Design index
Many Australian studios are running flat-out yet wondering why the numbers don’t stack up. The problem isn’t effort — it’s focus. You might be measuring the wrong things.
Most creative agencies chase new work to grow. The truth is, growth starts inside — by auditing profitability, utilisation, and client mix before pursuing new business.
While you focus on craft and visual quality, competitors are talking strategy, outcomes, and business value. They’re speaking the language clients want to hear.
We had the good fortune to have worked through the 1987 market crash, the dot.com boom and crash and the global financial crisis. I say good fortune because it taught us how to pivot.
When we face changes like we are now seeing we can’t do business as usual.
Australian businesses can lift productivity and profits by investing in design that’s tied to business outcomes. Research from other countries shows the gains are real and repeatable here.
Clients comment on colours and fonts because that’s what they can see. The strategy, psychology, and user research? That’s invisible to them. Here’s how to change that conversation.
There’s a lot of talk about design impact. Yep, impact not value. Why the language change to impact? Because most clients won’t accept design adds value.
The current design market is the new reality of design and business; we can’t just adapt, we have to disrupt. Design leaders are recognising design impact is the new reality of design and business.
In the world of design and user experience, there’s a realisation that while design inspires, it’s ultimately behaviour change that delivers meaningful results.
As part of the research for our article on the status quo approach to design we did a great deal of research into ways to disrupt design business models. Not just for design but more broadly for design clients.
In the world of design and user experience, there’s a realisation that while design inspires, it’s ultimately behaviour change that delivers meaningful results.
We’ve been researching the state of the design nation through talking to design business owners across the country. We’ve come to the conclusion we need to rebrand our industry!