MU/DAI acquires Deft Strategy, will open office in Austin

Digital design firm MU/DAI announced today they have acquired Austin-based Deft Strategy and will be opening an office in downtown Austin. The Chicago-based company sees a unique opportunity in the Austin startup community to create a southwest hub to continue to grow their young company. 

 

Former Sapient director and frog design alum Dwayne Stoltz will lead the Austin team locally as general manager and hopes to grow the team to 10 people by the end of 2015. They're currently choosing a space in the downtown neighborhood. 

 

"Our focus right now is not to get too big too fast, instead our focus is to provide high value services for our clients and really partner with them versus just becoming a pair of hands," said PJ Bickett, MU/DAI’s president.

 

The high density of technology, design and startup companies were a big draw to the Austin area as well as the large talent pool coming from Texas universities. Stoltz said they're looking forward to growing their community in Austin and beyond.

 

"We're really trying to help clients connect with their customers using digital technologies, but doing it to enhance the human experience rather than replacing it."

 

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Recently MU/DAI partnered with XCOR Aerospace and Paramount Pictures for the release of box office hit Intersteller. They created a branded, interactive digital campaign that will send one lucky person into outer space (talk about pushing boundaries).

 

MU/DAI received initial funding from Treehouse Adventures, a venture capital group established by Bob Clark. They're looking to hire at all levels over the next year, and strive to hire "leaders" instead of "managers."

 

“Design as a differentiator is on the mind of every CEO, CMO, CTO and CINO, and MU/DAI is well positioned to grow and deliver winning solutions in this region," Stoltz said in a statement. "I’m extremely excited to join this talented team and to focus on humanizing digital and practical design thinking.”