Why Studio Merge plays the long game (and why you should too). ⏳

In the design world, there’s a toxic obsession with "The Big Reveal." Big agencies love the drama of swooping in, dropping a flashy presentation full of disruptive buzzwords, and pushing a client to change everything overnight. While that works for some, for us at Studio Merge, it often feels like proposing on a first date. 🚩

We believe the most innovative move you can make in 2026 isn't moving fast, it's having the patience to play the long game.

Case Study: The Ambidata Partnership

We recently launched the new site and rebrand for ambidata group. Looking at the final project, it’s a bold, high-end transformation. But the unfiltered truth? This vision has been sitting in our desk drawers for nearly five years.

We’ve been working with Ambidata for half a decade, slowly developing a strong partnership. On Day 1, we saw the potential for the global, strategic identity they have now. But back then, the trust wasn’t there yet. The client was (rightfully) protective of their 20-year legacy.

ambidata website ecosystem

Choosing Strategy Over Ego

Most agencies would have tried to “sell” the change anyway. We chose to wait. We invested time in the "boring" deliverables, handled the small technical wins, and held their hand through the uncertainty.

By playing the long game, we earned the freedom to eventually transform their entire ecosystem, from three product websites to their full communication strategy and visual identity.

Want to know how we transition from "service provider" to "strategic partner"?

🔗 Read the full deep dive on our Substack - Merging Ideas