Pen & Mug

Pen & Mug is a creative studio headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, founded by Austin Schulenburg. It works with clients on a retainer basis, acting as a fractional creative director and an extended creative department that covers branding, websites, motion design and day-to-day design support.

The studio summarizes its work as direction, design and development. A typical engagement follows four stages that the company describes as strategize, design, implement and optimize: defining the brand, goals and audience, building the visual and conceptual direction, launching and running campaigns, then monitoring performance and adjusting over time. On the web side, Pen & Mug calls itself an award-winning WordPress shop that also builds on Shopify and Squarespace, and it treats the website as the central hub for a client's marketing. Its team of about ten designers, strategists and coordinators is spread across Nashville, Franklin and Columbia in Tennessee, plus Madison, Wisconsin and Dallas, Texas, and it works with freelance partners for SEO, audio and event production.

• Creative direction: retainer-based oversight of brand and campaign work
• Brand strategy and design: branding, logo design, brand voice and messaging
• Website design and development: WordPress, Shopify and Squarespace sites with hosting and support
• Motion design: animated graphics and video-style visuals
• Graphic design and illustration: event themes, social and email support
• Websites Made Easy: a separate website offer for food and beverage businesses

Named client and project work on the site includes the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, Friendly Arctic, True South Puzzle Company, Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee, ZZA Pizzeria in Austin, Hootenanny Games, Appalachian Voices, Major League Pickleball, Live On The Green, Corner to Corner, Dupree Services Group, Locket Events Co., No Elevator To Everest, the Greater Nashville Private Capital Association, Pullman Standard and 560Flex. The studio groups its clients into events and experiences, software and tech, community good and food and beverage.

According to its website, Pen & Mug holds verified five-star reviews on Clutch, a 50Pros five-star service badge and a Top Rated badge, and has been featured in a Lightning 100 local business spotlight. Its stated values are excellent work, premium service and a creative lifestyle, and it describes its team as operating like a band in which everyone owns a role.