Huge was founded by David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro. Skokna and Kirovski, friends and colleagues at Deutsch, first established the agency out of Skokna's apartment in 1999. The agency's first client was IKEA who hired Huge to redesign its websites. Between 2005 and 2010, Huge also won and launched web design initiatives for JetBlue, CNN, Reuters, Four Seasons, Pepsi, and Target. In 2007, the agency expanded into bigger premises in DUMBO and opened an office in Los Angeles. In 2008 The Interpublic Group acquired a stake in Huge for close to $40 million. In 2009, Huge was named the fastest-growing company across all marketing disciplines by Advertising Age. In 2010, Pepsi announced it was working with Huge on the Pepsi Refresh project, using social media to fund public good projects. Later that year, Aaron Shapiro was named CEO and IPG announced an investment of between $8 million and $10 million to accelerate global expansion for Huge with new offices in Brazil, China, Singapore, and Japan. At this time Skokna and Kirovski departed Huge. In 2011, Huge launched a UX School program offering 12 week UX apprenticeships and opened offices in Rio de Janeiro and London. In 2011, Huge also began working with HBO to design and launch HBO GO, leading to the adoption of streaming TV initiatives by most cable TV brands. Huge would later work with Fox, FX Now, The Simpsons, and Hulu on direct to consumer TV initiatives. Additional offices were opened in San Francisco, Portland and Washington, DC in 2012. In 2013, Huge opened a production studio to support its expansion from product and web design into marketing as the agency took on integrated marketing work for Samsung and was named social media AOR for Audi. In 2013, Huge also launched the first redesign of New York City's municipal website in a decade. In January 2014, Huge launched a new website and a redesigned logo. The company announced in March 2018 statement that Shapiro would depart the company in May 2018 after 13 years overseeing the growth of the agency. Michael Koziol, international president at Huge, will replace Shapiro as CEO. In May 2019 it was announced Publicis Groupe veteran, Pete Stein would replace Michael Koziol as CEO.
Recognition
Huge won a Bronze Cyber Lion for Best Digitally Driven Integrated Campaign at the Cannes Lions, 2010 for the Pepsi Refresh Project; four prizes at the 2010 OMMA Awards, including Best in Show for the Pepsi Refresh Project, as well as Web Site Excellence awards for Reuters.com and History.com; the Webby Award for best Youth website in 2008 for Scholastic.com; and a Design Distinction Award from I.D. Magazine in 2007 for JetBlue. They were recognized by the Interactive Media Awards as a Top 10 Agency in 2008 and have received numerous other IMA awards, including "Best in Class" awards for JetBlue, Amnesty International's Instant Karma site, SmithGroup, and DeStefano + Partners. Huge was first recognized as an Agency to Watch by Advertising Age in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, Mashable also named Huge one of five leading digital marketing agencies. In 2012, Huge was named one of Advertising Age's 10 A-List agencies In 2014, Huge was awarded a Made in NY award by Mayor Bill DeBlasio for its work with the city on NYC Go and NYC.gov. Aaron Shapiro accepted the award on behalf of the agency. In October 2015, Huge was named 2015 iMedia Agency Award finalist for Agency of the Year.
