Domain Names for Creative & Design Services
Running a design agency, photography business, or creative studio? Your domain name is the first piece of work potential clients see. It needs to be memorable, creative, and tell them exactly what you do. Here’s what actually works when your business is about making things look good.
Why Your Domain Matters for Creatives
Here’s the thing about creative businesses: you’re selling taste, skill, and vision. Before anyone sees your portfolio, they see your domain name.
studio.design suggests you’re a professional design studio. bestdesignserviceslondon.com suggests you panic-registered a domain at 3am and probably use clip art.
We’ve been hosting creative businesses since the early 2000s. The ones that succeed now have domains that are clean, memorable, and reflect the quality of their work. Your domain is part of your brand. Make it count.
The Best Domain Extensions for Design Agencies
.design
Perfect for: Design agencies, graphic designers, product designers
This is the most straightforward creative domain. When someone sees yourname.design, they know exactly what you do. It works for any type of design—graphic, product, interior, web, whatever.
It’s clean, it’s professional, and it immediately positions you as a design specialist rather than a general marketing agency that happens to do some design.
Real example: minimal.design or london.design
.studio
Perfect for: Design studios, creative studios, multi-disciplinary agencies
This works brilliantly for creative businesses that operate as a studio. It suggests a physical space, a team of creatives, and a professional operation rather than a freelancer working from their bedroom.
Even if you are a freelancer working from your bedroom, yourname.studio sounds more professional than yournamefreelance.com.
Real example: creative.studio or digital.studio
.agency
Perfect for: Creative agencies, branding agencies, marketing agencies
If you’re an agency rather than a solo designer, this extension makes that clear. It suggests you have a team, processes, and the capacity to handle bigger projects.
Real example: brand.agency or creative.agency
Domain Extensions for Photographers
.photography
Perfect for: Professional photographers, photography studios
If you’re a photographer, this is the most specific domain you can get. It immediately tells people what you do and positions you as a professional photographer rather than someone who takes photos as a hobby.
Real example: wedding.photography or portrait.photography
.photo
Perfect for: Photographers, photo studios, photo services
Shorter than .photography and works just as well. It’s particularly good if you want a snappy, memorable domain.
Real example: london.photo or commercial.photo
.photos
Perfect for: Photography portfolios, photo galleries, photo libraries
This works well if your business model is about delivering photos—wedding photo packages, event photography, stock photos. It’s slightly more product-focused than .photography.
Real example: wedding.photos or event.photos
Domain Extensions for Artists & Illustrators
.art
Perfect for: Artists, galleries, art studios
If you’re an artist or run a gallery, this extension is perfect. It’s simple, it’s clear, and it immediately tells people you’re in the art world.
Real example: contemporary.art or digital.art
.gallery
Perfect for: Art galleries, photography galleries, online portfolios
This works well for any business that displays work—art galleries, photography galleries, or even your own portfolio site if you want to present it as a gallery of your work.
Real example: portrait.gallery or london.gallery
.graphics
Perfect for: Graphic designers, motion graphics, visual effects
This is more specific than .design and works well if graphics are your specialty—graphic design, motion graphics, 3D graphics, whatever.
Real example: motion.graphics or creative.graphics
Domain Extensions for Video & Media Production
.video
Perfect for: Video production companies, videographers, video editors
If video is what you do, this extension is brilliantly specific. It immediately tells people what you offer and positions you as a video specialist.
Real example: corporate.video or wedding.video
.media
Perfect for: Media production companies, multimedia agencies, content creators
This works well for businesses that work across multiple media—video, audio, graphics, whatever. It suggests you’re a full-service media production company.
Real example: digital.media or creative.media
.productions
Perfect for: Production companies, film production, event production
This is more formal and works well for established production companies. It suggests you produce things at scale rather than being a solo operator.
Real example: film.productions or event.productions
Domain Extensions for Web & Digital Design
.digital
Perfect for: Digital agencies, digital designers, digital marketing
This works well for any creative business focused on digital rather than print. It immediately tells people you work in the digital space.
Real example: creative.digital or brand.digital
.tech
Perfect for: Tech-focused design, UI/UX design, digital products
If you design digital products, apps, or tech interfaces, this extension positions you at the intersection of design and technology.
Real example: interface.tech or product.tech
.works
Perfect for: Creative portfolios, design studios, production companies
This is a clever extension because it works as both a noun (your works/portfolio) and a verb (it works). It’s particularly good for portfolios or multi-disciplinary studios.
Real example: creative.works or design.works
Domain Extensions for Branding & Marketing
.marketing
Perfect for: Marketing agencies, marketing consultants, digital marketing
If you offer marketing services alongside creative work, this extension makes that clear. It positions you as a marketing specialist rather than just a design agency.
Real example: digital.marketing or brand.marketing
.consulting
Perfect for: Brand consultants, design consultants, creative consultants
This works well if you offer strategic consulting rather than just execution. It suggests you’re a senior-level advisor rather than a service provider.
Real example: brand.consulting or creative.consulting
Domain Extensions for Specialized Creative Services
.ink
Perfect for: Tattoo artists, illustrators, print designers
This is niche but perfect if ink is literally what you work with—tattoos, illustration, print design. It’s memorable and immediately tells people your medium.
Real example: custom.ink or london.ink
.show
Perfect for: Portfolio sites, showcase sites, event production
This works well for portfolio sites or businesses that put on shows—fashion shows, art shows, exhibitions. It’s dynamic and suggests you have something to show off.
Real example: portfolio.show or creative.show
.style
Perfect for: Fashion designers, stylists, interior designers
If style is what you sell—fashion, interior design, styling services—this extension works well. It’s aspirational and immediately tells people what you offer.
Real example: interior.style or fashion.style
Should You Still Use .com or .co.uk?
The .com and .co.uk should, where possible, be registered to protect your brand. They’re familiar, and .co.uk is cheap. But the problem is, all the good ones may be taken, and they’re boring.
If your studio is called “Pixel Studio,” pixelstudio.com is probably taken. You’ll end up with pixelstudiolondon.com or pixelstudiodesign.co.uk, which is too long and nobody will remember it.
Meanwhile, pixel.studio is probably available, shorter, and actually tells people what you do. Plus, it’s more interesting. For a creative business, that matters.
Our advice: Use a creative-specific extension as your main domain, but also register the .co.uk version if it’s available. Redirect it to your main site. That way you catch people who type .co.uk out of habit.
Budget Options That Still Work
Not every creative business has money to spend on premium domains. Here are some alternatives:
.space – Works for creative spaces, studios, coworking spaces
.solutions – Generic but works for problem-solving creative services
.services – Clear and professional. Works for any creative service
.london – Perfect if you want to emphasize your London location
.uk – Cheaper than .com and works just as well
Common Mistakes Creative Businesses Make
Mistake 1: Being too clever
You’re creative. I get it. But wemakeprettythings.design is trying too hard. Your domain should be memorable, not a creative writing exercise.
Keep it simple. pretty.design or yourname.studio works better.
Mistake 2: Using numbers or hyphens
I’ve seen domains like studio-23.design or design4you.agency. When you tell someone your domain, do you say “studio hyphen two three” or “design the number four you”?
If you can’t say it clearly, don’t use it.
Mistake 3: Making it too long
Your business might be called “Creative Design and Marketing Solutions Ltd” but your domain shouldn’t be creativedesignandmarketingsolutions.com.
Pick the most important word. creative.agency or solutions.design. That’s it.
Mistake 4: Not matching your portfolio
If your portfolio is on Behance or Dribbble under one name, but your domain is something different, you’re confusing people. Keep it consistent.
If you’re @pixelstudio on Behance, your domain should be pixel.studio or pixelstudio.design, not creativesolutionslondon.com.
Mistake 5: Forgetting about pronunciation
Can you tell someone your domain at a networking event without spelling it? If your studio is called “Æther Design,” is your domain aether.design or ether.design?
Test it. Say it out loud to someone and see if they can type it correctly.
How to Choose Your Creative Domain (Quick Exercise)
Step 1: What do you do? Design? Photography? Video? Write it down.
Step 2: What’s your style or specialty? Minimal design? Wedding photography? Corporate video?
Step 3: Combine them. minimal.design or wedding.photography
Step 4: Check availability. If it’s taken, try your business name. yourname.studio
Step 5: Say it out loud. Can you tell someone at a networking event without spelling it? If yes, you’re done.
Real Examples That Work
We can’t share actual client domains, but here’s what works in practice:
Instead of: creativedesignagencylondon.com
Try: creative.agency or yourname.design
Avoid using: professionalphotographyservices.co.uk
Try: yourname.photography or london.photo
Instead of: videoproductioncompanylondon.com
Try: yourname.video or london.media
Avoid using: graphicdesignstudiolondon.com
Try: yourname.studio or london.graphics
See the pattern? Shorter, cleaner, more memorable.
Why Register With Us?
We’re not going to give you a sales pitch. Here’s what’s different:
We’re cheaper: Significantly less than the big registrars on UK domains.
We actually help: When you need to set up email, connect your domain to your portfolio site, or sort out DNS settings, we’ll walk you through it. No ticket systems, no three-day waits.
We’re local: all of our servers are in the South East, UK support, green energy hosting.
We understand creatives: We host designers, photographers, and agencies. We know you need your portfolio to load fast and look perfect. We’ll make sure it does.
No nonsense: You want a domain? Here’s a domain. We won’t try to upsell you on website builders or “premium” features you don’t need or obsolete versions of server software.
Setting Up Your Creative Domain
Once you’ve registered your domain, here’s what happens next:
Step 1: Point your domain to your portfolio site. Whether you’re using WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, or a custom site, we’ll help you connect it.
Step 2: Set up professional email. hello@yourstudio.design looks infinitely better than yourstudio123@gmail.com when you’re pitching to clients.
Step 3: Update everything. Business cards, email signatures, Instagram bio, Behance profile, LinkedIn, everywhere. Make sure everything matches.
Step 4: Set up redirects from any old domains. We’ll help with this so you don’t lose traffic from people who bookmarked your old portfolio.
Questions Creative Businesses Ask
“Will this work with my portfolio platform?”
Yes. Whether you’re using Squarespace, Webflow, WordPress, Cargo, or something else, your domain will work with it. We’ll help you connect everything properly.
“What about my social media handles?”
Your domain and your social media handles should match if possible. If you’re pixel.studio, try to be @pixelstudio on Instagram, Behance, and LinkedIn. Consistency matters.
“Do I need a website or can I just use Behance/Instagram?”
You need your own website. Behance and Instagram are great for discovery, but they’re not yours—the platforms control them. Your website is yours. Plus, you need a proper domain for professional email.
“Can I change my domain later if I rebrand?”
Yes, but it’s annoying. You’ll have to update all your marketing, tell all your clients, and you might lose some Google rankings. Better to get it right now, or at least choose something that won’t feel dated in two years.
“What if I offer multiple services?”
Choose the domain extension that matches your primary service. If you’re mainly a design studio that also does video, use .design or .studio, not .video. You can always register multiple domains and redirect them to your main site.
Portfolio Site Considerations
Loading Speed
Your portfolio is full of images and videos. If it loads slowly, potential clients will leave before they see your work. We host on fast servers specifically so creative portfolios load quickly.
Image Quality
You need your work to look perfect. That means high-quality images, proper compression, and hosting that can handle large files without slowing down. We’ll help you set this up properly.
Mobile Experience
Most people will view your portfolio on their phone. Make sure your site looks good on mobile, and make sure your domain is easy to type on a phone keyboard.
Right, What Now?
Stop overthinking it. Here’s your action plan:
- Pick 3-5 domain options based on what you do
- Check if they’re available (we can help with this)
- Register your Domain Name with us
- Connect it to your portfolio site
- Set up professional email
- Update all your marketing materials and social profiles
That’s it. Your creative business now has a domain that actually reflects the quality of your work.
If you need help choosing or you’re not sure which extension works best for your specific creative service, just ask. We’ve been setting up domains for UK creative businesses since the early 2000s. We’ll tell you what works.
No pressure, no upselling, just honest advice from those who understand that for creatives, your domain is part of your portfolio.
