Work?
It’s just serious play.
Get in touch: hello@thoughtmerchants.com.
Our Bias
Scale with a soul. Scaling a business is hard. We solve for people, processes, and products to foster successful, operational, and profitable businesses for years to come.
Design is not magic. Design is a journey. It’s a continuous process made of many, many decisions and improvements.
Start with your hardest problem. Wherever that may be, and take it from there.
Take care of the person. The work experience is directly related to the consumer’s experience.
Steve Berry: Founder, Maker, Peer
Steve Berry is a designer, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor with over two decades of experience building brands, digital products, and operational frameworks for high-growth companies. As the founder of Thought Merchants, Steve leads a multidisciplinary team focused on helping businesses scale with intention — strengthening their people, refining their processes, and elevating their products.
A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Steve’s early career spanned graphic design, web development, and agile software practices — disciplines he fused into a unique approach to brand and product design. His philosophy blends creative rigor with operational excellence, helping companies not only build memorable experiences but sustainable businesses.
Throughout his career, Steve has advised and collaborated with a wide range of startups and venture-backed companies, offering expertise that bridges UX design, product strategy, brand development, and corporate growth.
Steve has been a trusted advisor through every stage of company evolution — from early-stage ideation to investment raises, hyper scaling, and post-transaction transitions. His impact has consistently shaped businesses that are not just successful in market, but healthy at their core.
Today, from his studio in Venice, California, Steve continues to work at the intersection of design, storytelling, and business strategy — partnering with teams to build the next generation of resilient, soulful companies.
Let’s go surfing.
Austin Barto: Designer, Illustrator, Animator
Austin Barto is a multidisciplinary designer specializing in visual storytelling, brand identity, and motion graphics. With a foundation in fine art and a passion for problem-solving through design, Austin brings a unique blend of craftsmanship and creativity.
After studying Visual Communications at the University of Kansas, Austin began his career freelancing — collaborating with artists, musicians, restaurants, and emerging brands to create powerful visual narratives. His work spans logo development, typography, illustration, and animation, rooted in a deep understanding of how thoughtful design can elevate a story and a business.
Today, as a core member of Thought Merchants, Austin helps brands and products express their identities with clarity, emotion, and precision. Based in Venice, California, he leverages a diverse toolkit to craft experiences that resonate — whether through motion, imagery, or words.
Located in Venice, California
