Top Level Design
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Domain name registry and registrar |
| Founded | January 1, 2012 in Florida, United States |
| Founder | Ray King, Peter Brual |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Ray King (CEO) |
| Products | Domain name registry services (.wiki, .ink, .gay, .design, .tattoo), domain registrar (Porkbun) |
Top Level Design is an American enterprise and the parent organization behind the domain registrar Porkbun. Previously, it operated as a registry for several generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .wiki, .ink, and .gay, before divesting these assets to GoDaddy Registry.
Established in Florida in 2012 by entrepreneurs Ray King and Peter Brual, the company benefits from King’s role as CEO, where his strategic direction has propelled the firm’s expansion and influence within the domain registration sector.
Top Level Design specializes in managing innovative domain extensions, leveraging this focus to maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic digital namespace market. Its integrated business model combines registry functions with registrar services through its subsidiary Porkbun, thereby diversifying revenue sources and broadening its international reach.
The organization remains headquartered in the United States and continues to implement strategic initiatives aimed at reinforcing its standing in the domain industry.
History
Founded in 2012 by Portland-based entrepreneur Ray King following his departure as CEO of AboutUs, a company he launched in 2006, Top Level Design was created with the goal of operating as a domain name registry for multiple generic top-level domains (gTLDs). King collaborated with investor and advisor Peter Brual, his brother-in-law, to establish the company.
In that year, Top Level Design submitted applications for ten gTLDs: .art, .blog, .design, .gay, .group, .ink, .llc, .photography, .style, and .wiki. These domains reflected both personal passions and professional interests of the founding family. The backend registry infrastructure was provided by CentralNic, while escrow services were managed by Iron Mountain Incorporated.
Industry insiders and regional business outlets confirmed the company’s applications in 2013. King anticipated that Top Level Design would play a pivotal role in influencing the future structure of Internet naming conventions.
The company operated several top-level domains including .wiki, .ink, and .design until these assets were sold to GoDaddy Registry, thereby increasing GoDaddy’s presence in the domain registry market.
.wiki
On November 7, 2013, ICANN and Top Level Design entered into a "Registry Agreement," officially granting the company authority to operate as the registry for .wiki.[1] A comparable agreement was signed on December 5, 2013, for the .ink domain.[2] Both gTLDs were awarded without competition.[3][4] Although neither .wiki nor .ink were expected to rival larger gTLDs like .art or .blog in size, industry experts regarded .wiki as a "dark horse" due to its descriptive nature that aligns domain names closely with website content, enhancing its market appeal.
In January 2014, ClickZ recognized .wiki among the "Top 10 gTLDs to Watch," emphasizing its potential to provide secure and collaborative environments for enterprises.[5] By March of that year, Top Level Design had secured partnerships with more than 120 registrars to offer .wiki domains.[6] In May, the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia and related projects, adopted "w.wiki" as a URL shortener and endorsed Top Level Design’s ICANN proposal to release 179 two-letter codes representing languages to broaden domain possibilities.[7][8][9]
Initially restricted to trademark holders until May 5, 2014, the .wiki extension became available to the wider public on May 26.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name On its first day of general release, over 3,000 .wiki registrations were recorded,[9] illustrating significant market traction and commercial success. This phased launch strategy highlights Top Level Design’s focus on niche markets that prioritize collaborative and content-specific domains, strengthening their market position within the domain industry.
.ink
The .ink generic top-level domain is designed to serve the printing, publishing, and tattoo sectors, as well as typographers and creative professionals. It caters to both organizations and individuals who utilize ink as a medium for communication, including bloggers, design agencies, and ink producers. King highlighted its significance as a domain that symbolizes durability and relevance within these industries. Officially launched on June 23, 2014, the .ink domain was showcased at the ICANN 50 conference in London through a prominent event. By April 2015, fewer than half of the registered .ink domains were inactive or parked, demonstrating strong engagement in its target market.
.design
In September 2014, Top Level Design won the rights to the .design domain through a private auction, surpassing six other bidders. The management of the domain was later transferred to GoDaddy Registry in April 2021.
.gay
The generic top-level domain .gay became publicly available in September 2020.
.tattoo
Originally overseen by Uniregistry, the .tattoo domain was acquired by Top Level Design in May 2022.
See also
Further reading
External links
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