Culture moves faster than your creative decisions

By the time most brands spot a trend, it’s already mainstream. But we believe culture doesn't have to be something you chase — it should be something you shape alongside the communities that matter. There’s a difference between a moment and a movement.

1021 Creative is a cultural intelligence company with 200+ cultural experts embedded across 13 countries. We help platforms and brands decode signals — from viral moments to lasting movements — and act before competitors do.

We provide human expertise & taste, informed by technology. Predicting where culture is headed, showing clients where they belong, and helping them get there first.

1021 Creative on LinkedIn
1021's creative brain
I rely on 1021 Creative when we need to move quickly on big and small projects. Their ability to identify high quality experts in an array of fields and locations has made them a key partner.
Kevin Allocca, Head of Culture & Trends, YouTube

The challenges our clients face

HIGH STAKES. LIMITED TIME.

Platforms bet millions on formats without knowing if they’ll resonate. By the time trends show up in their data, the moment has passed. Content recommendations feel robotic. Competitors launch new features faster. And what worked in one market bombs in another.

Brands spend heavily on campaigns without cultural validation. Every activation risks getting roasted. They struggle to thread the needle between authentic and try-hard. Creative agencies miss the mark. And the category moves faster than planning cycles allow.

Algorithms find patterns. Humans create meaning.

Our team are embedded in the communities shaping culture — not monitoring from outside, but participating in the spaces where trends are born. That's how we help you separate signal from noise.

How we help

Cultural intelligence for high-stakes decisions.

For platforms, we provide programming intelligence before trends peak elsewhere — helping you spotlight content when it still feels fresh.

We guide product direction that keeps you culturally relevant, and support content operations with metadata enrichment and moderation that understand context beyond keywords.

The result: Users choose your platform for cultural discovery and creators want your spotlight.

We are deeply embedded in diverse communities, cultural movements, and niche interest groups.

For brands, we provide campaign validation throughout your creative process — catching cultural missteps early, ensuring authenticity from concept through launch.

We deliver ongoing cultural intelligence tailored to your business needs, so your team can make informed decisions. And when entering new cultural spaces, we help you earn credibility instead of looking like a tourist.

The result: Campaigns that connect, confident creative investments, and genuine cultural moves.

Clients Include: Amazon, Apple, BMG, Comixology, Disney, Harper Collins, National Geographic, Snap, YouTube.

Our approach

Human-Led Intelligence

Participants, not observers — understanding context and meaning that algos miss.

Real-Time
Agility

Moving with cultural currents, not waiting for planning cycles to adapt.

Commercial
Insight

Turning cultural signals into confident business clarity.

Embedded
Partnership

In your systems and workflows — sharing responsibility for your goals.

The 1021 Creative team has a wealth of creative expertise and understand our unique technological needs. With their amazing ability to tap into regional and global trends, attention to detail of our specs and deep understanding of the ideal production flow, we were able to deliver a high volume of impactful content across Europe and the US. I truly valued the partnership!
Kevin Kim, Head of Content - Generative AI & Cameos, Snap

Global reach

While others observe culture from above, we are immersed in it.

1021 Creative is distributed across 13 countries globally with local experts who collectively speak 23 languages and 28 dialects. This worldwide view allows our team to see both the big picture and the small details, helping our clients understand what’s happening locally and guide discoveries along a path to global scale.

We're not just language experts; we're culture specialists leading firsthand discovery of the next best thing across verticals that matter to our clients, including music, gaming, beauty, sports, product trends, and both popular culture and trends at large.

Our team members live all over the world.

Our team

Click a region. Meet who's there.

How we work with you

Flexible partnerships for different needs.

We’re a services company. We’re not selling software subscriptions.
Most clients start with focused work, then expand as they see the impact.

Project-Based Support

Expert validation for specific campaigns or partnerships. No ongoing commitment required.

Ongoing Intelligence

Custom reporting — weekly, monthly, quarterly — with strategic recommendations and account support.

Embedded Operations

Dedicated resources integrated into your workflows, planning cycles, daily decisions, and maybe even offices.

What to Expect

Discovery summits to understand your business goals.

Tailored top-tier output trusted by your favorite brands.

Measurable impact: better decisions, avoided missteps, earlier adoption.

Why we’re different

Niche access. Discerning taste.

Most agencies track culture from the outside. Our teams ARE the communities we track — not monitoring from a distance, but living in these spaces and understanding insider dynamics.


Cultural Embedded­ness

We don’t just study communities — we belong to them. Understanding the lore, references, and dynamics that outsiders miss.

Rigorous Standards

Every expert is tested on their ability to translate community insight into strategic guidance you can act on.

Global Capability

Whatever market, subculture, or demographic you need to understand, we find the right experts with authentic access.

Continuous Learning

We stay current as communities evolve, tracking shifts in language, values, and participation that signal meaningful change.






Built for a distributed world

Remote-first, since the beginning.

1021 Creative is globally distributed across time zones with systems and benefits designed for this reality.

We have a culture rooted in respect, trust, inclusion, and accountability. Every employee at every level is expected to contribute to a work environment where people feel supported to do their best work.

Connect with us