term thinking. Identities built to last.
What's missing
Public detail on budgets and timelines is thin. Ask for references, especially from brands in your category.
Is Studio MPLS Legit?
Yes. Studio MPLS has been working since 2009, has a physical studio in Minneapolis, and has worked with brands like Crown Maple, Target and General Mills, plus two national tourism boards.
How Much Does Studio MPLS Cost?
Studio MPLS doesn't publish a rate card. It quotes each project based on scope. Here's my honest estimate, based on how senior US packaging studios usually price. These are my own ranges:
Project type | What it usually involves | Rough budget (my estimate) |
|---|---|---|
Packaging for one product | Design, illustration, print files | Mid five figures |
Brand identity + packaging | Identity plus a product range | Mid to high five figures |
Destination or large brand program | Identity, sub-brands, rollout | Six figures |
Why illustration-led work costs more
Hand-drawn art takes time. A label that's drawn, refined and prepared for print across several products can take far more hours than a type-only design. But it's also much harder for competitors to copy.
A worked example
Say you run a small-batch hot sauce company with four flavors. You're about to get into regional grocery stores, and your homemade labels won't stand out.
Studio MPLS might:
Discovery (2 to 3 weeks): your story, your ingredients, what makes you different.
Identity (4 to 6 weeks): a logo and visual direction, likely with custom illustration.
Packaging (4 to 6 weeks): labels for all four flavors, plus a case pack.
Production support: print files and checks.
That's about 3 months, likely in the mid to high five figures. The result is a range that looks crafted and premium on the shelf.
Studio MPLS vs Other Packaging Studios
Studio MPLS is often compared with Gander, Robot Food, Pearlfisher, JKR and Turner Duckworth.
Gander does bold, playful CPG branding in Brooklyn.
Robot Food and Pearlfisher are UK packaging specialists.
JKR and Turner Duckworth work with huge global brands.
Studio MPLS stands out for its art-led, illustrated style and its Midwest roots.
My Honest Design Opinion
As a designer, I love studios that still draw. So much branding today is made from the same few fonts and gradients. Hand-drawn work stands out because it can't be copied easily.
My honest caution: make sure the style fits your brand. Studio MPLS's art-led approach is perfect for craft and lifestyle brands. If you're a tech company or a clinical health brand, it may not be the right match.
Also, the studio focuses on identity and packaging. You'll probably need another partner for your website and ongoing digital content.
Pros of Studio MPLS
Art-led, crafted work.
Deep packaging expertise.
Senior founder with decades of experience.
Range from craft brands to national tourism boards.
Long-term thinking about identity.
Cons of Studio MPLS
No public pricing.
No public reviews.
Small studio capacity.
Not a website or digital agency.
Style may not suit tech or corporate brands.
Who Should Hire Studio MPLS?
Studio MPLS is a good fit for:
food, drink, coffee and tea brands,
outdoor and lifestyle products,
craft brands entering retail,
tourism and destination brands.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
Look elsewhere if you:
are a tech or SaaS company,
need a website or app,
need ongoing digital content,
have a very small budget,
want a fast, simple logo.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
"Will Dan Olson be involved in our project?"
"How much custom illustration is included?"
"What's the budget range for our product range?"
"Do you handle printer communication?"
"Who would design our website?"
"Can we speak to a brand in our category?"
Best Studio MPLS Alternatives
These aren't ranked. Most are branding and packaging studios, and I've also included myself.
Studio | Good at | Pick it if... |
|---|---|---|
Subarno Paul (that's me) | Websites, branding for smaller businesses and social content | You need a website and ongoing content to match your packaging |
Playful CPG branding and packaging | You want bold, retro-inspired packaging | |
Brand-led packaging | You want a UK packaging specialist | |
Premium packaging | You're going premium | |
Big consumer brand identities | You're a large consumer brand | |
Iconic identity and packaging | You need global-scale brand work |
A Quick Note About Me
I'm Subarno, and I run a small design and no-code studio. Hand-drawn packaging and destination branding are Studio MPLS's specialty, and they're not mine. My retainer doesn't cover packaging production.
But once a brand has beautiful packaging, it needs a website and social content that live up to it. That's where I help. My $1,000/month retainer covers:
website design in Figma,
website builds in Framer or Webflow,
branding for smaller businesses, like logos, colors and brand guides,
small website animations and interactions,
banners, posters and social media content.
I often work inside brand systems other studios have created, as a lot of my work is white-label for agencies. If that sounds useful, book a free 30-minute call or reach me through my contact page. For crafted, art-led packaging, Studio MPLS is a wonderful choice.
Final Verdict: Is Studio MPLS Worth It?
Studio MPLS is a Minneapolis studio with a clear belief: art should lead the way. Its work for Crown Maple, Rishi Tea, Belize and the Bahamas shows how hand-made, considered design can make a brand unforgettable.
It's worth it for food, drink, outdoor and lifestyle brands that want crafted packaging and identity. For tech brands, websites or ongoing digital work, you'll want a different partner.
FAQ
What is Studio MPLS?
Studio MPLS is a branding and packaging design studio in Minneapolis, founded in 2009 by Dan Olson.
Who founded Studio MPLS?
Dan Olson, who is also its creative director. He had more than 25 years of experience before starting the studio.
Where is Studio MPLS located?
At 4009 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Who are Studio MPLS's clients?
Crown Maple, Rishi Tea & Botanicals, Happy Ending Cocktails, Yoke Outdoors, Target, General Mills and Amazon.com, among others.
Did Studio MPLS design tourism brands?
Yes. It created identities for Belize and the Bahamas.
How much does Studio MPLS cost?
It doesn't publish prices. Expect mid to high five figures for brand and packaging projects.
Does Studio MPLS design websites?
Its focus is identity and packaging. Websites are usually handled by other partners.
What makes Studio MPLS different?
Its art-led, often hand-drawn approach, and its belief that design and fine art belong together.
What are good Studio MPLS alternatives?
Gander, Robot Food, Pearlfisher, JKR and Turner Duckworth. For a website and ongoing content, my $1,000/month retainer is another option.
Sources
Details can change over time. Always confirm directly with the studio before you hire.
