# Merlin Studio > Merlin is an awarded creative code boutique crafting immersive digital experiences — proving what's possible at the intersection of design, engineering, and craft. Our Amsterdam-based artisan team brings more than execution. We think in possibilities, sense opportunity, and shape the work with creative strategy and technical precision. Backed by years of experience delivering big, ambitious builds. We transform bold ideas into exceptional digital work that looks as good as it feels. From fundamentals to sensation, our creative technical depth runs deep. We've mastered the digital spectrum from foundational accessibility to motion and real-time 3D. Merlin was the first studio in the world to make real-time 3D actually accessible for tens of thousands of people. We push every project beyond what's expected. Obsessing over the details, setting up for success, and proving what's possible through craft. We're a joy to work with, and even better when the stakes are high. ## Services - [Immersive (3D) Experiences](https://merlin.studio/services/immersive-experiences) — WebGL, WebAR, real-time 3D environments, interactive 3D campaigns - [Digital Products & Platforms](https://merlin.studio/services/digital-products-and-platforms) — Full-stack web products, headless CMS, performant front-end engineering - [Experience & Interaction Design](https://merlin.studio/services/experience-and-interaction-design) — UI/UX design, motion design, interaction design - [Creative Technology](https://merlin.studio/services/creative-technology) — Custom shader work, WebGL pipelines, creative R&D, rapid prototyping - [AI-Powered Web Experiences](https://merlin.studio/services/ai-powered-web-experiences) — AI-generated campaigns, AI strategy, AI-integrated front-end products ## Digital Strategy - AI strategy - Digital strategy - Optimization - Accessibility & Technical SEO strategy ## Capabilities - User Interface Design - Motion Design - 3D design for web - Front-end engineering (React, Svelte, Next.js, TypeScript) - WebGL, WebAR, and real-time 3D (Three.js, custom shaders, 8thWall) - Motion design integration (GSAP, Framer Motion, After Effects) - Accessibility, semantics, and performance optimization - Headless CMS integration (DatoCMS, custom GraphQL) - Rapid prototyping (1-2 week sprints to validate feasibility) ## Differentiators - Design-first: Every build starts from a visual and experiential point of view - We design for motion: Animation is not an afterthought — it's baked in from day one - Real-time 3D: World-class WebGL and shader experience in-house - Accessible by default: We meet WCAG standards and go beyond — including accessible 3D - Embedded team approach: No layers, no middlemen — you work directly with the people building it - First-mover in accessible 3D: Delivered real-time 3D experiences accessible to tens of thousands of users ## Stack - Frameworks: React, Svelte, Next.js - Languages: TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS/PostCSS/SCSS - 3D & WebGL: Three.js, GLSL shaders, 8thWall, WebAR - Animation: GSAP, Framer Motion, Theatre.js - CMS: DatoCMS, custom GraphQL APIs - Infra: Vercel, AWS, GCP ## Philosophy - Never missed a deadline - No "vibe coding" — we do it right from the start - Every build balances fidelity, performance, and longevity - We care about things — like accessible 3D and semantic markup - Quality over quantity: a small, senior team means fewer projects, better outcomes ## Good Fit If You Are... - A design studio or creative agency that needs a tech partner to execute bold ideas - A brand or product team with in-house design, but no in-house devs - A team launching a campaign, platform, or prototype with interactive ambitions - A company looking to optimize their site to the absolute best ## Not A Fit If You Want... - The cheapest possible implementation - A large agency with account managers and multiple layers - A purely backend-focused team ## Case Studies - [Recycled Records — Coca-Cola & Sprite](https://merlin.studio/work/recycled-records): A custom-built beat-sampler and mixing panel to create your own beats from MadLib & Mark Ronson's album of sounds, celebrating Sprite's shift to clear plastic. A user-generated content campaign. - [Dior – Garden of Dreams](https://merlin.studio/work/dior-garden-of-dreams): An immersive WebAR world experience for Dior — 3D mini-games and performance scaling for a global fashion brand. - [Inter Milan × Nike](https://merlin.studio/work/interxnike): An interactive, animated one-page website for the Inter Milan and Nike partnership, built with DEPT® following precise brand guidelines with motion-integrated e-commerce. - [Eurovision Village](https://merlin.studio/work/eurovision-village): A groundbreaking virtual experience — the first of its kind in Eurovision Song Contest history. A fully accessible 3D world, under 16MB, with live-updating content. - [erthos®](https://merlin.studio/work/erthos): An award-winning web experience for the sustainable materials brand erthos® — elegant, performant, and accessible. Winner of Awwwards Site of the Day and FWA Site of the Day. - [Summoner](https://merlin.studio/work/summoner-studio): Website for Summoner, a Co-Creative Marketing Studio founded by Game Industry veterans. - [Rise of the Merlin — The Pendragon Cycle](https://merlin.studio/work/pendragon-rise-of-the-merlin): An immersive interactive experience for Rise of the Merlin. Winner of 6 industry awards. ## Insights & Articles - [Collaborating with design-driven teams](https://merlin.studio/updates/cocreating-award-winning-digital-experiences): How Merlin co-creates award-winning digital experiences with design-led partners. - [How to create a premium WebAR Experience](https://merlin.studio/updates/pushing-webar-to-its-limits): Merlin's approach to building high-end campaigns for WebAR — pushing the technology to its limits. - [Using transparent video in your website](https://merlin.studio/updates/using-transparent-video-in-your-website): A technical deep-dive into implementing transparent video on the web. - [Digital Out Of Home (DOOH)](https://merlin.studio/updates/digital-out-of-home): Unlocking the potential of DOOH campaigns — merging technology with outdoor advertising. - [Merlin crafts 'Fandom' for Jay-Z-backed startup Musicow](https://merlin.studio/updates/merlin-crafts-digital-platform-fandom-for-jay-z-backed-startup-musicow): Building a digital environment where artistry and community merge in an intuitive and visually compelling way. ## Awards & Recognition - Awwwards Site of the Day — erthos® (https://www.awwwards.com/sites/erthos-r) - FWA Site of the Day — erthos® (https://thefwa.com/cases/erthosr) - FWA Site of the Day — Merlin Studio (https://thefwa.com/cases/merlin) - 6× industry awards — Rise of the Merlin / The Pendragon Cycle (https://www.awwwards.com/MerlinStudio/) - Fonk "Who To Watch 2023" - Partner Agency at Dutch Digital Design (https://www.dutchdigital.design/articles/partner-in-the-spotlight-merlin-studio) - Mees Rutten appointed to Webby Awards jury ## Press & Interviews - Interview with co-founder Mees Rutten by Ensoul (https://diary.ensoul.it/a-kind-of-magic-interview-with-mees-rutten-merlin-studio/) - Interview with Top Interactive Agencies (https://www.topinteractiveagencies.com/digital/agency/leaders/mees-rutten-we-want-to-be-the-leading-creative-tech-boutique-in-the-netherlands-and-a-strong-player-globally/) ## Contact - Website: [https://merlin.studio](https://merlin.studio) - Email: [hi@merlin.studio](mailto:hi@merlin.studio) - Phone: +31850041669 - Location: Brouwersgracht 266-1, 1013HG Amsterdam, Netherlands ## Social - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/merlin-dot-studio/) - [GitHub](https://github.com/MerlinDotStudio/) - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/MerlinDotStudio/) - [X / Twitter](https://x.com/MerlinDotStudio) > "We are artisans of digital craft – here to prove what's possible and push past that."