Best Design Thinking Consulting Services in Australia

Australia's Top Design Thinking Consultants

Design Thinking has become a transformative methodology for organizations seeking innovative solutions to complex problems. By focusing on user-centered design, businesses can develop strategies that better meet customer needs while driving innovation. Australia, with its growing startup ecosystem and established enterprises, is home to several world-class design thinking consultants who are at the forefront of this change.

In this blog, we’ve curated a list of the top Design Thinking consultants based in Australia. These trusted agencies and individual consultants offer research-driven, client-reviewed services that help organizations achieve measurable success and sustainable innovation. Let’s dive into the standout agencies and their leadership.

Methodology: How We Chose These Australian Design Thinking Agencies

Our methodology is grounded in rigorous criteria that ensure we’re spotlighting only the best:

🔦 Research-driven: We selected agencies based on verified case studies, frameworks, and public results that demonstrate their impact.

🔦 Client-reviewed: We focused on agencies with strong client feedback and proven ROI in their design thinking projects.

🔦 Location-based: Each consultant or agency is deeply embedded in the Australian market, offering local insights and expertise.

🔦 Tailored solutions: Agencies and consultants were chosen for their ability to apply design thinking in innovative, customized ways to address real-world business       challenges.

🌟 Australia Design Thinking Consultants - Provider Spotlights

‍Methodry

What they do:Methodry focuses on design-led innovation, offering services such as journey mapping, user experience design, and strategic workshops. Their approach helps businesses integrate design thinking seamlessly into their operations and culture.

Who they work with:Methodry collaborates with a broad spectrum of clients across industries, including SaaS companies, e-commerce, and government sectors.

Operating model or unique approach:
They blend agile methods with design thinking to deliver innovative solutions that are adaptable, fast, and results-driven.

💡 Why they stand out:

🧩 Flexible, user-centered design process that scales with your business

🔍 Proven success with large-scale organizations, helping them integrate innovation frameworks

🤝 Highly collaborative approach ensures client involvement at every step

Nathan Baird, Founder & Managing Director ‍

Nathan Baird is a design thinking veteran with over 15 years of experience, specializing in user-centered design and innovation management. He has helped leading brands implement design thinking processes that improve customer experiences and business outcomes. Nathan’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and the pursuit of creative solutions to complex challenges.

‍Twenty2 Collective

What they do:
Twenty2 Collective blends design thinking with branding and digital transformation, creating innovative strategies and products for clients. They focus on human-centered design to shape user experiences that are impactful and aligned with business goals.

Who they work with:
They partner with tech startups, retail brands, and large enterprises across various sectors, such as fintech, consumer goods, and health.

Operating model or unique approach:
Their team embraces a multidisciplinary approach, combining design thinking with business strategy and digital expertise to craft innovative, sustainable solutions.

💡 Why they stand out:

✨ Cross-functional expertise that merges design with business and technology

🔑 Tailored solutions that focus on delivering measurable results

🌍 Global reach allows them to apply design thinking to diverse markets and industries

Marcus Ward, Founder & Creative Director ‍

Marcus Ward’s leadership of Twenty2 Collective is driven by his deep expertise in both design and business strategy. With years of experience working across sectors like tech, retail, and consumer goods, Marcus helps clients unlock innovation through design thinking and user-centric strategies. Known for his ability to unite creative and business teams, Marcus ensures that all design solutions are aligned with organizational goals.

The Customer Experience Company

What they do:
The Customer Experience Company specializes in customer journey mapping, service design, and CX strategy. They integrate design thinking to help businesses improve customer satisfaction and loyalty through deeper insights and more personalized experiences.

Who they work with:
Their clients include major enterprise brands, SaaS companies, and public organizations, focusing on sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail.

Operating model or unique approach:
Their approach centers on continuous customer feedback, ensuring that all solutions are not only customer-centric but also aligned with business objectives for maximum ROI.

💡 Why they stand out:

💬 Customer insights inform every decision, ensuring relevance and impact

🌱 Long-term partnerships foster sustainable innovation and continuous improvement

🚀 Track record of elevating CX across both B2B and B2C markets

Raj Mendes, Founder & CEO

Raj Mendes brings over two decades of experience in customer experience and service design. His approach emphasizes listening to the voice of the customer and using that data to drive actionable insights. Raj’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming CX strategies for companies across Australia, making him a recognized expert in customer-centric design thinking.

‍More Space for Light

What they do:More Space for Light is a design consultancy that focuses on user experience, service design, and digital transformation. They help businesses design and implement innovative experiences that resonate with their target audience.

Who they work with:
The agency works with startups, NGOs, and enterprises in sectors like education, social impact, and technology.

Operating model or unique approach:More Space for Light uses an iterative design process that allows clients to test and refine ideas quickly, ensuring solutions are both innovative and practical.

💡 Why they stand out:

🔄 Iterative design methodology that evolves based on real-world feedback

🔎 Strong focus on user empathy and research-based insights

🎯 Results-driven design that aligns business objectives with user needs

Dan Levy, Founder & Principal Designer‍

Dan Levy has led More Space for Light with a focus on using design thinking to solve complex problems. With over 15 years in design, he combines deep research with creative ideation to craft user-centered solutions. Dan’s approach is highly collaborative, working closely with clients to ensure each design is both innovative and feasible.

‍Baangaroo Consulting

What they do:
Barngaroo Consulting provides design thinking consulting with a focus on service design, strategy, and digital transformation. They aim to help organizations develop innovative solutions that improve both customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Who they work with:Barangaroo partners with large enterprises, government bodies, and SMBs across various industries, including public services, retail, and finance.

Operating model or unique approach:Barangaroo uses a customer-first methodology, helping organizations reshape their offerings based on design thinking principles to meet modern customer expectations.

💡 Why they stand out:

📊 Data-backed design solutions for informed decision-making

🧠 Organizational transformation through design thinking and agile practices

🏆 Proven success in creating scalable design solutions across industries

Yvonne Brennan, Founder & Principal ‍

Yvonne Brennan has over 20 years of experience leading change through design thinking and innovation. As the founder of Barangaroo Consulting, she has worked with both public and private sector clients to integrate design thinking into their operations. Yvonne is known for her practical and results-oriented approach, helping organizations align design solutions with strategic objectives.

‍Small Multiples

What they do:
Small Multiples specializes in service design, innovation, and user experience design. Their approach blends design thinking with creative problem-solving, helping businesses create more intuitive and customer-centric products and services.

Who they work with:
They work primarily with government, tech companies, and large enterprises focused on digital transformation, healthcare, and education sectors.

Operating model or unique approach:
Their unique model combines human-centered design with data-driven insights, ensuring that each solution is both practical and forward-thinking.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🌱 Focus on sustainable design that drives long-term change
  
• 🔍 Research-backed methodologies to identify and solve user pain points
  
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Collaborative approach, working closely with clients and stakeholders to ensure success
  

Andrea Lau,  Co-Founder & Managing Director ‍

Andrea blends design thinking, technology, and business strategy to create user-centered solutions that transform complex challenges into meaningful outcomes.

Jack Zhao  Co-Founder & Creative Director ‍

Jack combines expertise in data visualization, design, and strategy to shape solutions that are both insightful and user-focused.

‍Percept Brand Design

What they do:
Percept Brand Design offers design thinking services that combine brand strategy with experience design. Their work focuses on helping organizations create strong, cohesive brands through a user-centered design process.

Who they work with:
Their client base includes retail, hospitality, and consumer goods companies looking to innovate and refresh their brand experiences.

Operating model or unique approach:
They use a deep, holistic understanding of brand identity to inform every stage of their design process, making sure each design choice aligns with the brand's core values.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🌍 Strong expertise in branding and user experience design
  
• ✨ Holistic approach that connects every design element to brand values
  
• 🎯 Measurable impact with a focus on increasing brand recognition and customer loyalty
  

Lewis Jenkins, Founder / Managing Director / CEO‍

Lewis Jenkins is a seasoned brand strategist and designer with over 20 years of experience. As the founder of Percept, Lewis has led numerous branding projects for high-profile clients. His design thinking approach combines creativity with strategic insight to ensure that brands not only look great but also resonate with their target audiences. Lewis is known for his no-nonsense leadership style, prioritizing results and a keen focus on long-term brand growth.

‍Soto Group

What they do:
Soto Group offers a variety of design thinking services, including digital transformation, service design, and user experience design. They specialize in creating meaningful experiences that help businesses improve both customer satisfaction and internal processes.

Who they work with:
They serve clients in finance, education, retail, and government, focusing on businesses that are going through digital transformation.

Operating model or unique approach:Soto’s approach combines strategic design thinking with agile methodology, allowing them to quickly adapt to client needs and deliver tangible results.

💡 Why they stand out:

🔄 Agile design process ensures fast, iterative development of solutions

🌱 Specialization in digital transformation for legacy systems and processes

📈 Proven success in helping clients achieve measurable busi

Matthew Crouch, Co-Founder & Creative Director ‍

Matthew blends over 15 years of consulting experience with design thinking to drive digital transformation. He has partnered with organizations across industries to create customer-centric services that deliver measurable impact.

Arna Jade, Co-Founder & Director of Strategy‍

Arna brings expertise in strategy, operations, and innovation, ensuring that Soto’s design-led solutions are scalable and commercially effective. She plays a key role in guiding clients through transformation journeys that align business goals with user needs.

WM Consulting

What they do:
WM Consulting offers design thinking services that focus on innovation, transformation, and strategic design. They specialize in improving business outcomes through design-driven solutions that prioritize the user’s needs.

Who they work with:
WM Consulting works with large corporations and enterprises in the tech, retail, and health sectors, helping them adapt to modern customer expectations.

Operating model or unique approach:
They utilize an iterative design thinking process combined with organizational transformation strategies, ensuring long-term success and client satisfaction.

💡 Why they stand out:

💡 Innovation-focused approach to design thinking and transformation

🔄 Iterative solutions that evolve based on real-world feedback

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Long-term client relationships, ensuring sustainable results

Ban Weston, Founder & Principal Consultant‍

Ban Weston is an experienced consultant with over 20 years of expertise in design thinking and business transformation. As the founder of WM Consulting, Ban leads a team that is dedicated to helping organizations innovate and adapt through customer-centric strategies. His leadership focuses on clear communication, collaboration, and delivering results that drive measurable change.

‍Thought Collaborative

What they do:
Thought Collaborative focuses on using design thinking to create scalable, human-centered solutions for businesses. Their services range from product and service design to organizational change, all built around a user-first methodology.

Who they work with:
Thought Collaborative works with tech companies, government agencies, and large enterprises, focusing on those in the education, tech, and finance industries.

Operating model or unique approach:
They specialize in creating highly customized solutions, often working hand-in-hand with clients to co-create designs that directly address pain points and opportunities.

💡 Why they stand out:

🔧 Tailored solutions created in collaboration with clients to meet their exact needs

🧠 Research-driven design thinking methods that ensure every solution is backed by data

🌱 Focus on long-term impact, helping clients build sustainable customer relationships

Ricardo Escalon, Founder & Lead Strategist ‍

Ricardo Escalon is the founder and lead strategist at Thought Collaborative, where he leads the development of innovative design thinking solutions. With over a decade of experience in the field, Ricardo specializes in helping organizations develop strategies that align with customer needs and drive business growth. His leadership is marked by his ability to push boundaries while maintaining a practical, results-driven approach to design thinking.

Design Thinking Consulting Services in Australia: Driving Innovation with Purpose

Design thinking consultancies in Australia are shaping innovation by blending creativity with strategic business outcomes. They help organizations across industries—from government to tech startups—embed user-centered approaches into digital transformation, branding, and service design. Their operating models emphasize collaboration, research-driven insights, and iterative design processes that ensure practical yet impactful solutions. Leaders in this field bring decades of experience, guiding enterprises to create measurable results through tailored, agile, and sustainable design. This collective expertise highlights the growing relevance of design thinking as a powerful driver of business growth and customer engagement.

At Digital Reference, radical authenticity is more than an idea—it’s a disciplined practice that ensures every strategy reflects the true identity of an organization. Its importance lies in creating alignment between values and outcomes, fostering trust that directly translates into lasting impact.

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Design thinking is not just a method but a mindset that reshapes how organizations engage with change. By focusing on relevance, adaptability, and authentic design, leaders can craft strategies that endure and evolve. The journey toward innovation thrives when grounded in insights that balance creativity with measurable outcomes. For leaders seeking clarity and perspective, the path forward begins with Digital Reference.