Digital agency Dept has made its fifth acquisition this year, taking on design studio ShopTalk under co-branded name

Netherlands digital agency Dept is expanding its creative practice in the UK with the acquisition of design studio ShopTalk, whose clients include Arm, Heinz, Innocent and Piëch. The creative practice will be co-branded SHOPTALK/DEPT and will continue to operate under its founders, James Wood and Paul Ferry. 

ShopTalk, founded in 2017, has worked with brands across industries. For Swiss electric car manufacturer Piëch, ShopTalk created a brand and digital-first design system. For Heinz, ShopTalk worked on brand consistency across its website. 

“At ShopTalk, we’re passionate about using brand and creative as powerful commercial tools for companies large and small, lifting them to great things,” says Paul Ferry.

“What really resonated with us at Dept was the boutique level of service that they offer their clients.”

Dept currently employees over 3,000 people in seventeen countries, working with brands including Google, eBay and Asos. This is the agency’s fifth acquisition this year, with previous purchases being creative agency Dogstudio, marketing agency 3Q Digital, creative studio Hello Monday and data science and engineering firm Raybeam.

“It was inspiring to spend time with their teams across Europe to witness how they combine marketing, technology and creativity to deliver next-level brand experiences,” James Wood says. “We’re so excited about this next step for ShopTalk.”