Aside from Austin being the capital of Texas and home to SXSW, what makes Austin such a creative city? We take a look at some of the top reasons and start digging into the digital agencies and design firms that help keep Austin weird.
Big education and business hub
Greater Austin brings in north of $86 billion GDP. It is a major center for high tech with thousands of graduates each year from the engineering and computer science programs at the University of Texas at Austin.
That means there is a fresh stream of youthful talent and creative exploration pumping life into the city with every graduating class. At the same time, people and businesses seem to really like Austin.
Forbes has ranked Austin number one among all big cities for jobs in 2012 and, in 2013, Austin ranked No. 14 on Forbes’ list of the Best Places for Business and Careers.
Major companies call Austin home, leading to the need for top digital agencies and design firms
Fourteen Fortune 500 companies have headquarters or regional offices in Austin. That list includes Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, ARM Holdings, Cisco, eBay, Google, IBM, Intel, Texas Instruments, 3M, Oracle Corporation, Whole Foods Market, and Dell’s worldwide headquarters (actually located in nearby Round Rock, a suburb of Austin).
Outside of the Fortune 500, there are a ton of other sizable companies based in Austin include Freescale Semiconductor, Temple-Inland, Sweet Leaf Tea Company, Keller Williams Realty, National Western Life, GSD&M, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Golfsmith, Forestar Group, and EZCorp to name a few.
Great weather and clean air
Austin has a humid subtropical climate and a river that runs right through the heart of the city. One must do adventure is to take a paddle down the river, through Austin.
Known as a “clean-air city,” Austin has stringent no-smoking ordinances for all public places and buildings, including restaurants and bars. The city is also pretty bike-friendly and downtown is very walkable.
Culture that fuels creativity from art and amazing music to delicious food and beverages
“Keep Austin Weird” may not be the city’s official slogan, but the people cherish their local businesses, spirit of adventure and celebrating cultural fringes.
SXSW just keeps getting bigger
Every year SXSW brings a huge injection of creativity across music, technology and film. This outsider stimulus organized by the local Austin community, is another boon that helps keep agency thinking ahead of many other cities.
This year is no different. Take a look at our Marketer’s Guide to SXSW so you know which talks are a must.
Meet Austin’s agencies and design firms
If you haven’t met Austin’s marketing agencies yet, check out our Austin hub for in-depth digital agency and design firm coverage or visit some of the articles below.
Top 7 Agency Projects with Austin Brands
In March’s look at the top agency projects, we are shining the…Meet Austin Digital Strategy Agency: Shelton Interactive
Shelton Interactive is the full-service digital agency that helps clients starts conversation…Meet Austin Web Design Agency: HMG Creative
HMG Creative is the award-winning branding, web design and marketing agency situated…Meet Austin Mobile Agency: Rocksauce Studios
Rocksauce Studios is the Austin founded and based mobile development agency that…Meet Austin Digital Strategy Agency: Springbox
Springbox is a team of digital problem solvers who create transformational strategies,…Top 10 Marketers in Austin
Austin is the Southwest Capital for technology, creative, culture, marketing and everything…Meet Austin Multicultural Marketing Agency: Mando Rayo + Collective
Mando Rayo + Collective is a group of the brightest minds in…Meet Austin B2B Digital Marketing Agency: Somnio
Somnio is an Austin B2B digital marketing agency that uses technology to…Meet Austin Advertising Agency: Door Number 3
Since 1994, Door Number 3 has been a staple in Austin’s advertising…Meet Austin Digital Agency: Handsome
Handsome, design and technology studio, is focused on creating successful digital products…Best Austin Food Trucks Voted By Austin Creatives
Are you going to be in Austin anytime soon? Probably for SXSW?…Meet Austin Advertising Agency: Archer Malmo
Archer Malmo is the full-service, independent, creative agency located in Austin and…Meet Austin Design Firm: Creative Suitcase
Looking for the best design firm in Austin doing great work with…Meet Austin Branding Agency: Space Chimp
Space Chimp is the out of this world branding and digital agency…Meet Austin: The Southwest’s Creative and Technology Hub
Aside from Austin being the capital of Texas and home to SXSW,…The Marketers Guide to SXSW 2016
With so many events and talks going on around Austin, do you know…Meet Austin Industrial Design Firm: Pushstart Creative
Pushstart Creative is a Austin-based design firm leveraging great user experience and…Meet Austin Web Design Agency: White Lion
White Lion is a web development and design firm started in 1995…Meet Austin UX Design Firm: Slide UX
Austin’s Slide UX is the user experience design consultancy that makes sure…Meet Austin Advertising Agency: Greatest Common Factory
Greatest Common Factory is a advertising and production company that make things…
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