Design and consulting

Business problems have gotten more complex, and organizations require more specialized expertise from their partners. Consulting and craft have merged; big consulting players are launching innovation and digital arms, and craft-based agencies are moving further into consulting. As clients rethink their spending across their portfolio of partners, the industry is shifting—acquisition, consolidation, and partnerships are on the rise. The industry of client innovation is at a moment of innovation itself. Here are some considerations:

Design and consulting leaders are rethinking offerings, restructuring their value within business transformation, and becoming more end-to-end. In addition, they claim a more significant impact on the planet and society by reinforcing their role in the larger ecosystem.

Design and consulting often center their value around their portfolio of work (case studies) and proof points of it (thought leadership, client testimonials, etc.). These subjective interruptions may need to be connected to a more objective outcome metric. Connecting data will make themes more identifiable to those who hire them or are inspired by them.

As they connect this data, they are shifting from a portfolio of work to a service to the industry and the sectors they work within—developing thought leadership, searchable databases, and straightforward ways to showcase their leadership within the space to prospective clients and talent.

AREA 17 has had the privilege of working with the most influential design and consulting organizations in the world and is committed to co-creating a world where design and consulting firms are delivering the most value to businesses, people, and the planet. How can design and consulting leaders transition from an expense to a service? We would love to discuss how you are approaching these considerations.