Frequently Asked Questions

mount inc. is a design practice based in Tokyo.

We read the essence of a company or brand and give it form across whatever fields are needed — brand strategy, crafting words, designing a world view, websites and digital experiences, video and photography, graphics, interaction, and the direction of spaces and signage.

In particular, we're good at organizing how the value of a brand or business should be conveyed, and translating it into clear, heart-moving expression and experience.

We don't have set packages, a price list, or a published rate table.

Because the purpose, scope, approach, and required team differ for every project, we prepare an individual estimate after hearing the details.

The cost varies depending on whether we're involved from brand strategy and requirement definition, whether it's a single deliverable or a project spanning multiple fields, the kinds and volume of output needed, elements such as shooting, video, implementation, and spatial direction, coordination with external partners, and the schedule.

We usually aim to reply to inquiries within a few business days.

An initial consultation is basically free.

That said, for a concrete estimate we may, depending on the content and scale, prepare it after an interview and organizing the requirements. For that reason, some projects may take some time before we can provide an estimate.

We handle everything from conceiving a brand strategy through to implementation across diverse forms of expression.

• Brand strategy: project design, requirement definition, and building brand strategy for corporate, product, internal, recruitment, and other domains
• Production: brand expression such as logos, VI, and statements / websites and digital / graphic design / video and photography / signage and installations
• Total produce: assembling teams of multiple specialists, coordinating partners, and quality supervision
• Advisory: a partnership in which, through regular meetings, we continuously work alongside you on operating and improving the brand

We're good at a wide range of brand-related fields, not just websites, so first, please tell us what you'd like to do.

We work with any industry and any size. We welcome inquiries from sole proprietors and startups, too.

Since we value drawing out the strengths unique to each company or brand, first, please tell us what you'd like to achieve.

That said, we may discuss the approach with you in advance.

Of course. If there's a site or a piece of work you'd like to reference, please do tell us.

We publish, as case studies, work we've done across every scale and industry — KOKUYO, TOYOTA, POLA, Shiseido, UNIQLO, and more — and we have over 180 awards at home and abroad. It's precisely because this is work we've taken pride in that we want to show it openly, holding nothing back.

If there are projects we can't share individually, we'll explain a close example or our thinking separately.

And while we welcome “like that company” as a starting point, in the end we value giving form to the strengths unique to you.

Yes. We can take on photography, illustration, video, and more in an integrated way.

As needed, we team up with trusted partners and give it form with a unified world view.

Yes. There are cases where the direction is already set and you commission only a specific deliverable.

That said, so the result doesn't drift from its purpose, we ask that you share the premises — the intent and the background — in advance.

We're open to discussing it, but we believe good work only becomes possible when we're involved from the stage of premises and structure.

Rather than fitting design to an existing frame, being able to revisit “why this structure?” together gets us closer, in the end, to the intended outcome. First, please let us hear the purpose.

Yes. We accept standalone requests such as a logo, CI/VI, or a brochure.

That said, when consistency across the whole brand matters, we'll make proposals that take the relationship with other deliverables into account.

Yes. We have experience in other languages, not only English.

Rather than simply pouring text in, we establish the optimal design rules for each language and carry it through to implementation, so we can maintain the quality of both appearance and usability.

Since the number of languages and the operational approach affect the design and cost, we ask about the requirements at an early stage.

Not limited to WordPress, we propose the optimal option — Studio, a Headless CMS, and so on — to match your operational setup and update frequency.

We align on which parts you'll be able to update in-house while weighing cost-effectiveness. For maintenance and security as well, we propose a policy with the post-launch phase in mind from the outset.

We can build with SEO in mind from the content-design stage.

For AI search (AIO), which has drawn attention in recent years, we can also propose an approach and a direction for structuring, so please consult us according to your goals.

Of course. The stage of “we sense there's a problem, but we don't know where to start” is exactly where we excel.

We can begin by hearing your current situation and organizing the purpose together. We welcome consultations while things are still unsettled.

Yes, that's fine. Including whether it's an ongoing effort as brand communication or a one-off initiative, we'll organize it together through dialogue.

First, please tell us the challenges and situation you're sensing now.

As a rule, we don't provide proposals or advance design drafts before an order.

This is because we believe a proposal only has value once we've listened closely and deeply understood the premises.

Consultation itself, at the stage of organizing direction, is welcome anytime.

The biggest difference is “taking the time to build it thoroughly.”

It's true that there are ways to make things in a short time and at low cost, but designing heart-moving expression and communication that works for a business requires a fair amount of time and expertise in each of research, concept design, design, and implementation.

Rather than “fast and cheap,” we choose to carefully make something that truly functions toward its purpose.

We start by listening well and getting to know you deeply, define the purpose and goals, and build up precision as we translate them into expression.

First we carefully hear the background and the feelings behind it, and clarify “what we're aiming for.” On that basis we design the concept, translate it into expression such as web and video, and — teaming up with trusted partners as needed — bring it to completion. Even after delivery, we value nurturing it and walking alongside you.

Because we solidify the premises together before proceeding, judgment is less likely to waver along the way, and the precision of the final output rises.

It goes smoothly when someone in a position to make directional decisions serves as the point of contact.

So the project's intent doesn't waver, sharing the final decision-maker and your internal review setup early on lets us proceed while preventing gaps in understanding.

We don't hold pointless meetings; we design an efficient, effective approach each time.

Using shared documents, chat, and the like, we hold dialogue at the necessary moments and flexibly revisit the approach itself as the work progresses.

You don't need to prepare everything. We can help from the creation of materials — text, photos, video — including editing and shooting.

If you have documents or references, please share them, and we'll build up the missing parts together.

We re-align and then proceed anew.

That said, since a major change of direction can incur time for reconsideration and additional cost, we value careful alignment at the early stage.

We'll consider together what's possible within your budget.

We place value on walking alongside you from requirement definition and on building a world view; our price range doesn't assume a request for a small standalone deliverable, but rather a scale that assumes walking alongside you, taking time from strategy and design. For that reason, if your budget and what you want to do don't match, we'll tell you honestly.

On the other hand, there are cases where we can organize priorities and make a proposal even on a limited budget, or advise on project design, so first, please tell us your budget.

It varies greatly by project.

Including everything from strategy planning to production, a short one may be finished in two to three months, but for large-scale branding there are cases that take close to two years from strategy through production, or cases where we spend about a year on the strategy study alone.

After hearing your desired schedule, we propose a realistic plan.

In many cases, a full renewal in two to three months is difficult. There are many steps — from analyzing the current state through design, production, and verification — and in a short period we may not be able to fully guarantee quality.

While respecting your desired timing as much as possible, rather than forcing a finish within a limited period, we value making something that truly functions toward its purpose.

If timing is constrained, we'll also propose a phased launch or organizing priorities, so please consult us first.

Splitting payment into a deposit and a payment on delivery is our basic approach. We accommodate flexibly according to the project's scale.

We'll explain the details at the time of the estimate and the contract.

Rather than mechanically capping the number of rounds, we proceed on the premise of adjustments that finish it into something good, in line with the purpose.

That said, for major changes or a change of direction beyond what was initially assumed, we may ask to discuss it further.

How the copyright of the work is handled, and whether we deliver editable source data (design files and so on), is decided at the time of contract according to the project.

If you need editable data, please let us know at the outset.

Yes, you can consult us. It doesn't end at launch — there are many cases where we continuously work alongside you through updates, operation, and improvement.

We propose the scope and approach of maintenance according to your operational setup and requests.

mount inc. (mount Inc.) is a design practice based in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Across whatever fields are needed — brand strategy, websites and digital experiences, video and photography, graphics, interaction, and the direction of spaces and signage — we create expression and experiences that convey the value of a company or brand.

Centered on designers, engineers, and directors, we assemble the team each project requires and proceed while coordinating with external partners.

For details such as location, founding, and history, please see the Access page.

Yes. We can proceed while making use of online meetings.

That said, for steps where meeting in person is preferable — such as shooting and on-site checks — please let us discuss it separately.

For competitions and competitive bids, we decide whether to take part after reviewing the details.

We value deepening our understanding of a company or brand and making proposals that capture its essence. For that reason, we consider comprehensively the time available before the proposal, the information you can share in advance, the opportunity for dialogue, the project's approach, and so on.

As a result, we often decline projects where we can't secure enough time to understand and consider them, and in practice we don't take part in competitions very often.

Please feel free to consult us first. While hearing the background and purpose of the project, we'll propose the optimal approach.

When your budget and what you want to do are greatly mismatched, or when only a short deadline and low price are demanded without aligning on premises, we can't make use of our strengths, and it can be difficult to take on. This is also a line we draw so as not to waste each other's time.

If you're unsure, please consult us first, and we'll answer honestly — including whether there's a form we can take it on in.