Best Strategic Design Consulting Services in Australia

Australia Strategic Design Consultants

Australia is home to a thriving strategic design ecosystem, homegrown consultancies blending research, systems thinking, and business design to guide organisations through innovation and change. This guide presents a curated list of trusted, research-driven, and client-reviewed strategic design consultancies based in Australia, each with verified results and authentic leadership.

Methodology: How We Chose These Australia-Based Strategic Design Consultancies

To ensure radical authenticity and clarity, we selected firms based on the following criteria:

🔍 Research‑driven: Verified frameworks, case studies, or public results

💬 Client‑reviewed: Clear feedback, measurable ROI, or testimonials

📍 Location-based: Australian HQ and leadership based in-region

Each agency was selected independently, this is not a ranking, but a showcase of standout expertise across sectors.

🌟 Australian Strategic Design Consultants - Provider Spotlights

Savvy Strategy

What they do:

Savvy Strategy delivers brand strategy, business positioning, and growth frameworks for mid-sized and scaling businesses. Their consulting style is collaborative, smart, and highly executional.

Who they work with:

Mainly DTC brands, tech startups, and high-growth SMEs.

Operating model:

Small core team working closely with clients and trusted external collaborators.
💡 Why they stand out:

• Clear brand frameworks for positioning, value proposition, and messaging
  
• Growth-oriented consulting for brand-led business expansion
  
• Direct founder involvement in every strategic engagement

Stephen Saunders, Founder & Strategy Director of Savvy Strategy

Stephen is a strategic consultant with a background in brand development and scale-up advisory. He’s helped dozens of emerging brands find clarity, define their core value, and scale through targeted strategy, not guesswork. Stephen is known for a clear, execution-ready approach.

Structured Creative

What they do:

A Melbourne-based consultancy blending research, UX, and strategic design to drive complex innovation projects, especially within education and technology.

Who they work with:

Universities, edtech, digital transformation programs, and large institutions.

Operating model:

Co-founded by a duo with experience in service design, systems thinking, and facilitation.

 💡 Why they stand out:

• Research-led co-design for deeply embedded solutions
  
• Sector specialisation in education and institutional change
  
• Human-centred transformation with inclusive facilitation practices

Katie O’Keeffe, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Structured Creative

Katie brings extensive experience in service design and strategic innovation, particularly within the public sector and education space. Known for her facilitation skills and systems thinking, she leads projects that require navigating complexity with empathy and clarity. Katie’s background includes senior roles in government and design agencies, where she focused on embedding design as a core organizational capability.

Danny Bearzatto, Co-Founder  & Managing Director of Structured Creative

Danny is a service designer and strategist passionate about creating human-centered systems that work for all stakeholders. He has led diverse projects in digital transformation and organisational design, often acting as the bridge between technical teams and business leaders. Danny is recognized for his ability to simplify complexity and build shared understanding across multidisciplinary teams.

Zadro Agency

What they do:

Zadro is a communications and strategy consultancy that blends marketing, PR, and stakeholder engagement with strategic design thinking.

Who they work with:

Associations, healthcare, and corporate B2B.

Operating model:

Founded in 2007, Zadro is headquartered in Sydney and works nationally.

 💡 Why they stand out:

• Integrated communications strategy with real behavioural insights
  
• Deep stakeholder engagement across change programs and events
  
• Cross-disciplinary capabilities across content, digital, and design

Felicity Zadro, Founder & Managing Director of Zadro Agency

Felicity is a recognized leader in strategic communications, with over 20 years of experience building brands and shaping public narratives. Known for her cross-sector expertise, she helps organizations navigate complexity through alignment, clarity, and story.

Caon Design Office

What they do:

Caon Design Office specializes in product design, branding, and digital innovation, blending creativity with strategic thinking to deliver refined user experiences and meaningful brand stories. Their work spans industrial design through to digital products.

Who they work with:

Startups, tech companies, and creative industries seeking design-led growth.

Operating model:

Based in Melbourne, Caon Design Office combines hands-on design craft with strategic consulting, offering a boutique experience with big-agency thinking.

 💡 Why they stand out:

• Strong emphasis on design craft paired with business strategy
  
• Focus on startup and innovation sectors with scalable solutions
  
• Integrated approach combining physical and digital product design

David Caon, Founder & Principal of Caon Design Office

David is a designer and strategist with over 15 years’ experience in product and brand design. He’s led projects for both established firms and emerging startups, known for his holistic approach and ability to align design with business goals. David’s leadership style is hands-on and collaborative, focusing on tangible results.

Moved by Design

What they do:

Moved by Design offers strategic design and facilitation services focused on social impact, organizational culture, and service innovation. They help organizations create meaningful change through participatory design.

Who they work with:

Non-profits, social enterprises, and public sector organizations.

Operating model:

Operating nationally, Moved by Design combines creative facilitation with strategy development to foster collaboration and innovation.

 💡 Why they stand out:

• Commitment to social impact and human-centred design
  
• Inclusive, participatory facilitation style
  
• Combining culture change with practical strategy

Jason Knight, Founder, Strategist & Creative Director of Moved by Design

Jason is a strategic designer and facilitator with a focus on social innovation. His work spans multiple sectors, with a reputation for building strong relationships and facilitating authentic stakeholder engagement. He leads projects that blend creativity with strategy to create lasting impact.

Madeup Studio

What they do:

Madeup Studio blends brand strategy, visual design, and digital innovation to craft compelling brand experiences, with a focus on storytelling and authentic connection.

Who they work with:

Lifestyle brands, creative industries, and startups.

Operating model:

Operating from Melbourne, Madeup Studio takes a boutique, client-focused approach that balances creativity with strategic rigor.

 💡 Why they stand out:

• Strong storytelling emphasis within brand strategy
  
• Creative, visually compelling executions
  
• Close client collaboration with personalised service

Shay Ho, Founder & Lead Designer of Madeup Studio

Shay is a brand strategist and designer with a passion for creating meaningful brand stories. Her leadership blends creative vision with strategic insight, guiding clients from concept to execution with a focus on authenticity and connection.

Clarity in Practice: Strategic Design Consulting Rising in Australia

Strategic design consulting in Australia is gaining ground as firms focus on aligning creative thinking with deep business strategy. These consultancies emphasize design as a problem-solving approach, integrating research, communication, and agile thinking to drive purposeful outcomes. Specialists in this space offer services ranging from customer experience design to innovation strategy and digital transformation. The strength lies in their ability to merge visual design with stakeholder engagement and organizational change. Their relevance is seen in how they help clients adapt, differentiate, and grow through strategic clarity and creative execution.

At Digital Reference, radical authenticity isn’t a stance; it’s a standard that clears the path for informed action. When the message aligns with the intent, credibility follows and momentum builds.

For more relevant thinking, explore Digital Reference content on:

• The Growing List of Design Professions: Every Creative Career You Should Know
  
• The Full Spectrum of Design Consultants: Who’s Who in the B2B Design Ecosystem
  

Australia’s design consultancies are proving that strategic creativity is not just relevant; it’s essential. With the right tools and insight, organizations can turn ambition into action with precision. For those ready to move beyond instinct and lead with intent, guidance makes all the difference. Start with clarity at Digital Reference.