About
Duende is an independent design studio crafting distinctive brand identities and websites for creative businesses. Our work blends artistry and strategy to create design that connects deeply, communicates clearly, and endures.
Grounded in a fine art foundation and guided by storytelling, we approach each project with curiosity, intention, and care — shaping visual systems that are as thoughtful as they are expressive.
From emerging brands to established names, we partner with clients who lead with passion and purpose — helping them refine their vision, elevate their presence, and move their business forward, in its most inspired form.
crafting creative solutions that empower
To create with purpose — crafting expressive, strategic design that inspires meaningful, lasting impact.
THE mission
To give form to purpose — helping others live and create in their most inspired expression.
the why
Our
Foundations
the
philosophy
a deep quality of passion and inspiration
Our namesake, Duende, means “a deep quality of passion and inspiration.” It encapsulates our belief that great design is more than aesthetic — it’s emotional, human, and enduring.
We’re continually inspired by the people we serve — creative minds who pursue their craft with conviction and heart. Our role is to translate that energy into design that feels as good as it looks: intentional, expressive, and intelligent.
Through thoughtful collaboration, we craft brands that move people — empowering our clients to step forward with confidence and continue doing the work they were meant to do, with duende.
Passion for design is the heartbeat of Duende. Rooted in a lifelong connection to the arts, our work is driven by the desire to evoke that same feeling of inspiration in everything we create. We thrive when collaborating with those who pour their hearts into their craft — because when two passions collide, something truly remarkable happens.
passion
ETHOS / 01
We believe deeply in the power of positivity and the impact it can create. Duende partners with people and brands who seek to bring good into the world — through their work, their presence, and the way they connect with others. We value uplifting experiences and aim to build a community founded on encouragement, collaboration, and genuine support.
positivity
ETHOS / 02
We view design as a powerful tool for purpose — one that communicates ideas, inspires connection, and solves challenges with creativity and clarity. Every project is rooted in meaning and crafted with intention, artistically capturing the unique spirit of each brand to create narratives that endure and inspire.
purpose
ETHOS / 03
Founder Hannah Batkoski is a multidisciplinary designer and creative director based in North Carolina. A native of West Virginia, she began her formal training in painting before discovering a fascination with the functional, communicative nature of design. That transition from canvas to concept continues to inform her work — each project shaped by a painter’s sensibility for composition, restraint, and emotional depth.
After several years in the agency world, Hannah established Duende in 2019 as a space where artistry and strategy converge. Drawing inspiration from nature, interiors, and narrative form, her practice is rooted in thoughtful messaging and intentional expression.
Hannah Batkoski, Creative Director
Hannah's body of work is recognized for its clever use of symbolism, expressive patternwork, and refined typography — visual languages that balance intellect with intuition, creating brands that endure in both form and feeling.
In the Studio
meet
the artist
Beyond her work, Hannah enjoys life at home in Raleigh with her husband, two sons, and bernedoodles — finding inspiration in personal experiences and the meaningful simplicity of family life.
Beyond the Studio
