25. MODERN DOG DESIGN CO./CHARLES S. ANDERSON DESIGN CO.
High-concept purveyor of wit, Blue Q sits far above the shelves of staid gag gifts in boutiques. “We don’t want to die from having one look,” says founder Mitch Nash. “It’s that high level of graphics that makes our products intimate.” So Nash calls on a roster of 10 designers, including Charles S. Anderson and Mike Strassburger. “I need a stable of people I can call on to match the product,” says Nash. “Mike is funny-funny. And Chuck has got this ability to tweezer all these components into a layout and make something really handsome.”

Nash gets the most out of his brain trust by paying them to cultivate new ideas, which leads to bestsellers like the Mini Mullet kit. “I didn’t even know what a mullet was,” Nash admits. “Mike sent me to a website and gave me a mullet education.”

In fact, most of the concepts evolve through collaboration with Nash. “I get the design to where I want it, then Mitch adds to it,” says Strassburger. “He’s really good about pushing it to the next level.” With cross-product possibilities that extend years to an idea’s life (Cat Butt is not only the most popular gum, but also the number one magnet and car freshener), Blue Q gives these designers the opportunity to develop their own mini-brands the world is happy to receive. Alissa Walker