Back in the late 2000s, Domino’s Pizza was in trouble. Customers weren’t happy, and ordering online felt off. The company decided to rethink everything. They redesigned their digital platform and added real-time order tracking. That way, Domino’s transformed from a struggling pizza chain into a global industry leader.
That’s the kind of shift design and innovation consulting firms make possible. They step in to fix broken digital experiences and design products that actually work. In this article, you’ll see why these firms matter, the numbers that prove their positive impact, and a breakdown of the top design thinking consulting firms to guide your choice.
Key takeaways
- Design thinking reframes product building from features to real problem-solving.
- Consultancy partners bring cross-industry expertise, validated frameworks, and measurable ROI.
- The best digital design firm combines strategy, design thinking approach, and AI adoption to accelerate tangible business results.
- Lazarev.agency leads with AI UX, driving funding and engagement across industries.
What design thinking brings to the table
Design thinking is a strategic operating system for keeping digital products relevant and loved in markets where assumptions age faster than release cycles.
“Instead of asking What features should we build?, design thinking flips the script to What problems are we solving and how fast can we prove it?”
{{Anna Demianenko}}
The power of design thinking lies in its structure. It’s built on 5 consecutive principles that mirror the rhythm of digital product sprints, offering an iterative and evidence-driven way to innovate without burning through budget or time. These steps are:
- Empathy over assumption. Watch, listen, and shadow real users. Create high-fidelity user personas to validate any assumptions.
- Clarity over chaos. Define one sharp problem statement to tackle feature bloat.
- Divergence, then convergence. Generate ideas. Then filter them by impact and effort.
- Prototype fast, prototype lean. Use mockups, click-throughs, even “Wizard-of-Oz” simulations before investing in code.
- Test, learn, repeat. Evidence-based iteration is how you reduce risk and sharpen product-market fit.
Yet, like any framework, design thinking has its strengths and its demands.
- Pro: Structured innovation replaces internal debates with user data.
- Pro: Lightweight experiments validate ideas before you risk market credibility.
- Con: Demands cultural buy-in. Teams must learn to kill pet ideas when evidence doesn’t back them up.
- Con: Not a one-off workshop. True results come when design thinking becomes a repeatable operating system.
Not every product team needs this framework all the time, but most realize too late that they should have used it sooner. Use the checklist below to decide if design thinking is the right move now.
If two or more resonate, design thinking is your best growth direction.
- You’re building features that no one seems to use.
- Your team argues opinions instead of testing with users.
- You’re entering a market with shifting needs (AI, fintech, healthcare).
- You need to pitch investors without burning months on development.
- Growth has plateaued despite steady releases.
What do design and innovation consulting firms do?
Design thinking gives you the framework, but frameworks don’t run themselves. They need experienced hands and the right mix of brand strategy and execution. And that’s where design and innovation consulting firms come in.
Yet, before hiring a design consultancy agency, it’s crucial to understand their role. A common misconception is that design strategy companies are simply outsourced designers. In reality, they are strategic partners who combine design thinking consulting and innovative technology to help companies embark on their digital transformation journey.
At their core, top design thinking companies:
- Uncover pain points in your product roadmaps, workflows, or customer journey.
- Run innovation workshops and sprints to generate and validate solutions.
- Prototype ideas to minimize risk and cut wasted development cycles.
- Guide digital transformation, often embedding AI and advanced UX practices.
Benefits and drawbacks of hiring a design consultancy partner
Some founders still try to solve everything in-house. They stretch design teams thin, recycle outdated processes, and rely on gut instinct instead of proven methods.
What they actually end up with is a lost business advantage that could have been multiplied with the right collaboration.
Design consultancy partners come armed with actionable insights from across industries and proven UX design processes — expertise your internal team doesn’t have the time to develop from scratch.
And the upside of collaborating with design consultant firms is measurable.
- Companies using design thinking consulting see 32% revenue growth and 56% higher shareholder returns.
- Websites with superior UX achieve up to 400% higher visit-to-lead conversions.
- 54% of US consumers say customer experience at most companies needs serious improvement.
7 design strategy companies leading UX innovation
Not all design strategy companies that call themselves pioneers of innovation deliver true transformation. The leaders in this space combine innovation strategy, mastery of UX, and bold adoption of AI tools.
We’ve curated 7 design thinking companies making the strongest impact. Each brings a different strength, and all of them are worth evaluating depending on your goals.
Each of these design thinking consulting firms has its own philosophy and track record. Here’s what you should know about them before reaching out.
Lazarev.agency
- Strengths: Full service digital agency with a pioneering AI UX since 2017 and a proven record of $500M+ raised for clients.
- Notable work: WellSet, Quantillium, Happiness.
The impact speaks louder than words. Here’s a closer look at what our design experts helped these clients achieve in detail:
WellSet
- Raised $3.1M+ funding.
- Grew to 500K+ active users.
- Boosted retention by 30% and engagement by 75%.
- Achieved 4.8/5 satisfaction rating.
{{WellSet}}
Quantillium
- Increased data accessibility by 30%.
- Extended session duration by 32%.
- Built a new visual identity and design system with 3D and motion.
- Optimized for seamless mobile and tablet use.
{{Quantillium}}
Happiness
- 42% boost in retention via gamified design.
- Generated millions in revenue.
- Built a 6-week habit-forming program with mobile-first onboarding.
{{Happiness}}
🔍 Explore our portfolio to learn more.
500 Designs
- Strengths: Enterprise-scale transformations and brand reinventions.
- Notable work: High-profile projects with Google, Cisco, and leading SaaS brands.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
Embacy
- Strengths: This design thinking consultant specializes in SaaS branding with creative visual storytelling.
- Notable work: Web3 and fintech projects across Europe with elaborate visual ecosystems.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
League Design Agency
- Strengths: Boutique studio focusing on expressive brand identities.
- Notable work: IT companies like Oro Inc. and MVI Systems.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
Storm Brain
- Strengths: Blends design and marketing services for commercial impact.
- Notable work: E-commerce platforms for Nike, Target, and Kaylee’s Culture.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
Burst Digital
- Strengths: A focus on lifestyle and fashion design based on a strategic creative process and ongoing brand communication.
- Notable work: Digital campaigns for EU fashion and consumer brands.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
45RPM
- Strengths: Combines branding with growth strategy for nonprofits and retail.
- Notable work: Nonprofit digital revamps and retail brand campaigns.
🔍 Explore the company’s website.
Let’s redesign your growth story together
Selecting the design thinking consultant is more than an outsourcing choice. The right partner will help your team uncover hidden growth opportunities and sharpen your business strategy.
At Lazarev.agency, we’ve pioneered AI UX since 2017, helping clients secure $500M+ in funding and design winning products across fintech, healthcare, AI, and Web3. Our case studies speak for themselves: higher retention, increased revenue, and platforms that engage.
If you’re ready to boost your digital presence with a partner who knows how to leverage innovative user experience design, get in touch. Let’s design your next big advantage.
