Table of contents
How we vet every listicle
Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:
Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.
Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.
Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:
A graphic design agency owns the visual system a business trades on: logo and identity, the typography and colour rules holding it together, packaging and label artwork, brochures and reports, signage and environmental graphics, and the artwork feeding advertising channels. Melbourne's design economy has moved out of the CBD into the inner-north and inner-east suburbs, and the addresses on this page show it clearly.
We reviewed 18 external studios alongside Web Tonic on evidenced design work, publicly named clients, published pricing and a verified address. Fifteen name a client outright, one publishes a starting rate, and every one of them works from Melbourne itself.
Where in Melbourne do the design studios actually sit?
Almost none of them are in the CBD. The studios on this page work from Cremorne, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, South Melbourne and St Kilda, and three of them share one converted building on Dover Street in Cremorne.
1. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic starts a Melbourne design brief with the commercial job the artwork has to do rather than the moodboard. That means identity and logo systems built to hold up on a building sign, a trade booth and a phone screen at once, campaign creative produced at the volume paid channels consume, and website build so the identity ships instead of sitting in a folder. The Melbourne studios below, several with national bank, retail and cultural accounts behind them, will beat us on that local craft.
Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing
Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration
Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L'Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.
Locations: HQ in San Francisco with notable offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.
Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.
Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.
Website: Web Tonic
2. Principle Design
About: Principle Design is a Melbourne studio, founded in 2008, that runs named service lines for Brand and Logo Design, Wayfinding and Signage Design, and Packaging and Print Design, shown against a filterable portfolio spanning built environment, retail, healthcare and government sectors. Its site states the studio is based in Inner City Melbourne, with affiliate locations in Sydney and Brisbane for national reach. Case studies on the site are filterable by sector and by service rather than named client, so specific brand names are not published.
Key Services: Brand and logo design, Wayfinding and signage design, Packaging and print design, Brand strategy, Digital and web design, Art direction
Industries Served: Retail and FMCG, Healthcare, Built environment, Government and corporate, Education
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: Abbotsford, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Brisbane, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope. Contact form shows budget bands from AUD $1,000 to $25,000+
Great For: NFPs and government bodies, Built-environment developers, Retail and FMCG brands
Website: Principle Design
3. Sidedoor
About: Sidedoor is a Melbourne branding and design agency, launched in 2010, whose services page names Graphic Design work such as marketing and sales collateral, templates, signage and catalogues alongside brand identity and web projects. Its filterable portfolio names finished work for real clients, including a campaign identity and marketing collateral for Bendigo Bank and brand identity plus collateral for TBA Law and Calvary Health Care. The studio operates from Ivanhoe, in Melbourne's north-east.
Key Services: Graphic design and collateral, Brand identity, Brand strategy and advisory, Marketing and sales collateral, Signage and POS design, Website design
Industries Served: Professional services, Health and aged care, Food and beverage, Construction, Not-for-profit
Notable Clients: Bendigo Bank, Strata Savvy, MFO Accounting & Advisory, TBA Law, Calvary Health Care
Locations: Ivanhoe, Australia, Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Financial and professional services, Healthcare providers, Construction and trade brands
Website: Sidedoor
4. Christie Davis Design
About: Christie Davis Design is a graphic design studio founded in 2009 that specialises in branding, publication design and annual reports for not-for-profit, health and government clients, with a public portfolio of finished print and digital work. Named clients on its site include Sacred Heart Mission, the Justice and Equity Centre, Alliance for the Forgotten Australians, Eastern Community Legal Centre and Animal Free Science Advocacy. The one-person studio operates from Hawthorn, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, at 1/132 Church Street.
Key Services: Branding, Print design, Publication design, Annual reports, Content creation, Web design
Industries Served: Not-for-profit, Health and medical, Government, Education, Legal and advocacy
Notable Clients: Sacred Heart Mission, Justice and Equity Centre, Alliance for the Forgotten Australians, Eastern Community Legal Centre, Animal Free Science Advocacy
Locations: Hawthorn, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Not-for-profits, Government agencies, Health and legal advocacy groups
Website: Christie Davis Design
5. Spacey Studios
About: Spacey Studios is a Melbourne creative studio, operating since 2019, that lists Graphic Design and Packaging Design as named service lines alongside brand development and ecommerce work for Australian businesses. Its site states it has partnered with over 100 forward-thinking Australian businesses on brand and digital experiences, though named client examples are not published on the pages crawled. The studio's office is Level 2, 65 Dover Street, Cremorne, an inner Melbourne suburb, by appointment only.
Key Services: Graphic design, Packaging design, Brand development, Print production, UI and UX design, Website development
Industries Served: Agriculture, Beauty and aesthetics, Food and beverage, Construction and trade, Hospitality
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: Cremorne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: eCommerce and retail brands, Hospitality businesses, Beauty and aesthetics brands
Website: Spacey Studios
6. Jen Clark Design
About: Jen Clark Design is a values-led graphic design and branding studio, established in 2011, that has delivered graphic design, identity design and print collateral for over 500 clients according to its published portfolio. Named finished work on its site includes projects for Muscular Dystrophy Australia, Transgender Victoria, Peter Mac Cancer Centre, Girl Guides Victoria and Shellharbour City Libraries. The studio is based in Naarm/Melbourne, Victoria, and lists fixed-price packages on its own pricing page.
Key Services: Branding and logo design, Graphic design, Print collateral, Web design and development, Identity design, Digital and UI/UX design
Industries Served: Health and community services, Education, Government and local council, Not-for-profit, Sustainability
Notable Clients: Muscular Dystrophy Australia, Transgender Victoria, Peter Mac Cancer Centre, Girl Guides Victoria, Shellharbour City Libraries
Locations: Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: Fixed-price packages from AUD $3,000-$5,000 up to $20,000+, shown on quote request form
Great For: B Corps and social enterprises, Health and community organisations, Local councils and libraries
Website: Jen Clark Design
7. A1 Studio
About: A1 Studio, styled A1.S, is a full-service conceptual design studio specialising in brand identity systems, graphic design, video and photography content, with a public projects page naming finished work for named clients. Its selected client list includes Bank of Melbourne, BMW, MAAP Cycling, HitIQ and EVRGRN, with services listed per project such as brand identity, marketing collateral and packaging. The studio's office is Level 2, 65 Dover Street, Cremorne, an inner Melbourne suburb, confirmed on its contact page.
Key Services: Brand identity systems, Graphic design, Marketing collateral, Packaging design, Art direction, Campaign identity
Industries Served: Automotive, Sport and lifestyle, Food and beverage, Hospitality, Skincare and beauty
Notable Clients: Bank of Melbourne, BMW, MAAP Cycling, HitIQ, EVRGRN
Locations: Cremorne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Lifestyle and sport brands, Hospitality venues, Corporate and financial brands
Website: A1 Studio
8. Studio Malt
About: Studio Malt is a Melbourne design and development studio that works across brand, print and digital, with a homepage client list naming finished collateral and packaging work. Named clients include Augustus Gelatery, CherryHill Orchards, Crohn's and Colitis Australia, Heat Beads and Kabina Distilling, the latter shown with premium packaging design for a rakija spirits brand. The studio is located in Collingwood, an inner-urban Melbourne suburb known for its concentration of creative studios.
Key Services: Brand identity, Packaging design, Print design, Digital design, Design systems, Web development
Industries Served: Food and beverage, Health and not-for-profit, Hospitality, Education, Manufacturing
Notable Clients: Augustus Gelatery, CherryHill Orchards, Crohn's and Colitis Australia, Heat Beads, Kabina Distilling
Locations: Collingwood, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Food and beverage brands, Health charities, Manufacturing companies
Website: Studio Malt
9. Fett
About: Fett is a dedicated branding and design studio whose founder describes a practice spanning branding, strategy, print, digital, environmental design and animation, with a homepage portfolio naming finished client work. Named projects include Cobram Estate, GrowScore, Claudia Amphora and Limestone Coast Pantry. The studio address, 2 Grant Street, Fitzroy North, is published on its contact page, placing it in inner-north Melbourne.
Key Services: Branding, Print design, Environmental design, Digital design, Strategy, Animation
Industries Served: Food and beverage, Technology, Retail, Hospitality, Professional services
Notable Clients: Cobram Estate, GrowScore, Claudia Amphora, Limestone Coast Pantry
Locations: Fitzroy North, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Food and beverage producers, Boutique retail brands, Tech and professional services startups
Website: Fett
10. Liquid Creativity
About: Liquid Creativity is a boutique Melbourne branding agency with over 30 years of experience in brand strategy and brand design, with a filterable case-study page naming finished rebrand projects across sectors. Named work includes an engineering firm rebrand for DDEG, a construction industry rebrand for Arli Homes, and a caravan manufacturing rebrand for Wonderland RV. The studio is based at Studio 50, Cobden Street, North Melbourne, confirmed on its contact page.
Key Services: Brand strategy, Brand design, Brand development, Rebranding, Brand marketing, Visual identity
Industries Served: Technology, Construction, Lifestyle products, Healthcare, Education
Notable Clients: DDEG, Arli Homes, Wonderland RV, Andrews Foundation, CSIA
Locations: North Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; free 30-minute consult offered before scoping
Great For: Engineering and construction firms, Not-for-profits, Associations undergoing rebrands
Website: Liquid Creativity
11. SouthSouthWest
About: SouthSouthWest is an independent brand and culture studio, founded in 2007, whose homepage names finished identity and campaign work for global clients including Nike, ANZ, Meta wearables, Intrepid Travel and Bastion Cycles. Services span identity creation, brand systems, campaign creative and brand publishing for design-led rebrands and product launches. The studio's address is 71 Noone Street, Clifton Hill, an inner-northern Melbourne suburb, published on its contact page.
Key Services: Brand identity design, Brand strategy and naming, Campaign creative, Brand systems and guidelines, Art direction, Motion and 3D design
Industries Served: Sportswear and apparel, Banking and finance, Technology, Travel, Consumer goods
Notable Clients: Nike, ANZ, Meta, Intrepid Travel, Bastion Cycles
Locations: Clifton Hill, Australia, Noosaville, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Global consumer brands, Banks and financial institutions, Sportswear and apparel companies
Website: SouthSouthWest
12. Next Brand
About: Next Brand is a Melbourne-based brand and design studio, founded in 2004, whose homepage names finished corporate branding and packaging work rather than only categories. Named projects include Note Printing Australia, Juice Lab Wellness, Monks Gin pack design and Echo DI identity work. The studio's head office is 10 Charles Street, South Melbourne, confirmed via its advisory and web-design service pages.
Key Services: Corporate branding, Package design, Digital design, Growth advisory, Spatial design, Literature design
Industries Served: Government and public sector, Consumer wellness, Beverage and spirits, Technology, Property
Notable Clients: Note Printing Australia, Juice Lab Wellness, Monks Gin, Echo DI, Simply Wholesome
Locations: South Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Government and public-sector bodies, Beverage and wellness brands, Property developers
Website: Next Brand
13. The Sphere Agency
About: The Sphere Agency is a full-service branding and marketing agency operating for over 28 years, with a case-study page naming completed brand identity and repositioning work for named businesses. Named clients include Adriatic Furniture, Pop Meals, Foodifox, Chatime rebrand and Melbourne Business School. The agency is based in South Yarra, an inner Melbourne suburb, with its address confirmed on the work page.
Key Services: Brand strategy, Brand identity design, Brand revitalisation, Creative campaigns, Integrated marketing, PR and brand reputation
Industries Served: FMCG, Hospitality, Retail, Professional services, Education
Notable Clients: Adriatic Furniture, Pop Meals, Foodifox, Chatime, Melbourne Business School
Locations: South Yarra, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: FMCG and hospitality brands, Retail chains, Education institutions
Website: The Sphere Agency
14. Sam Merrigan Design
About: Sam Merrigan Design is a multidisciplinary design office, operating since 2013, that helps food and beverage brands build identities through print design, signage and packaging refreshes, with an about page naming a long list of real clients. Named clients include Amazon, Broadsheet, MCG, Mons Royale and Treasury Wine Estate. The studio describes itself as based in Melbourne, without a separate public street address on the pages crawled.
Key Services: Brand identity design, Print design, Packaging design, Signage design, EDM design, Presentation design
Industries Served: Food and beverage, Hospitality, Sport and lifestyle, Wine and spirits, Not-for-profit
Notable Clients: Amazon, Broadsheet, MCG, Mons Royale, Treasury Wine Estate
Locations: Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Food and beverage brands, Hospitality venues, Wine and spirits producers
Website: Sam Merrigan Design
15. Contain
About: Contain is a product development and packaging design studio, established in 2017, that provides structural and graphic design plus production for custom packaging and merchandise, with case studies naming real brands and products. Named work includes custom tote and packaging design for Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor release, sustainable jewellery packaging for Lucy Folk, and pizza packaging for DOC Delicatessen. The studio is registered at VIC 3067, in the Collingwood/Abbotsford area of inner Melbourne.
Key Services: Packaging design, Structural design, Merchandise design, Custom vessel design, Food and beverage packaging, Beauty and retail packaging
Industries Served: Music and entertainment, Fashion and jewellery, Food and beverage, Arts and culture, Beauty
Notable Clients: Troye Sivan, Lucy Folk, DOC Delicatessen, ACMI, Baker Bleu
Locations: Melbourne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Music and entertainment brands, Fashion and jewellery labels, Food and beverage producers
Website: Contain
16. Weave
About: Weave, formerly Interweave, is an independent creative agency in Melbourne specialising in brand, design and experiential work, with an events page naming a long list of finished activation and brand clients. Named clients include NAB, AMP, City of Melbourne, Four Pillars Gin and Optus. The agency is headquartered at 88 Langridge Street, Collingwood, with additional offices in Fitzroy and Albert Park.
Key Services: Brand identity design, Story-driven design, Experiential activations, Event branding, Drinks and beverage branding, Print collateral
Industries Served: Banking and finance, Government, Beverage and spirits, Telecommunications, Events and hospitality
Notable Clients: NAB, AMP, City of Melbourne, Four Pillars Gin, Optus
Locations: Collingwood, Australia, Fitzroy, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Banks and finance brands, Government agencies, Beverage and spirits brands
Website: Weave
17. The Octopus Academy
About: The Octopus Academy is a multidisciplinary graphic design and communication studio offering branding, publication design, packaging and large-format environmental graphics, including window graphics, murals, signage and vehicle wraps, described across dedicated service pages. The studio does not publish named client logos or case studies on the pages crawled, describing its work only by service category and sector, such as community, education and health clients. It is based in Preston, an inner-northern Melbourne suburb, per third-party business listings.
Key Services: Branding and identity design, Publication and annual report design, Environmental and large-format graphics, Vehicle graphics and wraps, Signage design, Event graphics
Industries Served: Community and social services, Education and research, Health and wellbeing, Arts and culture, Local government
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: Preston, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Community and social-service organisations, Educational institutions, Local councils
Website: The Octopus Academy
18. The Animals
About: The Animals is an independent creative agency describing itself as a brand design and digital experience studio, with a homepage naming completed projects for real clients rather than only service categories. Named work includes an e-commerce rebuild for Mazzucchelli's, talent-attraction design for Leor (G8 Education), and social channel design for Myer, Australia's largest department store group. The agency's registered office is Level 3, 123 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, a Melbourne bayside suburb.
Key Services: Brand design, Digital experience design, Marketing collateral, Social media creative, Website redesign, Campaign design
Industries Served: Retail, Education and childcare, Recruitment, Building materials, Department stores
Notable Clients: Mazzucchelli's, Leor (G8 Education), PERSOLKELLY, Infrastructure Products Australia, Myer
Locations: St Kilda, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Large retailers, Recruitment and staffing firms, Education and childcare providers
Website: The Animals
19. Studio Brave
About: Studio Brave is a branding and digital studio, founded in 2002, that has worked with organisations for over 16 years across arts and culture, property and corporate sectors, with a filterable work page naming individual client projects. Named work includes a multi-year brand and campaign relationship with the Australian National Academy of Music, plus identity projects for DKO, VicScreen and Victorian Opera. The studio's office, named Forum, is Level 2, 65 Dover Street, Cremorne, an inner Melbourne suburb.
Key Services: Brand identity design, Brand strategy, Digital design, Campaign design, Print collateral, Art direction
Industries Served: Arts and culture, Property and architecture, Corporate services, Retail and hospitality, Government and screen industry
Notable Clients: Australian National Academy of Music, DKO, VicScreen, Victorian Opera
Locations: Cremorne, Australia
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Arts and cultural institutions, Architecture and property firms, Government screen agencies
Website: Studio Brave
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Key Specialty | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Web Tonic | Full-Service Performance Marketing | USD $3,000/mo | Mid-market to Enterprise |
| 2. Principle Design | Brand, wayfinding and packaging design | Quote-based | NFP, government and retail brands |
| 3. Sidedoor | Brand strategy and collateral design | Quote-based | Finance, health and professional services |
| 4. Christie Davis Design | Not-for-profit branding and publications | Quote-based | Not-for-profit and advocacy organisations |
| 5. Spacey Studios | Branding, packaging and digital design | Quote-based | eCommerce, retail and hospitality brands |
| 6. Jen Clark Design | Values-led branding and print design | AUD $3,000/project | Purpose-driven organisations and B Corps |
| 7. A1 Studio | Brand identity and marketing collateral | Quote-based | Lifestyle, hospitality and corporate brands |
| 8. Studio Malt | Brand, print and packaging systems | Quote-based | Food, beverage and health-sector brands |
| 9. Fett | Branding and environmental design | Quote-based | Food, beverage and boutique retail brands |
| 10. Liquid Creativity | Boutique brand strategy and rebrands | Quote-based | Engineering, construction and association rebrands |
| 11. SouthSouthWest | Brand identity for global consumer brands | Quote-based | Large consumer and finance brands |
| 12. Next Brand | Corporate branding and pack design | Quote-based | Government, beverage and property brands |
| 13. The Sphere Agency | Brand repositioning and revitalisation | Quote-based | FMCG, hospitality and retail brands |
| 14. Sam Merrigan Design | Food and beverage brand identity | Quote-based | Food, beverage and hospitality brands |
| 15. Contain | Custom packaging and merchandise design | Quote-based | Music, fashion and food and beverage brands |
| 16. Weave | Brand-led events and experiential design | Quote-based | Finance, government and beverage brands |
| 17. The Octopus Academy | Environmental graphics and publications | Quote-based | Community, education and government clients |
| 18. The Animals | Brand design and digital experience | Quote-based | Retail, recruitment and education brands |
| 19. Studio Brave | Brand identity for arts and property clients | Quote-based | Arts, culture and property clients |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Melbourne studios name the brands they work for?
Fifteen of the eighteen. SouthSouthWest names Nike, ANZ, Meta and Intrepid Travel, Weave names NAB, AMP, the City of Melbourne and Four Pillars Gin, A1 Studio names Bank of Melbourne and BMW, Contain names ACMI and Lucy Folk, and The Sphere Agency names Chatime and Melbourne Business School. Three anonymise their case studies, so ask those three for two contactable references before briefing them.
What does graphic design cost in Melbourne?
One studio publishes a figure: Jen Clark Design starts brand projects from 3,000 Australian dollars plus GST. That is a boutique entry point, not a market rate, and an identity programme from a studio carrying bank or retail accounts sits in a different bracket entirely. Send an identical written deliverable list to three studios and compare like for like rather than negotiating against a single number.
Is anyone on this page outside Melbourne?
No. All eighteen external studios publish or register an address in metropolitan Melbourne, though only a few describe themselves as CBD based. Cremorne, Collingwood, Fitzroy North, Abbotsford, South Melbourne, South Yarra, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Ivanhoe, Clifton Hill, North Melbourne and Preston all appear. SouthSouthWest also runs a second studio in Noosaville, Queensland, and Weave lists additional Fitzroy and Albert Park offices.
Who is strongest on packaging and hospitality branding?
Studio Malt names Augustus Gelatery, CherryHill Orchards and Heat Beads, Fett names Cobram Estate and Limestone Coast Pantry, and Contain names DOC Delicatessen and Baker Bleu. For property, place and wayfinding work the picture shifts to Principle Design and Liquid Creativity, and for cultural and not-for-profit identity to Christie Davis Design, Studio Brave and Contain, which carry gallery, health and arts accounts.
What should be agreed before you pay a deposit?
A deliverable list naming every file and format, a capped number of concept routes and revision rounds, a schedule with named checkpoints, and an explicit statement of what transfers to you on final payment. Confirm whether quoted figures include GST, because the one published rate here states it separately. Typeface licensing bought in the studio's name does not pass to you when the invoice is settled.
Choosing a Graphic Design Agency in Melbourne
Geography will not narrow this shortlist. Every external studio here is in metropolitan Melbourne, and three of them share a single Dover Street building in Cremorne, so evidenced work and production capability are the only useful filters.
This market publishes its clients, so use them. Fifteen of eighteen studios name accounts on their own sites, from national banks to gelato brands, which gives you real names to verify by telephone before any money moves.
One published price is a floor, not a benchmark. The 3,000 Australian dollar entry point comes from a boutique studio, and a full identity programme from a firm with bank and retail work sits in a very different bracket.
Fix the money and the files before the deposit clears. With one published rate on this whole page, a written deliverable list, a revision cap and clarity on artwork ownership and typeface licensing are your only real protection. If you would rather have identity design, campaign creative and web build handled by one team, read our latest analysis or book a call.
