Flavor
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- N/A
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 2
About Flavor
Flavor is a design, visual effects, animation and digital finishing studio within Cutters Studios. Working from Chicago and Santa Monica, it serves advertising agencies, broadcast networks, streaming platforms and consumer brands. Its work combines graphic design, animated characters, photorealistic imagery and live-action footage for commercial campaigns and branded visual storytelling.
The studio previously operated as Sol Design FX, a design and visual effects boutique within Cutters Studios. In 2013, it relaunched as Flavor through a rebrand and expansion that included a dedicated West Coast creative facility. That transition brought its established Chicago practice and a growing national presence under the current name.
Design through final delivery
Flavor's creative work spans concept development, art direction, styleframes, typography and motion design. Its animation capabilities include both 2D and 3D production, with modeling, texturing, rigging, lighting and rendering supporting character work, product imagery and mixed-media sequences. Broadcast branding and title design extend that visual approach to network packages and industry events.
For live-action projects, the studio provides visual effects supervision, camera tracking, green-screen integration, compositing and cleanup. Its finishing and color grading capabilities support commercial delivery across broadcast, web and theatrical formats. These disciplines allow design, animation and photographed material to be developed together through the final image.
An integrated production network
Within the Cutters Studios family, Flavor supplies the visual design and effects capabilities alongside Cutters' commercial editorial, Another Country's sound design and audio post-production, and Dictionary Films' live-action production. This structure supports projects that draw on several creative disciplines and shared production resources.
Flavor's markets include automotive, food and beverage, consumer goods, retail, technology and entertainment. Its portfolio encompasses national advertising, animated product presentations, broadcast graphics and show branding. Across those formats, the studio's capabilities connect early visual development with compositing, finishing and color rather than treating each stage as an isolated service.
More about Flavor
Leadership
Kate Smith became Managing Director in July 2026 following the retirement of founding Managing Director Neal Cohen. The reported studio leadership also includes Executive Creative Director Brian McCauley, Creative Director of Finish + Color Brian Higgins, and Executive Producer Dave Peyton.
Production tools and collaboration
The reported production pipeline combines Autodesk Flame and Lustre with Cinema 4D, Autodesk Maya and Arnold. Its 3D workflow encompasses modeling, texturing, character rigging, lighting and rendering. Cross-facility and remote review infrastructure connects artists working across the Cutters Studios network.
Notable credits
11 creditsOffices
Where Flavor is based
- 515 N. State Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60654Chicago, Illinois, United States
Chicago office
HeadquartersGlobal headquarters, administrative hub and primary Flame and color finishing suites, co-located with Cutters Studios.
- 1657 Euclid Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404Santa Monica, California, United States
Flavor/LA
Opened 2013
Direct West Coast branch providing design, direction and post-production client services.
Open roles
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