Stby and Quicksand have recently merged, strengthening our long-term collaboration and enhancing our ability to deliver transformative solutions worldwide. Since 2010, our agencies have successfully collaborated on numerous projects, making the merger a natural next step.
Strengthening global impact
This merger consolidates our partnership for long-term sustainability, enabling a stronger foundation for global projects and strengthening team collaboration. Both companies have a strong track record in design, research, R&D, and continuous learning over two decades. We’ve pioneered the application of design research and innovation across social and commercial sectors while maintaining vibrant independent practices in publishing, community building, and art & cultural initiatives. The merger will amplify these activities while continuing to serve our national markets – India, UK, the Netherlands.
With roots in a fast-growing market like India, Quicksand has bridged gaps between private-sector innovations and the needs of underserved populations traditionally addressed by governments and philanthropies. This approach has found resonance not just in India and South Asia, but other developing markets across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia.
Stby, with origins in the UK and Europe, has supported organizations in the Global North to create products and platforms aligning with the aspirations of local communities. Its pioneering design research and the Reach Network, which it has helped build and anchor, exemplify that innovations must meet people where they are.
As core partners of the Reach Network, Stby and Quicksand remain committed to collaborating with our amazing partners worldwide. Since 2008, this network of specialized peers has delivered exceptional value and continues to grow.
Collaboration across divides
We believe that the next few decades of innovation are going to require collaboration and mediation across what have been deep divides – between the Global North and South, the public, private and social sectors and the haves and have-nots. The Quicksand-Stby partnership exemplifies this new model, proving small can be both beautiful and resilient.
With Quicksand’s offices in Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa, and Stby’s offices in London and Amsterdam, the merged company will sustain these five offices, teams, and brands. Quicksand now owns the entire group, with former Stby owners Geke van Dijk and Bas Raijmakers continuing as General Managers for Stby London and Amsterdam.