A Vilnius Studio's Ten-Year Playbook for Going Global

How Does a Small Studio Compete Globally?

Augustinas Paukste, co-founder of Andstudio, reflects on ten years of turning a Vilnius design firm into an international player. The conversation covers early lessons from agency work, a deliberate attempt to combine craft with business thinking, and practical experiments such as going undercover as students for a client project and swapping studios with a team in Florence. He also describes how Lithuania's ambitious tech founders shaped his global benchmark.

For brand builders outside the big design capitals, this is a grounded read on how to grow without losing a distinct point of view. It is especially useful for small studio founders weighing international visibility against local reputation, and for anyone who has felt that distance from better-known firms. Read it for the exchange models and the honest take on imposter syndrome, not for a template.