New York
Portland
Houston
Chicago
San Francisco
Denver
Atlanta
Miami
London
Milan
Paris
Berlin
Seoul
Tokyo
Shanghai
New York
Portland
Houston
Chicago
San Francisco
Denver
Atlanta
Miami
London
Milan
Paris
Berlin
Seoul
Tokyo
Shanghai
WHERE PERFORMANCE
MEETS CULTURE, INSIGHTS MEET ACTION.
We’re a qualitative insights agency made up of
who live in the world we study.
From the streets to the fields of play, we blend deep cultural research with human-first storytelling to help brands understand who they’re serving, why it matters, and how to help them.
HOW WE FIND COMNGROUND
BORN FROM SPORT
Built by coaches, athletes, and former brand insiders, we don’t just study sport; we come from it and live it, enabling an unrivaled level of knowledge, network, and depth to help create things that matter.
CREATIVELY SHARP
We train like athletes and think like creatives. With full-service depth and sharp execution, we turn ambiguity into clarity, and sweat every detail along the way to make complex things feel simple and serious research feel alive.
STORY-LED
From the sidelines to the spotlight, we follow the story wherever it lives. Our in-house editorial team of filmmakers, designers, and writers turn raw perspectives into something you can really feel.
Helping you stay culturally fluent and commercially sharp, so the right ideas land faster, with less wasted time, energy, and budget.
EXPERTS IN
FIELD LOGISTICS
FORESIGHT
STORYTELLING
RECRUITMENT
CONCEPT TESTING
LOGISTICS
RESEARCH
INNOVATION
STRATEGY
ETHNOGRAPHY
DESIGNS
PHOTOGRAPHY
MEET THE PLAYERS
We’re a sharp, agile crew obsessed with sport, wired to listen, and relentless about the details (maybe a little too much). From unicycling to hacky sack, we’ve got our quirks, but the best teams usually do. We’re coaches across everything from functional fitness, yoga, dance, cycling, soccer, basketball, hockey, breathwork, and meditation.
We listen deeply and show up ready to make sense of the world through storytelling, whiteboards, pictures, and film.
ANDY LESLIE
Research & strategy
Anton fero
Photography & Strategy
Ex-adidas & 10+ Yrs in innovation
Can be found out on the trails
Founder of Blue House
Usually lifting heavy in the gym
Mike Rimbault
ANDY LESLIE
Photography & Filmmaking
Jamie Carroll
Operations & Recruitment
A decade capturing sport & culture
Loves a skatepark cruise
Ex-teacher turned operational wizard
Loves the spin studio
RachEl Rapinoe
Bus. Dev & Strategy
Ex-Nike & founder of Mendi
Can be found out on the pitch
marli hughes
Creative Direction & Graphic Design
Ex-BowFlex & 10+ Years in graphic design
Loves tap dancing
LOUISA LI
Bus. Dev & Strategy
khloe snair
Operations & Recruitment
Ex-BCG & a decade building Shanti House
Finds peace in the yoga studio
Recent graduate in Sports Management
Loves shooting three-pointers
Katrina galas
Research & Strategy
Ex-Nike and a decade in brand strategy.
Usually skating on the hockey rink.
INSIGHTS BEYOND THE SURFACE
We meet athletes, fans, and experts wherever the action lives—on the courts, the trails, gyms, locker rooms, or homes—then dig deep to understand what’s driving them.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
- Social listening, surveys & digital diaries
- In-house recruitment (youth & adult)
- In-depth interviews & focus groups
- Observation & ethnography
- Shop-alongs & journey mapping
We pressure-test your ideas off the whiteboard and into the field, testing with real athletes and everyday users to uncover what’s working and what needs a reset.
CONCEPT TESTING
- Real-world concept testing
- Rapid iteration & validation
- Product moments of truth
- Marketing & communications
- User experience testing
- Low-fidelity prototyping support
- IP protection in controlled spaces
We help you train for what’s next, combining cultural foresight, trend analysis, and on-the-ground inspiration to build ideas that are future-ready and field-tested.
FORESIGHT & INNOVATION
- Trend forecasting
- Semiotic analysis
- Expert consultancy
- Co-creation workshops
- Retail & trend safaris
- Trend presentations
We cut through the noise and shape complexity into clear game plans, helping you see the field, trust the play, and make smarter, sharper decisions.
BRAND STRATEGY
- Immersive stakeholder workshops
- Sensemaking & visual framework development
- Audience segmentation & personification
- Brand positioning & competitor analysis
- Trend & insight presentations
- Film, photography & artifact installations
REEBOK
The north face
fila
Field-Testing the Future of Training With the Nano X5
An Immersive Day of Movement, Recovery, Nutrition & Creativity
Reigniting a 100+ Year-Old Brand
LEARN MORE
learn more
LEARN MORE
WORK FROM THE FIELD
deep blue
Helping Shape the Future of Women Sports
LEARN MORE
Our work spans everything from exploring the future of sports and their intersection with lifestyle, inclusivity, mental health, and more, to real-world testing of the latest prototypes and marketing strategies across footwear and apparel.
"COMN is thoughtful, creative and organized - what strikes me the most about them is their curiosity to learn and push the boundaries of methodology. I feel we found a partner who wants to truly learn with us. With their support, we were able to identify our key objectives & uncover new areas of interest that were initially out of scope. They have a keen ability to synthesize complex themes into digestible, shareable output suitable for many layers of our organization. Above all, they are kind, knowledgeable about all things wellness, and very easy to work with. If you want a partner to come with you along the journey, and help crystalize findings, COMN is that group!"
SOFIA, Global product lead, on
“Thanks so much for the inspiring workshop yesterday. I caught up with all my team and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the time with you yesterday. We all walked away with great learnings and motivation to implement ideas from the work you shared. The workout session and amazing food were also a nice bonus and add on to the day 😊”
Amelia, Head of Consumer Experience, Lululemon
“Working with COMN was a true unlock for our team. They helped us define and personify our target consumer for a new collection, sharpening our positioning in a way that feels both strategically sound and deeply authentic to our brand. The team was incredibly collaborative, professional, and efficient – delivering a robust, actionable body of work in a tight timeline. The insights they uncovered not only guide our immediate seasonal planning but also provide strategic fuel for future seasons and a clear foundation for our team’s ongoing consumer focus. We walked away with clarity, confidence, and a shared understanding of who we’re building product for.”
Laura Gageik, apparel product, hoka
“Working with Andy and the team at COMN was a seamless experience from day one; they expertly managed an incredibly tight timeline to recruit and conduct 18+ in-field interviews that yielded invaluable local insights. The COMN team brings a calm composure to the work while also staying professional and sharp. They approach the work with an empathy and respect for the communities we worked with that clearly came through in our final deliverables. We got real insights from real people. Their whole Team was an amazing extension of our brand in the field, and we will definitely be working with them again. Things felt flawless from start to finish!”
Caroline, global marketing & strategy, ON running
"Working with the team at COMN has opened our awareness and engagement with hidden and untouched potential in intelligent strength. We are eager to continue co-developing new concepts with the team that resonate with our emerging new customers."
JOHN, Director of Applied Training Science and Curriculum Intelligence, TONAL
“Thanks for the great insights workshop. It was the whole teams hit and highlight for the week.”
MIKAL, HEAD OF Innovation, FILA
"Just wanted to send a quick note to thank you both for yesterday’s workshop. I got so much out of it and really appreciate all that you did to host us and make the experience a great one. The content around what our team is focused on currently and where we can adjust and take action was a highlight, and really got my wheels turning. Thanks for having us, it was an awesome day (ice bath included)!"
lauren, CONSUMER EXPERIENCE TEAM, lululemon
"Working with COMN was seamless and collaborative. We had a great vibe together, it felt like we clicked right away, with a common understanding of what this type of research can do for a brand like ours. The work was understandable for the whole organization, even down to a tangible level for everyone to use the insights in there day to day work, which was a huge unlock for me."
TARA, svp marketing, fila
"What makes working with the team at COMN special is they understand first hand what we need. I don't have to explain our creative process and the types of teams that will use the insights, they know how to position their research and test results to hand straight over to our creative teams. Secondly, the locality of a really genuine space so close to our HQ here in Portland to test ideas and concepts, and unique access to real everyday athletes is a game changer for us.”
bea, director of innovation, adidas
"It was the most comprehensive scope of work I have ever seen in my 30 years in the business. The work was very tangible, meaning everyone could use and implement it for the season in focus, and many seasons ahead."
Todd, PRESIDENT, fila
“Working with COMN has beena game-changer for us. Their team is strategic, efficient and genuinely passionate about delivering top notch insights. Their deep understanding of women’s sports helps us and our clients make smarter marketing decisions. COMN presents data clearly and simply, allowing us to adapt quickly. We highly recommend COMN to agencies, media executives, and marketers looking for smart, actionable insights.”
Laura, Founder & CEO, Deep Blue Sports Entertainment
"Ya’ll are top shelf. The best in biz is beyond lucky to work with you."
Tara, senior Director Athlete Concepts & Innovation, NIKE
“A great agency is one that feels like a seamless extension of your team – that invests as much heart and time into your brand’s success as you do. COMN is the best version of this. They are creative thought-partners that help share and sharpen strategy through incredible consumer research. Their insights work is thoughtful, rich, and immediately applicable and impactful to both short and long-term plans. Each project is met with curiosity and a commitment to bringing forward the best body of work possible that will serve both brand and business needs. The icing on the cake - they are also simply a true joy to work with.”
emily, Senior VP of Marketing, Fila
“Right away when I started working with the COMN team I noticed how genuine they are. I was impressed with the amount of work that went into just the preparation for the interviews, there was so much context and everything connected smoothly. The result was quality content that helped our team communicate with different departments and stakeholders in an informative way. They also know how to create engaging workshops and get people comfortable to share their thoughts. It’s always refreshing to work with kind and fun people like this team!”
Suzana, footwear Innovation manager, ON Running
The company we keep, and what they’re saying
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
OUR LIVING LAB
Our living lab
Our space is designed for motion and momentum:
- Immersive workshops
- Concept testing
- Custom events
For availability, pricing, or to come move with us—get in touch.
