ABOUT OUR MODEL
OUR MODEL: THE PRINCIPAL-LED NETWORK
Arowana was founded to solve a common agency problem: the "handoff." In traditional agencies, you meet the principals during the pitch, but your project is executed by juniors.
We operate on a Principal-Led Network model. Every engagement is personally directed by our founder and Principal Designer, Matthew Cogswell. To provide technical depth without the bloat of a traditional firm, we activate a curated registry of senior specialists from designers, animators, and brand strategists, tailored specifically to your project’s stack.
You get the agility of a boutique studio with the collective brainpower of an enterprise agency.
We operate on a Principal-Led Network model. Every engagement is personally directed by our founder and Principal Designer, Matthew Cogswell. To provide technical depth without the bloat of a traditional firm, we activate a curated registry of senior specialists from designers, animators, and brand strategists, tailored specifically to your project’s stack.
You get the agility of a boutique studio with the collective brainpower of an enterprise agency.
THE PRINCIPAL
With over a decade of experience spanning Hollywood's entertainment giants to luxury e-commerce, Matthew brings a "Unicorn" skill set to the helm of Arowana.
His roots in the fundamentals of print and brand, evolved into a career leading international UX/UI teams for clients like Nike, NBCUniversal, and Warner Music Group.
At Arowana, he ensures that every digital experience is intuitive, honest, and empowering, bridging the gap between complex technical systems and human-centric design.
His roots in the fundamentals of print and brand, evolved into a career leading international UX/UI teams for clients like Nike, NBCUniversal, and Warner Music Group.
At Arowana, he ensures that every digital experience is intuitive, honest, and empowering, bridging the gap between complex technical systems and human-centric design.
WHY THIS MODEL WORKS FOR YOU
We believe that the best work happens when the lines of communication are short. Because Arowana is principal-led, your primary partner is always the person with decades of high-level experience, not a junior account manager. This model allows us to remain incredibly agile; we don’t have "bench time" to bill for or massive office overhead to cover.
Instead, you’re investing directly in senior-level talent that is activated specifically for your project’s milestones. It’s a leaner, more intentional way to build, ensuring that every dollar of your budget goes toward the craft and every pixel is vetted by the same person who led the initial strategy.
Instead, you’re investing directly in senior-level talent that is activated specifically for your project’s milestones. It’s a leaner, more intentional way to build, ensuring that every dollar of your budget goes toward the craft and every pixel is vetted by the same person who led the initial strategy.
BUILT FOR A GLOBAL MARKET: OUR COMMITMENT TO GDPR
For our partners in Europe and the UK, we know that data privacy is a fundamental part of the user experience.
We work at the intersection of US innovation and European regulation, which has made us proficient in the mandates of the GDPR. We practice "Privacy by Design," a philosophy where security and data minimization are baked into the very first wireframes we draw.
We work at the intersection of US innovation and European regulation, which has made us proficient in the mandates of the GDPR. We practice "Privacy by Design," a philosophy where security and data minimization are baked into the very first wireframes we draw.
FAQ
DO I HAVE TO PAY IN USD?
No. We use global banking systems and provide an IBAN so you can pay in Euros or Pounds.
WILL I BE CHARGED VAT?
No. As a US firm, we do not charge VAT. Instead, we use the "Reverse Charge" mechanism. We provide a W-8BEN-E form upon request to prove our US tax status and prevent you from having to withhold tax.
ARE YOU INSURED TO WORK GLOBALLY?
Yes. Arowana carries Professional Indemnity (E&O) insurance with Worldwide Coverage, explicitly protecting your interests even though we are a US entity.
WHAT HOURS DO YOU WORK?
Our model is "Time Zone Agnostic", meaning that we maintain dedicated "Overlap Hours" where we are live for calls and Slack, regardless of where your current home base is. However for much of 2026, our home time zone will be Greenwich Mean Time, as well as maintaining availability for Eastern Standard Time.
HOW QUICKLY DOES THE NETWORK REACT?
As quickly as possible. The Principal is the constant. Even if a specialist is in a different zone, project management and decisions are centralized meaning we guarantee a 24-hour response window.
WILL MY SITE BE WCAG COMPATIBLE?
Yes. WCAG has been a major concern in the US for the last decade and we design and build everything to WCAG AA standards at the minimum.
DOES THE NETWORK ONLY WORK IN ENGLISH?
For now, yes. However we are always on the lookout for global talent.