# OBATA

> OBATA is a privately held St. Louis strategic communications and design firm that helps complex B2B organizations turn sustainability data, investor disclosures, brand strategy and digital products into communication people can navigate and trust. Founded in 1948, the firm now sells integrated consulting, writing, design and development engagements to clients in industrial, energy, financial, technology, healthcare and professional-services markets.

- **Founded:** 1948
- **Headquarters:** St. Louis, United States
- **Founders:** Alice Hausner (Co-founder and illustrator), Kimio Obata (Co-founder and artist)
- **Products:** Sustainability and ESG consulting, Sustainability, ESG, CSR and impact reporting, Annual, proxy and integrated reporting, Brand strategy and identity, Websites and digital experiences
- **Notable:** Founded in St. Louis in 1948 and describes itself as the city's longest-running creative agency., Became the first St. Louis design firm to adopt an Apple Macintosh in 1984., Has produced more than 100 sustainability, ESG, CSR and impact reports.

## Products & services

- **Sustainability and ESG consulting** — Materiality work, stakeholder mapping, peer benchmarking, framework alignment, readiness reviews, roadmaps and ongoing advisory.
- **Sustainability, ESG, CSR and impact reporting** — End-to-end report strategy, SME interviews, writing, editing, design, data visualization, production and awards submissions.
- **Annual, proxy and integrated reporting** — Investor-facing reporting that connects performance, governance, purpose and brand.
- **Brand strategy and identity** — Positioning, naming, messaging, logo and identity systems, brand guidelines and rollout assets.
- **Websites and digital experiences** — Responsive sites, sustainability microsites, interactive PDFs, secure portals, UX/UI, accessibility and analytics.
- **Photography and video** — Corporate, industrial and editorial photography and video integrated into communication programs.
- **Sustainability training** — Customized workshops and instruction for internal teams navigating sustainability communication and disclosure.

## Achievements

- Founded in St. Louis in 1948 and describes itself as the city's longest-running creative agency.
- Became the first St. Louis design firm to adopt an Apple Macintosh in 1984.
- Has produced more than 100 sustainability, ESG, CSR and impact reports.
- The IDEX, Slalom and Microchip 2024 reports received 2025 GDUSA Annual + Corporate Reports awards.
- Its work has also been recognized by IABC, APEX, MarCom, Hermes, Davey, LACP, the St. Louis Ad Club and the St. Louis Art Directors Club.
- Resumed client service within three days after a 2000 fire left its building unusable for nine months.
- Historic work includes the Monsanto M identity, Chex packaging, Anheuser-Busch packaging and the original sculpted Spuds MacKenzie mascot.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published an argument for reframing ESG around efficiency, satisfaction and oversight while retaining the underlying environmental, social and governance responsibilities.
- **2026-06** — Updated its sustainability reporting resource library with guides to frameworks, first reports and disclosure communication.
- **2025-07** — Published the IDEX 2024 sustainability case study and announced its GDUSA recognition.
- **2025** — IDEX, Slalom and Microchip sustainability-report projects appeared in the GDUSA awards gallery.

## Links

- Website: https://obata.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/obata
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obatadesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obatadesign

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/obata
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-20