MetaLab was founded in 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson in Victoria, British Columbia. What started as a small design shop grew into one of the most respected product design agencies in North America, with work that’s shaped some of the biggest names in tech.
Their most famous project is arguably the original Slack interface. When Stewart Butterfield needed a design partner to turn an internal chat tool into a product, he called MetaLab. The clean, friendly interface they created helped Slack become one of the fastest-growing business tools in history.
Beyond Slack, MetaLab has designed products for Uber, Coinbase, Headspace, and TED. They specialize in turning complex functionality into simple, beautiful interfaces that feel effortless to use.
The agency remains headquartered in Victoria, which keeps them somewhat removed from the Silicon Valley hype cycle. Their team of about 120 people includes product designers, brand designers, engineers, and strategists who work in tight, focused pods.
MetaLab also spawned Tiny, a holding company that acquires and operates internet businesses. This venture arm gives the agency a unique perspective — they don’t just design products for clients, they own and operate products themselves. That skin-in-the-game experience shows up in how they approach client work.
