Is Basement 20 Design Studio Woke?

What They Do

Basement 20 Design Studio is a graphic design studio, and its own about page is unusually specific about where it came from: "Founded in 2020 by Ben Gerlach, the studio emerged from humble beginnings in the basement of a Stafford, Virginia home — hence the unique name." The same page states that Gerlach was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and that his background includes "nine transformative years of military service that took him across the globe," after which he settled in Stafford with his family.

The studio's listed services are logo and visual identity work, product packaging, illustration, coin design, fonts, and apparel and print collateral. It describes its client base as nationwide, spanning "energetic startups and established businesses to purpose-driven nonprofit organizations." Client testimonials published on the site come from businesses in Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, and South Dakota, which is consistent with that claim. The studio states its design philosophy directly: that good design "is more than just aesthetics — it's powerful communication tool that bridges the gap between its clients and their target audience." The about page closes with a scripture citation, Colossians 3:23. Team size is not stated, and the site reads as the work of one designer.

Why There's No Political Footprint Here

There is no ESG report here, no DEI program, no Human Rights Campaign rating, and no political action committee. None of that is a stand the studio took. It is what a business this size is. Corporate political activity is a function of scale — it needs investor relations, compliance staff, a government affairs budget, and people whose job is to issue public positions. A one-designer studio has a client list and a project queue.

What We Checked

We reviewed the studio's public website and searched for federal political contributions, lobbying filings, and corporate advocacy. We found none, which is exactly what you would expect at this size.

The Bottom Line

Money spent here goes to a designer and his family. We make no claim about the owner's personal politics — we don't know them, and it isn't our business. What we can tell you is that your invoice isn't funding anything.