The Fig Story

Planted with mission, grown in creativity

Born in the attic of a farmhouse in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Fig was created in 2005 by founder Deborah Brandt as a way to help revitalize her hometown after seeing Lancaster with fresh eyes. She wanted to shine a light on the city and encourage people to see it through a new lens. So she started small and with each edition that hit mailboxes, Fig became a consistent and powerful voice for change. 

With a mission of Design for Good, Fig Industries has been creating branding and marketing work that kept Fig magazine sustained and growing. As the next 10+ years unfolded and Fig flourished, we added several new locations in Pennsylvania, as well as Columbia and Aiken, South Carolina (produced by an affiliate studio). Over the years, the Fig team of creatives has grown—bringing new ideas and energy—but always keeping the same dedication and focus on our mission of serving the community.

Fig Industries proudly became a Certified B Corporation in 2019. The certification measures our commitment to our team, our clients, the environment, and the local community, ensuring that everything we do—from who we chose to print with to what type of paper we use—matters.

Our team knows that creative communication can inform, inspire, and broaden perspectives—making the world a brighter, more connected place. Our designers, writers, and photographers are exceptional storytellers, and like a good neighbor, our digital experts are devoted to keeping our audience informed on all the great things they need to feel a part of the community.

We know our mission to connect people to the small businesses and nonprofits they want to support is more important than ever. So our next big idea? To create the opportunity for other design studios or passionate teams to lead their communities using the Fig communications package. Launching in 2022, the Fig Franchise provides the power of Fig to talented creative teams across the nation who love their hometowns as much as we love Lancaster.

Looking back over the past two decades, we could not be happier that an idea born in the attic of an old farmhouse is on its way to becoming something more impactful than we had ever imagined.

Timeline

2000: Deb Brandt moves to Lancaster, Pennsylvania from NYC and starts a design studio
2005: Deb and her friend Tracy Cutler start Fig
2010: Deb buys business and expands Fig to new locations
2011: Fig Industries moves to studio space on King Street
2016: Fig Industries purchases building on Duke Street
2019: Fig Industries becomes a Certified B Corporation
2022: Fig Franchise is launched