Design Thinking for Brands and Ideas

We help people who don’t really know where to start or how the process works.

We meet with you to understand your needs and your ideas. We work with you to develop design strategies and concepts. We pitch ideas and execution just like any creative agency. But we’re ready to build, we estimate construction, we get regulatory approvals, we work with builders.

What we do

What we do

The process of designing a great space should be easier for brands and creatives.

We work collaboratively to develop a DESIGN STRATEGY.
Your brand goals, your vision, your plan and your inspiration need to be captured in a physical design drawing for construction and production partners to contribute, estimate, adjust, share, discuss and execute.

Services for Business

How do I turn my online presence into a physical one?
I don’t really know where to start or how the process works. The biggest villain is a lack of time.

Learn more about what we do for businesses

Services for Brands

How do I take my brand into the real world?
Brand guidelines help make ads, websites, and packaging, but I need to extend my this into architecture and interior design. I want strategy and design to work together.

Learn more about what we do for brands

Services for Ad Agencies

How do I build this thing?
I want it to look awesome, to do its job and to be sustainable. Agency people are sometimes expected to accrue instant expertise to solve any problem.

Learn more about what we do for ideas
How we do it

Design Strategy

Making something can feel like death by a thousand cuts unless you have a clear and sensible plan to guide you.
Construction is a procession of experts with detailed questions that must be answered urgently.
People emerge from construction projects transformed. We want you to feel energized, inspired, and ready for more.

A Design Thinking Process

We break DESIGN STRATEGY in 3 components:
1. VISION: We translate brand into design language.
2. PLAN: We design physical spaces for experiences.
3. SWIPE: We extend innovations from architecture and interior design.

The Butterwood Design Thinking Process

Extra Layers

Thoughtful Design also means adding in extra layers. Butterwood is architecture and design with the added extra layer of brand strategy. Strategists think about the human layers, all the things that make up an experience: memories, perceptions, motivations, emotions, cognition and connections.

We also find and add in extra layers from other disciplines to make our designs more thoughtful. Experts in any space: landscaping, technology, lighting, music, community engagement, cultural integration - these are all thoughtful designers and we want to collaborate with them all.

Sustainability as Practice

But most importantly, Thoughtful Design means putting sustainability at the centre of our design practice. There are no central processes or framework to follow here. While there are many exemplars of effective sustainable designs in retail, every store can’t look like a wooden apothecary. Retail brings vibrancy in the form of diversity and uniqueness into public spaces. 

Thoughtfulness is the critical missing element that can make all of retail more sustainable:
1) Design in durability and make things that last longer.
2) Design out wasted, toxic materials and wasted energy.

Architects and designers of public spaces have been thinking about these things for decades. It’s time to bring all of that thoughtfulness into retail spaces and experiences.

Our Practice

Our Design Practice

Sustainability as a Retail Practice

Designing Enduring Adaptable Destinations for physical spaces.

Track materials, construction, fabrication of environments and fittings.

Rethink models and systems, focus on experiences over product turnover.

Precinct Worthy Experiences

Understand the local community culturally and architecturally.

Design to integrate your business into the precinct and community.

Retail Format Design adaptable across multiple precincts and locations.

Retail System Design

Understand your customer, your brand and the role of retail in your business.

Retail systems and elements designed for usefulness and adaptability.

Divert retail waste from landfill by designing spaces and objects for extended use.

Concepts & Drawings

Creative concepts developed to a brief via design thinking processes.

Concepts you’ve designed assessed for technical feasibility and viability.

Technical drawings to help you bring your concept to life for a wide variety of contractors.

Let's talk

Connect with us using our contact form for additional insights or assistance.

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