Best Design Thinking Consulting Services in the UK

United Kingdom Design Thinking Consultants

Design thinking has revolutionized the way businesses approach problem-solving, innovation, and customer experience. By focusing on user-centered solutions, businesses can create products and services that not only meet customer needs but also stand out in competitive markets. In the UK, several agencies have mastered the art of design thinking, guiding organizations through complex challenges and driving meaningful transformations.

In this article, we spotlight a selection of the best UK-based design thinking consultancies. These agencies have been chosen for their proven expertise, positive client reviews, and commitment to impactful, user-centered design. Whether you're a startup, a corporate giant, or a public sector organization, these agencies will help you leverage design thinking to achieve your business goals.

Methodology: How We Chose These UK-Based Design Thinking Consultancies

The agencies featured in this list were selected based on the following criteria:

        🔍 Research-driven: We assessed each agency’s methodologies, case studies, and public results to ensure they have a solid track record of success and proven                expertise in design thinking.

       💬 Client-reviewed: Only agencies with strong client testimonials, proven ROI, and positive user feedback made the cut. These agencies consistently deliver                tangible results for their clients.

       📍 Location-based: All of these agencies are based in the United Kingdom, bringing a deep understanding of the local market, culture, and business landscape.

‍🌟 UK Design Thinking Consultants - Provider Spotlights

Khiliad – Innovation through Design Thinking

What They Do:
Khiliad is a design thinking consultancy that helps organizations innovate through product design, user research, and customer journey mapping.

Who They Work With:
Khiliad works across industries including finance, technology, and retail, helping businesses enhance their offerings and align with user needs.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Khiliad combines design-led innovation with user-centered research to create scalable solutions that drive business results.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

💡 Design-Led Innovation: Focuses on breakthrough product and service innovations, not just incremental changes.

🌍 Cross-Sector Expertise: Brings a diverse skill set that applies to industries ranging from finance to technology.

📈 Proven Client Results: Their designs consistently lead to measurable improvements in business outcomes.

Naz Keceli, Co-Founder & Managing Director‍

Naz Keceli has a strong background in innovation strategy and design thinking, helping businesses create sustainable and user-centered solutions.

‍Jimmy Skowronski  , Co-Founder & CTO‍

Jimmy Skowronski brings deep expertise in technology strategy, product development, and user-centered design, ensuring Khiliad’s innovations are both scalable and impactful.

Unique Tech Solution

What They Do:
Unique Tech Solution specializes in UX/UI design and digital product development, focusing on building intuitive and effective digital experiences for SaaS and e-commerce companies.

Who They Work With:
They work mainly with SaaS, e-commerce, and education sectors, helping businesses enhance their digital presence and improve user engagement.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
They integrate design thinking with technical development, ensuring that digital solutions are not only user-centered but also scalable and technically feasible.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🚀 SaaS Focus: Specializes in developing scalable solutions for SaaS companies, enhancing user engagement and retention.

🎨 UX/UI Expertise: Places a strong emphasis on intuitive design and optimizing the user interface.

🔗 End-to-End Service: Manages the entire design and development lifecycle, ensuring smooth transitions from concept to launch.

Sharzad Madjlesi, Founder & Managing Director‍

Sharzad’s experience in digital product design and UX/UI allows her to create user-centric, scalable solutions for clients in fast-moving industries.

‍Super User Studio

What They Do:
Super User Studio helps clients create seamless digital experiences through UI/UX design, prototyping, and service design, with a strong emphasis on user-centered innovation.

Who They Work With:
Their clients include startups, tech companies, and education organizations, creating designs that drive engagement and enhance usability.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Super User Studio follows an iterative design process, regularly testing and refining designs based on real-world user feedback.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🎯 Simplicity & Intuition: Specializes in simplifying complex systems into easy-to-use, intuitive designs.

🚀 Startup Focus: Helps startups bring their ideas to life with MVPs and scalable design solutions.

💞 Empathy-Driven: Their design process is deeply rooted in user empathy, ensuring solutions are genuinely user-centered.

‍Stu Collett, Co-Founder & Product Design Director:‍

Stu blends design and technology to create digital experiences that meet user needs while staying true to the business’s goals.

Odette Colyer, Co-Founder & Managing Director:‍

Odette combines strategic insight and creative leadership to guide user-centered design initiatives that deliver measurable business impact.

‍Thinkpublic

What They Do:
Thinkpublic focuses on social impact through service design, working with public sector organizations to create services that improve lives and address community challenges.

Who They Work With:
They partner with public sector and social organizations, ensuring that services meet the needs of diverse communities and drive positive change.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Their participatory design process engages users and stakeholders in co-creating solutions, ensuring that services are relevant and impactful.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🌍 Social Impact: Specializes in designing services that improve social outcomes and address real-world community challenges.

🤝 Collaborative Approach: Brings together diverse stakeholders to create solutions that meet broad community needs.

📊 Track Record of Success: Their solutions have had measurable positive impacts on public services.

‍Deborah Szebeko, Founder & Managing Director‍

Deborah is a pioneer in social design and service innovation, using design thinking to solve societal challenges and improve public sector services.

‍Tailored Thinking

What They Do:
Tailored Thinking integrates design thinking with organizational development, helping businesses innovate at a strategic level while fostering a culture of creativity and agility.

Who They Work With:
Tailored Thinking works across sectors, including education, government, and corporate organizations, enabling them to become more adaptive and innovation-driven.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
They create customized solutions for clients, ensuring that design thinking principles are deeply embedded into the organizational culture.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🧠 Strategic Design Thinking: Blends design thinking with strategic planning, helping businesses innovate on a larger scale.

🌱 Cultural Transformation: Focuses on transforming organizational culture to embrace innovation.

🎯 Tailored Approach: Each solution is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the organization.

‍Rob Baker, FCIPD, MAPP, Founder & Managing Director‍

Rob is an expert in organizational development and design thinking, helping businesses implement lasting innovation strategies that transform their culture.

‍Tinker Design

What They Do:
Tinker Design specializes in product and service design, focusing on creating innovative solutions that blend user needs with business goals.

Who They Work With:
Their clients span technology, consumer goods, and healthcare, with a focus on delivering impactful, user-centered designs.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Tinker Design’s process is iterative, with constant testing and feedback loops to refine designs and ensure they meet user and business requirements.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

💡 Innovative Product Design: Known for pushing creative boundaries to deliver unique, high-impact solutions.

🔄 Cross-Industry Expertise: Their experience spans several industries, offering diverse insights and solutions.

👤 User-Centric Focus: Always places the user at the center of the design process, ensuring practical, usable solutions.

‍Thushara Sabreen, Founder & Managing Director‍

Thushara has a passion for user-centered design and innovation, helping businesses develop products that resonate with both users and markets.

‍Johnson Banks

What They Do:
Johnson Banks offers brand strategy and design thinking services, helping businesses transform their brand identities and create meaningful user experiences.

Who They Work With:
They work with clients across various sectors, including technology, education, and consumer brands.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Their brand-first design thinking approach ensures that every design solution is aligned with the company’s core values and long-term goals.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🎨 Brand Strategy Focus: Specializes in brand transformation and aligning design with business objectives.

💡 Innovative Solutions: Known for pushing creative boundaries to deliver designs that make a lasting impact.

🌐 Cross-Industry Experience: Brings expertise in multiple industries, helping clients navigate unique challenges.

Michael Johnson, Founder & Managing Director‍

Michael is known for his strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, helping businesses build strong, lasting brands through design.

‍SuperSuper Agency

What They Do:
SuperSuper Agency focuses on creative strategy, user experience design, and brand transformation, helping clients deliver unique and user-centric digital experiences.

Who They Work With:
Their clientele includes creative agencies, startups, and global brands, helping them create memorable user experiences and innovative solutions.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
They employ a design-first methodology, working closely with clients to create impactful digital experiences.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🎨 Brand Strategy Focus: Specializes in brand transformation and aligning design with business objectives.

💡 Innovative Solutions: Known for pushing creative boundaries to deliver designs that make a lasting impact.

🌐 Cross-Industry Experience: Brings expertise in multiple industries, helping clients navigate unique challenges.

Mario Stipetic, Founder & Managing Director‍

Mario brings a wealth of experience in digital design and brand innovation, specializing in creating designs that drive engagement and loyalty.

‍Bennallick – Digital Product Consultancy

What They Do:
Bennallick offers digital product design and innovation consulting, using design thinking principles to help businesses create impactful, scalable digital solutions.

Who They Work With:
They work with digital product teams, startups, and large enterprises to help them streamline product development and enhance customer experiences.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Bennallick employs a holistic, agile approach, ensuring that design solutions align with both user needs and business goals while iterating quickly.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

⚡ Agile Methodology: Focuses on creating products quickly and efficiently while remaining adaptable to change.

📈 Scalable Solutions: Specializes in designing digital products that scale with growing businesses.

💼 Business Impact: Their designs not only improve user experiences but also contribute directly to business success.

Jon Bennallick, Founder & Managing Director‍

Jon has a strong background in product design and digital strategy, leading Bennallick’s work on transformative digital products and services.

Dan Sensecall – Sensecall Service Design

What They Do:
Sensecall is a consultancy that specializes in service design, focusing on enhancing customer experiences and improving service delivery in complex environments like healthcare and public services.

Who They Work With:
They work primarily with healthcare organizations, public services, and educational institutions, helping them redesign services to meet user needs and business objectives.

Operating Model or Unique Approach:
Sensecall uses an iterative, human-centered design approach to ensure that solutions evolve based on continuous user feedback and real-world testing.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

🏥 Healthcare Service Design: Extensive experience improving services in healthcare, one of the most challenging sectors.

🔄 Holistic Service Design: Focuses on end-to-end service improvements, from customer journey to backend processes.

🤝 Collaborative Process: Works closely with clients to co-create solutions that align with their vision and user needs.

Dan Sensecall, Founder & Managing Director‍

Dan is a leader in service design with over 20 years of experience. He is known for his methodical approach to solving complex problems, particularly in healthcare.

The Value of Design Thinking Consulting in the UK

Design thinking consultancies in the UK are shaping industries by creating services and products that balance creativity with measurable outcomes. Their work spans healthcare, technology, retail, education, and the public sector, each applying research-driven frameworks and client collaboration to refine ideas into impactful solutions. What makes them stand out is their focus on embedding innovation into organizations—whether through cultural transformation, digital product design, or brand strategy. They prioritize co-creation, iterative testing, and measurable business impact, ensuring that design thinking is not just theoretical but practical. This approach underscores their role as trusted partners for organizations seeking to stay adaptive and relevant in a fast-changing market.

At Digital Reference, radical authenticity is more than an idea. It’s a standard that ensures insights are transparent, evidence-based, and directly actionable. This commitment matters because it allows leaders and teams to make confident decisions rooted in clarity and verified impact.

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The demand for design thinking in the UK reflects a wider need for solutions that are not only creative but also firmly aligned with business realities. By embedding iterative design into services and strategies, these consultancies help organizations deliver outcomes that last. Leaders who adopt this mindset set themselves apart, building cultures that embrace adaptability and innovation as strengths. For professionals seeking clear, research-backed guidance on navigating this landscape, the path begins at Digital Reference.‍